diff --git a/src/manage.c b/src/manage.c
index f5bd76ea..238d991c 100644
--- a/src/manage.c
+++ b/src/manage.c
@@ -321,11 +321,20 @@ void manage_window(xcb_window_t window, xcb_get_window_attributes_cookie_t cooki
     x_set_name(nc, name);
     free(name);
 
+    /* handle fullscreen containers */
     Con *ws = con_get_workspace(nc);
     Con *fs = (ws ? con_get_fullscreen_con(ws, CF_OUTPUT) : NULL);
     if (fs == NULL)
         fs = con_get_fullscreen_con(croot, CF_GLOBAL);
 
+    xcb_get_property_reply_t *state_reply = xcb_get_property_reply(conn, state_cookie, NULL);
+    if (xcb_reply_contains_atom(state_reply, A__NET_WM_STATE_FULLSCREEN)) {
+        fs = NULL;
+        con_toggle_fullscreen(nc, CF_OUTPUT);
+    }
+
+    FREE(state_reply);
+
     if (fs == NULL) {
         DLOG("Not in fullscreen mode, focusing\n");
         if (!cwindow->dock) {
@@ -429,12 +438,6 @@ void manage_window(xcb_window_t window, xcb_get_window_attributes_cookie_t cooki
     xcb_change_window_attributes(conn, window, XCB_CW_EVENT_MASK, values);
     xcb_flush(conn);
 
-    reply = xcb_get_property_reply(conn, state_cookie, NULL);
-    if (xcb_reply_contains_atom(reply, A__NET_WM_STATE_FULLSCREEN))
-        con_toggle_fullscreen(nc, CF_OUTPUT);
-
-    FREE(reply);
-
     /* Put the client inside the save set. Upon termination (whether killed or
      * normal exit does not matter) of the window manager, these clients will
      * be correctly reparented to their most closest living ancestor (=
diff --git a/testcases/t/100-fullscreen.t b/testcases/t/100-fullscreen.t
index cec7000a..54b29c9d 100644
--- a/testcases/t/100-fullscreen.t
+++ b/testcases/t/100-fullscreen.t
@@ -214,4 +214,25 @@ sync_with_i3;
 # Verify that $swindow was the one that initially remained fullscreen.
 is(fullscreen_windows($tmp), 0, 'no fullscreen windows on first ws');
 
+################################################################################
+# Verify that opening a window with _NET_WM_STATE_FULLSCREEN unfullscreens any
+# existing container on the workspace and fullscreens the newly opened window.
+################################################################################
+
+$tmp = fresh_workspace;
+
+$window = open_window();
+
+cmd "fullscreen";
+
+is(fullscreen_windows($tmp), 1, 'one fullscreen window on ws');
+is($x->input_focus, $window->id, 'fullscreen window focused');
+
+$swindow = open_window({
+    fullscreen => 1
+});
+
+is(fullscreen_windows($tmp), 1, 'one fullscreen window on ws');
+is($x->input_focus, $swindow->id, 'fullscreen window focused');
+
 done_testing;