diff --git a/containments/panel/package/contents/ui/main.qml b/containments/panel/package/contents/ui/main.qml
index 58fc6476..344055bd 100644
--- a/containments/panel/package/contents/ui/main.qml
+++ b/containments/panel/package/contents/ui/main.qml
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import org.kde.notificationmanager as NotificationManager
 ContainmentItem {
     id: root
     Plasmoid.backgroundHints: PlasmaCore.Types.NoBackground
+    Plasmoid.status: PlasmaCore.Types.PassiveStatus // ensure that the panel never takes focus away from the running app
 
     // filled in by the shell (Panel.qml) with the plasma-workspace PanelView
     property var panel: null
diff --git a/containments/taskpanel/package/contents/ui/main.qml b/containments/taskpanel/package/contents/ui/main.qml
index 3933f8f9..0b00f4af 100644
--- a/containments/taskpanel/package/contents/ui/main.qml
+++ b/containments/taskpanel/package/contents/ui/main.qml
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import org.kde.plasma.private.mobileshell.windowplugin as WindowPlugin
 ContainmentItem {
     id: root
     Plasmoid.backgroundHints: PlasmaCore.Types.NoBackground
+    Plasmoid.status: PlasmaCore.Types.PassiveStatus // ensure that the panel never takes focus away from the running app
 
     // filled in by the shell (Panel.qml) with the plasma-workspace PanelView
     property var panel: null