diff --git a/include/sway/tree/container.h b/include/sway/tree/container.h
index 62c6556b..5cf5b6b1 100644
--- a/include/sway/tree/container.h
+++ b/include/sway/tree/container.h
@@ -357,4 +357,6 @@ void container_raise_floating(struct sway_container *con);
 
 bool container_is_scratchpad_hidden(struct sway_container *con);
 
+bool container_is_scratchpad_hidden_or_child(struct sway_container *con);
+
 #endif
diff --git a/sway/commands/focus.c b/sway/commands/focus.c
index d745aab5..56c3d981 100644
--- a/sway/commands/focus.c
+++ b/sway/commands/focus.c
@@ -365,7 +365,7 @@ struct cmd_results *cmd_focus(int argc, char **argv) {
 	}
 
 	if (argc == 0 && container) {
-		if (container_is_scratchpad_hidden(container)) {
+		if (container_is_scratchpad_hidden_or_child(container)) {
 			root_scratchpad_show(container);
 		}
 		seat_set_focus_container(seat, container);
diff --git a/sway/tree/container.c b/sway/tree/container.c
index aa819be7..56cdee1d 100644
--- a/sway/tree/container.c
+++ b/sway/tree/container.c
@@ -1527,3 +1527,10 @@ void container_raise_floating(struct sway_container *con) {
 bool container_is_scratchpad_hidden(struct sway_container *con) {
 	return con->scratchpad && !con->workspace;
 }
+
+bool container_is_scratchpad_hidden_or_child(struct sway_container *con) {
+	while (con->parent) {
+		con = con->parent;
+	}
+	return con->scratchpad && !con->workspace;
+}
diff --git a/sway/tree/root.c b/sway/tree/root.c
index 46a140ef..ebd185ec 100644
--- a/sway/tree/root.c
+++ b/sway/tree/root.c
@@ -132,6 +132,11 @@ void root_scratchpad_show(struct sway_container *con) {
 	if (old_ws) {
 		container_detach(con);
 		workspace_consider_destroy(old_ws);
+	} else {
+		// Act on the ancestor of scratchpad hidden split containers
+		while (con->parent) {
+			con = con->parent;
+		}
 	}
 	workspace_add_floating(new_ws, con);