diff --git a/include/view.h b/include/view.h
index 613f9160..b1df8abf 100644
--- a/include/view.h
+++ b/include/view.h
@@ -75,13 +75,18 @@ enum view_wants_focus {
 	/* View wants focus */
 	VIEW_WANTS_FOCUS_ALWAYS,
 	/*
-	 * View should be offered focus and may accept or decline
-	 * (a.k.a. ICCCM Globally Active input model). Labwc generally
-	 * avoids focusing these views automatically (e.g. when another
-	 * view on top is closed) but they may be focused by user action
-	 * (e.g. mouse click).
+	 * The following values apply only to XWayland views using the
+	 * Globally Active input model per the ICCCM. These views are
+	 * offered focus and will voluntarily accept or decline it.
+	 *
+	 * In some cases, labwc needs to decide in advance whether to
+	 * focus the view. For this purpose, these views are classified
+	 * (by a heuristic) as likely or unlikely to want focus. However,
+	 * it is still ultimately up to the client whether the view gets
+	 * focus or not.
 	 */
-	VIEW_WANTS_FOCUS_OFFER,
+	VIEW_WANTS_FOCUS_LIKELY,
+	VIEW_WANTS_FOCUS_UNLIKELY,
 };
 
 /*
diff --git a/src/desktop.c b/src/desktop.c
index 47ae1fb4..df179eb2 100644
--- a/src/desktop.c
+++ b/src/desktop.c
@@ -84,7 +84,8 @@ desktop_focus_view(struct view *view, bool raise)
 			seat_focus_surface(seat, view->surface);
 		}
 		break;
-	case VIEW_WANTS_FOCUS_OFFER:
+	case VIEW_WANTS_FOCUS_LIKELY:
+	case VIEW_WANTS_FOCUS_UNLIKELY:
 		view_offer_focus(view);
 		break;
 	case VIEW_WANTS_FOCUS_NEVER:
diff --git a/src/view.c b/src/view.c
index 33b9ec39..2c4560be 100644
--- a/src/view.c
+++ b/src/view.c
@@ -392,10 +392,14 @@ view_is_focusable(struct view *view)
 	if (!view->surface) {
 		return false;
 	}
-	if (view_wants_focus(view) != VIEW_WANTS_FOCUS_ALWAYS) {
+
+	switch (view_wants_focus(view)) {
+	case VIEW_WANTS_FOCUS_ALWAYS:
+	case VIEW_WANTS_FOCUS_LIKELY:
+		return (view->mapped || view->minimized);
+	default:
 		return false;
 	}
-	return (view->mapped || view->minimized);
 }
 
 void
diff --git a/src/xwayland.c b/src/xwayland.c
index 4d2860e3..7a4aed9b 100644
--- a/src/xwayland.c
+++ b/src/xwayland.c
@@ -116,8 +116,8 @@ xwayland_view_wants_focus(struct view *view)
 	 */
 	case WLR_ICCCM_INPUT_MODEL_GLOBAL:
 		/*
-		 * Assume that NORMAL and DIALOG windows always want
-		 * focus. These window types should show up in the
+		 * Assume that NORMAL and DIALOG windows are likely to
+		 * want focus. These window types should show up in the
 		 * Alt-Tab switcher and be automatically focused when
 		 * they become topmost.
 		 */
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ xwayland_view_wants_focus(struct view *view)
 				WLR_XWAYLAND_NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_NORMAL)
 			|| wlr_xwayland_surface_has_window_type(xsurface,
 				WLR_XWAYLAND_NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_DIALOG)) ?
-			VIEW_WANTS_FOCUS_ALWAYS : VIEW_WANTS_FOCUS_OFFER;
+			VIEW_WANTS_FOCUS_LIKELY : VIEW_WANTS_FOCUS_UNLIKELY;
 
 	/*
 	 * No Input - The client never expects keyboard input.