diff --git a/sway/desktop/wl_shell.c b/sway/desktop/wl_shell.c
index 0cde6583..0356aa81 100644
--- a/sway/desktop/wl_shell.c
+++ b/sway/desktop/wl_shell.c
@@ -131,14 +131,11 @@ void handle_wl_shell_surface(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data) {
 	sway_surface->destroy.notify = handle_destroy;
 	wl_signal_add(&shell_surface->events.destroy, &sway_surface->destroy);
 
-	// TODO: actual focus semantics
-	swayc_t *parent = root_container.children->items[0];
-	parent = parent->children->items[0]; // workspace
-
-	swayc_t *cont = new_view(parent, sway_view);
+	struct sway_seat *seat = input_manager_current_seat(input_manager);
+	swayc_t *focus = sway_seat_get_focus_inactive(seat, &root_container);
+	swayc_t *cont = new_view(focus, sway_view);
 	sway_view->swayc = cont;
 
 	arrange_windows(cont->parent, -1, -1);
-
 	sway_input_manager_set_focus(input_manager, cont);
 }
diff --git a/sway/desktop/xwayland.c b/sway/desktop/xwayland.c
index 7603d3ca..7933f7b2 100644
--- a/sway/desktop/xwayland.c
+++ b/sway/desktop/xwayland.c
@@ -233,10 +233,9 @@ void handle_xwayland_surface(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data) {
 		return;
 	}
 
-	swayc_t *parent = root_container.children->items[0];
-	parent = parent->children->items[0]; // workspace
-
-	swayc_t *cont = new_view(parent, sway_view);
+	struct sway_seat *seat = input_manager_current_seat(input_manager);
+	swayc_t *focus = sway_seat_get_focus_inactive(seat, &root_container);
+	swayc_t *cont = new_view(focus, sway_view);
 	sway_view->swayc = cont;
 
 	arrange_windows(cont->parent, -1, -1);