diff --git a/include/sway/desktop/launcher.h b/include/sway/desktop/launcher.h
index ad465a9e..412068a9 100644
--- a/include/sway/desktop/launcher.h
+++ b/include/sway/desktop/launcher.h
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ struct launcher_ctx {
 	struct wl_listener seat_destroy;
 
 	bool activated;
+	bool had_focused_surface;
 
 	struct sway_node *node;
 	struct wl_listener node_destroy;
diff --git a/include/sway/tree/view.h b/include/sway/tree/view.h
index 8bfda018..ef1a26b8 100644
--- a/include/sway/tree/view.h
+++ b/include/sway/tree/view.h
@@ -242,6 +242,11 @@ void view_set_activated(struct sway_view *view, bool activated);
  */
 void view_request_activate(struct sway_view *view, struct sway_seat *seat);
 
+/*
+ * Called when the view requests urgent state
+ */
+void view_request_urgent(struct sway_view *view);
+
 /**
  * If possible, instructs the client to change their decoration mode.
  */
diff --git a/sway/desktop/launcher.c b/sway/desktop/launcher.c
index 4a4255d7..0c02b997 100644
--- a/sway/desktop/launcher.c
+++ b/sway/desktop/launcher.c
@@ -216,6 +216,8 @@ struct launcher_ctx *launcher_ctx_create(struct wlr_xdg_activation_token_v1 *tok
 	ctx->fallback_name = strdup(fallback_name);
 	ctx->token = token;
 	ctx->node = node;
+	// Having surface set means that the focus check in wlroots has passed
+	ctx->had_focused_surface = token->surface != NULL;
 
 	ctx->node_destroy.notify = ctx_handle_node_destroy;
 	wl_signal_add(&ctx->node->events.destroy, &ctx->node_destroy);
diff --git a/sway/tree/view.c b/sway/tree/view.c
index 5525bf63..4a0d8069 100644
--- a/sway/tree/view.c
+++ b/sway/tree/view.c
@@ -412,6 +412,12 @@ void view_request_activate(struct sway_view *view, struct sway_seat *seat) {
 	transaction_commit_dirty();
 }
 
+void view_request_urgent(struct sway_view *view) {
+	if (config->focus_on_window_activation != FOWA_NONE) {
+		view_set_urgent(view, true);
+	}
+}
+
 void view_set_csd_from_server(struct sway_view *view, bool enabled) {
 	sway_log(SWAY_DEBUG, "Telling view %p to set CSD to %i", view, enabled);
 	if (view->xdg_decoration) {
diff --git a/sway/xdg_activation_v1.c b/sway/xdg_activation_v1.c
index 72c7fa4c..b7c80dd4 100644
--- a/sway/xdg_activation_v1.c
+++ b/sway/xdg_activation_v1.c
@@ -44,8 +44,11 @@ void xdg_activation_v1_handle_request_activate(struct wl_listener *listener,
 		seat = ctx->token->seat ? ctx->token->seat->data : NULL;
 	}
 
-	if (seat) {
+	if (seat && ctx->had_focused_surface) {
 		view_request_activate(view, seat);
+	} else {
+		// The token is valid, but cannot be used to activate a window
+		view_request_urgent(view);
 	}
 }