diff --git a/src/con.c b/src/con.c
index 91f11d24..0ed4436a 100644
--- a/src/con.c
+++ b/src/con.c
@@ -623,12 +623,18 @@ Con *con_next_focused(Con *con) {
         return con_descend_focused(output_get_content(con->parent->parent));
     }
 
-    /* try to focus the next container on the same level as this one */
-    next = TAILQ_NEXT(con, focused);
-
-    /* if that was not possible, go up to its parent */
-    if (next == TAILQ_END(&(parent->nodes_head)))
-        next = con->parent;
+    /* if 'con' is not the first entry in the focus stack, use the first one as
+     * it’s currently focused already */
+    Con *first = TAILQ_FIRST(&(con->parent->focus_head));
+    if (first != con) {
+        DLOG("Using first entry %p\n", first);
+        next = first;
+    } else {
+        /* try to focus the next container on the same level as this one or fall
+         * back to its parent */
+        if (!(next = TAILQ_NEXT(con, focused)))
+            next = con->parent;
+    }
 
     /* now go down the focus stack as far as
      * possible, excluding the current container */
diff --git a/testcases/t/29-focus-after-close.t b/testcases/t/29-focus-after-close.t
index d922578c..b34e6686 100644
--- a/testcases/t/29-focus-after-close.t
+++ b/testcases/t/29-focus-after-close.t
@@ -4,8 +4,11 @@
 # Check if the focus is correctly restored after closing windows.
 #
 use i3test;
+use X11::XCB qw(:all);
 use List::Util qw(first);
 
+my $x = X11::XCB::Connection->new;
+
 my $i3 = i3("/tmp/nestedcons");
 
 my $tmp = fresh_workspace;
@@ -87,6 +90,27 @@ is(get_focused($tmp), $right, 'top right container focused (in focus stack)');
 my $tr = first { $_->{id} eq $right } @{$nodes->[0]->{nodes}};
 is($tr->{focused}, 1, 'top right container really has focus');
 
+##############################################################
+# check if focus is correct after closing an unfocused window
+##############################################################
+
+$tmp = fresh_workspace;
+
+ok(@{get_ws_content($tmp)} == 0, 'no containers yet');
+
+$first = open_empty_con($i3);
+$middle = open_empty_con($i3);
+# XXX: the $right empty con will be filled with the x11 window we are creating afterwards
+$right = open_empty_con($i3);
+my $win = open_standard_window($x, '#00ff00');
+
+cmd qq|[con_id="$middle"] focus|;
+$win->destroy;
+
+sleep 0.25;
+
+is(get_focused($tmp), $middle, 'middle container focused');
+
 ##############################################################
 # and now for something completely different:
 # check if the pointer position is relevant when restoring focus