diff --git a/src/scratchpad.c b/src/scratchpad.c
index c54b1ada..508d4a82 100644
--- a/src/scratchpad.c
+++ b/src/scratchpad.c
@@ -76,6 +76,16 @@ void scratchpad_show(Con *con) {
     Con *__i3_scratch = workspace_get("__i3_scratch", NULL);
     Con *floating;
 
+    /* If the current con or any of its parents are in fullscreen mode, we
+     * first need to disable it before showing the scratchpad con. */
+    Con *fs = focused;
+    while (fs && fs->fullscreen_mode == CF_NONE)
+        fs = fs->parent;
+
+    if (fs->type != CT_WORKSPACE) {
+        con_toggle_fullscreen(focused, CF_OUTPUT);
+    }
+
     /* If this was 'scratchpad show' without criteria, we check if the
      * currently focused window is a scratchpad window and should be hidden
      * again. */