diff --git a/src/client.c b/src/client.c
index 0b854b27dd29c6378a7d572ee041ba396b8bd0ea..e1372e6363a0fb67cd81e200fab39ce9e7d635bf 100644
--- a/src/client.c
+++ b/src/client.c
@@ -3045,7 +3045,7 @@ clientFocusNew(Client * c)
     }
     if (params.focus_new || FLAG_TEST(c->flags, CLIENT_FLAG_STATE_MODAL))
     {
-        clientSetFocus (c, FOCUS_SORT);
+        clientSetFocus (c, FOCUS_SORT | FOCUS_IGNORE_MODAL);
         clientPassGrabButton1 (c);
     }
     else