diff --git a/src/server/focus.cpp b/src/server/focus.cpp
index 7a13ad7..4b62788 100644
--- a/src/server/focus.cpp
+++ b/src/server/focus.cpp
@@ -82,6 +82,10 @@ namespace umbriel {
     m_server.registry().promote(view);
     view->setUrgent(false);
 
+    if (reason == FocusReason::XdgActivation || reason == FocusReason::ForeignActivation) {
+      view->applyDeferredUnfullscreen();
+    }
+
     // Keep workspace focus while exclusive layer-shell holds the seat; refocus applies it later. Still clear activation
     // chrome so the previous window does not stay visually focused. Overview owns the seat the same way, but keeps the
     // chrome so card borders track the focused window; the keyboard enter replays when it closes.
diff --git a/src/view/view.cpp b/src/view/view.cpp
index 7eda712..c7b1b81 100644
--- a/src/view/view.cpp
+++ b/src/view/view.cpp
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 #include "view/xdg_size.h"
 // clang-format off
 #include <algorithm>
+#include <chrono>
 #include <cmath>
 #include "wlr.h"
 // clang-format on
@@ -1813,8 +1814,10 @@ namespace umbriel {
     // fullscreen strip the moment the user scrolls away. Deny unfullscreen from deactivated windows; the scheduled
     // configure re-asserts the fullscreen state (spec-compliant).
     if (!requested && !m_toplevel->scheduled.activated) {
+      m_deferredUnfullscreen = true;
+      m_deferredUnfullscreenAt = std::chrono::steady_clock::now();
       kLog.debug(
-          "request_fullscreen denied for deactivated '{}'", m_toplevel->app_id != nullptr ? m_toplevel->app_id : "?"
+          "request_fullscreen parked for deactivated '{}'", m_toplevel->app_id != nullptr ? m_toplevel->app_id : "?"
       );
       wlr_xdg_surface_schedule_configure(m_toplevel->base);
       return;
@@ -1840,6 +1843,25 @@ namespace umbriel {
     setFullscreen(!m_toplevel->scheduled.fullscreen);
   }
 
+  void View::applyDeferredUnfullscreen() {
+    constexpr auto kDeferredUnfullscreenGrace = std::chrono::milliseconds(750);
+    if (!m_deferredUnfullscreen) {
+      return;
+    }
+    m_deferredUnfullscreen = false;
+    if (!m_toplevel->base->initialized
+        || std::chrono::steady_clock::now() - m_deferredUnfullscreenAt > kDeferredUnfullscreenGrace) {
+      return;
+    }
+    if (m_toplevel->scheduled.fullscreen || m_toplevel->current.fullscreen) {
+      kLog.debug(
+          "deferred unfullscreen applied on activation for '{}'",
+          m_toplevel->app_id != nullptr ? m_toplevel->app_id : "?"
+      );
+      setFullscreen(false);
+    }
+  }
+
   void View::toggleFloating() { setFloating(m_tiled); }
 
   void View::restorePinnedSceneParent() {
@@ -2081,6 +2103,7 @@ namespace umbriel {
   }
 
   void View::setFullscreen(bool fullscreen) {
+    m_deferredUnfullscreen = false;
     kLog.debug(
         "set_fullscreen '{}' [{}] -> {} (tiled={}, ws_active={})",
         m_toplevel->app_id != nullptr ? m_toplevel->app_id : "?", static_cast<const void*>(this), fullscreen, m_tiled,
diff --git a/src/view/view.h b/src/view/view.h
index eaa113e..59a5aac 100644
--- a/src/view/view.h
+++ b/src/view/view.h
@@ -125,6 +125,7 @@ namespace umbriel {
     void applyFullscreenLayout(bool animate = false);
     // Compositor-driven fullscreen toggle (keybind); client requests use handleRequestFullscreen.
     void toggleFullscreen();
+    void applyDeferredUnfullscreen();
     void setMaximizedToEdges(bool maximized);
     void toggleMaximizedToEdges();
     // Detach from the scrolling layout (float) or re-insert as a tiled column.
@@ -326,6 +327,8 @@ namespace umbriel {
     // 0 until the first frame tick after arming; the grace deadline counts
     // from there so a stalled frame clock cannot expire it instantly.
     uint64_t m_unfullscreenGraceStartMsec = 0;
+    bool m_deferredUnfullscreen = false;
+    std::chrono::steady_clock::time_point m_deferredUnfullscreenAt{};
     // Geometry at unfullscreen time; a commit with a different geometry means
     // the client accepted windowed mode and the grace can end early.
     wlr_box m_unfullscreenGeometry{};