diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/mouse.py b/qutebrowser/browser/mouse.py
index 5320bfa6b..24ced7d47 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/mouse.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/mouse.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 from PyQt5.QtCore import QObject, QEvent, Qt, QTimer
 
 from qutebrowser.config import config
-from qutebrowser.utils import message, log, usertypes, qtutils
+from qutebrowser.utils import message, log, usertypes, qtutils, objreg
 from qutebrowser.keyinput import modeman
 
 
@@ -40,11 +40,12 @@ class ChildEventFilter(QObject):
         _widget: The widget expected to send out childEvents.
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, eventfilter, widget, parent=None):
+    def __init__(self, eventfilter, widget, win_id, parent=None):
         super().__init__(parent)
         self._filter = eventfilter
         assert widget is not None
         self._widget = widget
+        self._win_id = win_id
 
     def eventFilter(self, obj, event):
         """Act on ChildAdded events."""
@@ -57,7 +58,22 @@ class ChildEventFilter(QObject):
 
             if qtutils.version_check('5.11', compiled=False, exact=True):
                 # WORKAROUND for https://bugreports.qt.io/browse/QTBUG-68076
-                QTimer.singleShot(0, self._widget.setFocus)
+                pass_modes = [usertypes.KeyMode.command,
+                              usertypes.KeyMode.prompt,
+                              usertypes.KeyMode.yesno]
+                if modeman.instance(self._win_id).mode not in pass_modes:
+                    tabbed_browser = objreg.get('tabbed-browser',
+                                                scope='window',
+                                                window=self._win_id)
+                    current_index = tabbed_browser.widget.currentIndex()
+                    try:
+                        widget_index = tabbed_browser.widget.indexOf(
+                            self._widget.parent())
+                    except RuntimeError:
+                        widget_index = -1
+                    if current_index == widget_index:
+                        QTimer.singleShot(0, self._widget.setFocus)
+
         elif event.type() == QEvent.ChildRemoved:
             child = event.child()
             log.mouse.debug("{}: removed child {}".format(obj, child))
diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/webengine/webenginetab.py b/qutebrowser/browser/webengine/webenginetab.py
index fdfbc5fb0..86f5e08c8 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/webengine/webenginetab.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/webengine/webenginetab.py
@@ -959,7 +959,7 @@ class WebEngineTab(browsertab.AbstractTab):
             fp.installEventFilter(self._mouse_event_filter)
         self._child_event_filter = mouse.ChildEventFilter(
             eventfilter=self._mouse_event_filter, widget=self._widget,
-            parent=self)
+            win_id=self.win_id, parent=self)
         self._widget.installEventFilter(self._child_event_filter)
 
     @pyqtSlot()
diff --git a/qutebrowser/mainwindow/tabbedbrowser.py b/qutebrowser/mainwindow/tabbedbrowser.py
index 6b4e16950..aa5f74824 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/mainwindow/tabbedbrowser.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/mainwindow/tabbedbrowser.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 import functools
 
 import attr
-from PyQt5.QtWidgets import QSizePolicy, QWidget
+from PyQt5.QtWidgets import QSizePolicy, QWidget, QApplication
 from PyQt5.QtCore import pyqtSignal, pyqtSlot, QTimer, QUrl
 from PyQt5.QtGui import QIcon
 
@@ -462,6 +462,8 @@ class TabbedBrowser(QWidget):
                           "related {}, idx {}".format(
                               url, background, related, idx))
 
+        prev_focus = QApplication.focusWidget()
+
         if (config.val.tabs.tabs_are_windows and self.widget.count() > 0 and
                 not ignore_tabs_are_windows):
             window = mainwindow.MainWindow(private=self.private)
@@ -491,12 +493,21 @@ class TabbedBrowser(QWidget):
             tab.resize(self.widget.currentWidget().size())
             self.widget.tab_index_changed.emit(self.widget.currentIndex(),
                                                self.widget.count())
+            # Refocus webview in case we lost it by spawning a bg tab
+            self.widget.currentWidget().setFocus()
         else:
             self.widget.setCurrentWidget(tab)
             # WORKAROUND for https://bugreports.qt.io/browse/QTBUG-68076
             # Still seems to be needed with Qt 5.11.1
             tab.setFocus()
 
+        mode = modeman.instance(self._win_id).mode
+        if mode in [usertypes.KeyMode.command, usertypes.KeyMode.prompt,
+                    usertypes.KeyMode.yesno]:
+            # If we were in a command prompt, restore old focus
+            # The above commands need to be run to switch tabs
+            prev_focus.setFocus()
+
         tab.show()
         self.new_tab.emit(tab, idx)
         return tab
diff --git a/tests/end2end/data/hints/link_input.html b/tests/end2end/data/hints/link_input.html
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..56d02433c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/end2end/data/hints/link_input.html
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+<!DOCTYPE html>
+
+<html>
+    <head>
+        <meta charset="utf-8">
+        <title>Simple link and input</title>
+        <script type="text/javascript">
+          function setup_event_listener() {
+              var elem = document.getElementById('qute-input-existing');
+              console.log(elem);
+              elem.addEventListener('input', function() {
+                  console.log("contents: " + elem.value);
+              });
+          }
+        </script>
+    </head>
+    <body onload="setup_event_listener()">
+        <a href="/data/hello.txt" id="link">Follow me!</a>
+        <form><input id="qute-input"></input></form>
+        With padding:
+        <form><input type="text" style="padding-left: 20px;"></input></form>
+        With existing text (logs to JS)::
+        <form><input id="qute-input-existing" value="existing"></input></form>
+    </body>
+</html>
diff --git a/tests/end2end/features/tabs.feature b/tests/end2end/features/tabs.feature
index 1841ef9c9..5f5ae5d29 100644
--- a/tests/end2end/features/tabs.feature
+++ b/tests/end2end/features/tabs.feature
@@ -1250,3 +1250,41 @@ Feature: Tab management
         Then the following tabs should be open:
             - data/numbers/1.txt
             - data/numbers/2.txt (pinned) (active)
+
+
+    Scenario: Focused webview after clicking link in bg
+        When I open data/hints/link_input.html
+        And I run :click-element id qute-input-existing
+        And I wait for "Entering mode KeyMode.insert *" in the log
+        And I run :leave-mode
+        And I hint with args "all tab-bg" and follow a
+        And I wait until data/hello.txt is loaded
+        And I run :enter-mode insert
+        And I run :fake-key -g new
+        Then the javascript message "contents: existingnew" should be logged
+
+    Scenario: Focused webview after opening link in bg
+        When I open data/hints/link_input.html
+        And I run :click-element id qute-input-existing
+        And I wait for "Entering mode KeyMode.insert *" in the log
+        And I run :leave-mode
+        And I open data/hello.txt in a new background tab
+        And I run :enter-mode insert
+        And I run :fake-key -g new
+        Then the javascript message "contents: existingnew" should be logged
+
+    Scenario: Focused prompt after opening link in bg
+        When I open data/hints/link_input.html
+        When I run :set-cmd-text -s :message-info
+        And I open data/hello.txt in a new background tab
+        And I run :fake-key -g hello-world
+        And I run :command-accept
+        Then the message "hello-world" should be shown
+
+    Scenario: Focused prompt after opening link in fg
+        When I open data/hints/link_input.html
+        When I run :set-cmd-text -s :message-info
+        And I open data/hello.txt in a new tab
+        And I run :fake-key -g hello-world
+        And I run :command-accept
+        Then the message "hello-world" should be shown