diff --git a/include/config/rcxml.h b/include/config/rcxml.h
index 91a73d58..7addd6f4 100644
--- a/include/config/rcxml.h
+++ b/include/config/rcxml.h
@@ -199,6 +199,9 @@ struct rcxml {
 	float mag_scale;
 	float mag_increment;
 	bool mag_filter;
+
+	/* Focus behavior */
+	bool focus_titlebar_on_mouse_enter;
 };
 
 extern struct rcxml rc;
diff --git a/src/config/rcxml.c b/src/config/rcxml.c
index 264c65a8..0897e2ea 100644
--- a/src/config/rcxml.c
+++ b/src/config/rcxml.c
@@ -1142,6 +1142,8 @@ entry(xmlNode *node, char *nodename, char *content)
 		set_bool(content, &rc.focus_follow_mouse_requires_movement);
 	} else if (!strcasecmp(nodename, "raiseOnFocus.focus")) {
 		set_bool(content, &rc.raise_on_focus);
+	} else if (!strcasecmp(nodename, "focusOnTitlebarEnter.focus")) {
+		set_bool(content, &rc.focus_titlebar_on_mouse_enter);
 	} else if (!strcasecmp(nodename, "doubleClickTime.mouse")) {
 		long doubleclick_time_parsed = strtol(content, NULL, 10);
 		if (doubleclick_time_parsed > 0) {
@@ -1406,6 +1408,9 @@ rcxml_init(void)
 	}
 	has_run = true;
 
+	/* default: don't focus on titlebar enter */
+	rc.focus_titlebar_on_mouse_enter = false;
+
 	rc.placement_policy = LAB_PLACE_CASCADE;
 	rc.placement_cascade_offset_x = 0;
 	rc.placement_cascade_offset_y = 0;
diff --git a/src/input/cursor.c b/src/input/cursor.c
index 6c12d3da..ea69f3e3 100644
--- a/src/input/cursor.c
+++ b/src/input/cursor.c
@@ -563,6 +563,15 @@ cursor_update_common(struct server *server, struct cursor_context *ctx,
 		 * a drag operation.
 		 */
 		wlr_seat_pointer_notify_clear_focus(wlr_seat);
+		/* Optional: focus toplevel when entering SSD titlebar/title/buttons */
+		if (rc.focus_follow_mouse && rc.focus_titlebar_on_mouse_enter && ctx->view) {
+			/* Titlebar region, window title, or any titlebar button */
+			if (ctx->type == LAB_NODE_TITLEBAR || ctx->type == LAB_NODE_TITLE
+					|| node_type_contains(LAB_NODE_BUTTON, ctx->type)) {
+				desktop_focus_view_or_surface(&server->seat,
+					ctx->view, NULL, rc.raise_on_focus);
+			}
+		}
 		if (!seat->drag.active) {
 			enum lab_cursors cursor = cursor_get_from_ssd(ctx->type);
 			if (ctx->view && ctx->view->shaded && cursor > LAB_CURSOR_GRAB) {