diff --git a/macos/Sources/Ghostty/SurfaceView_AppKit.swift b/macos/Sources/Ghostty/SurfaceView_AppKit.swift
index 255248c61..2c8a3165d 100644
--- a/macos/Sources/Ghostty/SurfaceView_AppKit.swift
+++ b/macos/Sources/Ghostty/SurfaceView_AppKit.swift
@@ -514,6 +514,9 @@ extension Ghostty {
             let pos = self.convert(event.locationInWindow, from: nil)
             ghostty_surface_mouse_pos(surface, pos.x, frame.height - pos.y)
 
+            if !self.focused {
+                Ghostty.moveFocus(to: self)
+            }
         }
 
         override func mouseDragged(with event: NSEvent) {