diff --git a/src/con.c b/src/con.c
index f90d569f..ded8d7bf 100644
--- a/src/con.c
+++ b/src/con.c
@@ -810,7 +810,7 @@ Con *con_get_next(Con *con, char way, orientation_t orientation) {
  */
 Con *con_descend_focused(Con *con) {
     Con *next = con;
-    while (!TAILQ_EMPTY(&(next->focus_head)))
+    while (next != focused && !TAILQ_EMPTY(&(next->focus_head)))
         next = TAILQ_FIRST(&(next->focus_head));
     return next;
 }
@@ -827,6 +827,8 @@ Con *con_descend_tiling_focused(Con *con) {
     Con *next = con;
     Con *before;
     Con *child;
+    if (next == focused)
+        return next;
     do {
         before = next;
         TAILQ_FOREACH(child, &(next->focus_head), focused) {
@@ -836,7 +838,7 @@ Con *con_descend_tiling_focused(Con *con) {
             next = child;
             break;
         }
-    } while (before != next);
+    } while (before != next && next != focused);
     return next;
 }
 
diff --git a/testcases/t/186-regress-assign-focus-parent.t b/testcases/t/186-regress-assign-focus-parent.t
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6f2e584f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testcases/t/186-regress-assign-focus-parent.t
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+#!perl
+# vim:ts=4:sw=4:expandtab
+#
+# Regression test: New windows were not opened in the correct place if they
+# matched an assignment.
+# Wrong behaviour manifested itself up to (including) commit
+# f78caf8c5815ae7a66de9e4b734546fd740cc19d
+#
+use i3test i3_autostart => 0;
+
+my $config = <<EOT;
+# i3 config file (v4)
+font -misc-fixed-medium-r-normal--13-120-75-75-C-70-iso10646-1
+
+assign [title="testcase"] targetws
+EOT
+
+my $pid = launch_with_config($config);
+
+my $i3 = i3(get_socket_path(0));
+
+cmd 'workspace targetws';
+
+open_window(name => "testcase");
+
+my $nodes = get_ws_content('targetws');
+is(scalar @$nodes, 1, 'precisely one window');
+
+open_window(name => "testcase");
+
+$nodes = get_ws_content('targetws');
+is(scalar @$nodes, 2, 'precisely two windows');
+
+cmd 'split v';
+
+open_window(name => "testcase");
+
+$nodes = get_ws_content('targetws');
+is(scalar @$nodes, 2, 'still two windows');
+
+# focus parent. the new window should now be opened right next to the last one.
+cmd 'focus parent';
+
+open_window(name => "testcase");
+
+$nodes = get_ws_content('targetws');
+is(scalar @$nodes, 3, 'new window opened next to last one');
+
+exit_gracefully($pid);
+
+done_testing;