diff --git a/config.def.h b/config.def.h
index fd350ad07e..760a089aed 100644
--- a/config.def.h
+++ b/config.def.h
@@ -156,7 +156,8 @@ static const unsigned rewind_buffer_size = 20 << 20; // 20MiB
 // How many frames to rewind at a time.
 static const unsigned rewind_granularity = 1;
 
-
+// Pause gameplay when gameplay loses focus.
+static const bool pause_nonactive = true;
 
 
 ////////////////////
diff --git a/driver.h b/driver.h
index 35247020a9..07d0da34bc 100644
--- a/driver.h
+++ b/driver.h
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@ typedef struct video_driver
    void (*set_nonblock_state)(void* data, bool toggle); // Should we care about syncing to vblank? Fast forwarding.
    // Is the window still active?
    bool (*alive)(void *data);
+   bool (*focus)(void *data); // Does the window have focus?
    void (*free)(void* data);
    const char *ident;
 } video_driver_t;
diff --git a/general.h b/general.h
index b763b98e24..fc3d453653 100644
--- a/general.h
+++ b/general.h
@@ -90,6 +90,8 @@ struct settings
    bool rewind_enable;
    unsigned rewind_buffer_size;
    unsigned rewind_granularity;
+
+   bool pause_nonactive;
 };
 
 enum ssnes_game_type
diff --git a/gfx/gl.c b/gfx/gl.c
index bfec6c50cb..6a8a3bf300 100644
--- a/gfx/gl.c
+++ b/gfx/gl.c
@@ -553,11 +553,18 @@ static bool gl_alive(void *data)
    return !gl->quitting;
 }
 
+static bool gl_focus(void *data)
+{
+   (void)data;
+   return (SDL_GetAppState() & (SDL_APPINPUTFOCUS | SDL_APPACTIVE)) == (SDL_APPINPUTFOCUS | SDL_APPACTIVE);
+}
+
 const video_driver_t video_gl = {
    .init = gl_init,
    .frame = gl_frame,
    .alive = gl_alive,
    .set_nonblock_state = gl_set_nonblock_state,
+   .focus = gl_focus,
    .free = gl_free,
    .ident = "gl"
 };
diff --git a/input/sdl.c b/input/sdl.c
index 66b9561193..52c5feb540 100644
--- a/input/sdl.c
+++ b/input/sdl.c
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ static void sdl_input_poll(void *data)
                *sdl->should_resize = true;
             }
             break;
-            
+
          default:
             break;
       }
diff --git a/settings.c b/settings.c
index 2edf005d3c..af031c72b5 100644
--- a/settings.c
+++ b/settings.c
@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@ static void set_defaults(void)
    g_settings.rewind_enable = rewind_enable;
    g_settings.rewind_buffer_size = rewind_buffer_size;
    g_settings.rewind_granularity = rewind_granularity;
+   g_settings.pause_nonactive = pause_nonactive;
 
    assert(sizeof(g_settings.input.binds[0]) >= sizeof(snes_keybinds_1));
    assert(sizeof(g_settings.input.binds[1]) >= sizeof(snes_keybinds_2));
@@ -320,6 +321,8 @@ static void parse_config_file(void)
 
    CONFIG_GET_INT(rewind_granularity, "rewind_granularity");
 
+   CONFIG_GET_BOOL(pause_nonactive, "pause_nonactive");
+
    read_keybinds(conf);
 
    config_file_free(conf);
diff --git a/ssnes.c b/ssnes.c
index ed507edb97..f4287d33ca 100644
--- a/ssnes.c
+++ b/ssnes.c
@@ -943,7 +943,14 @@ static void check_pause(void)
 {
    static bool old_state = false;
    bool new_state = driver.input->key_pressed(driver.input_data, SSNES_PAUSE_TOGGLE);
-   if (new_state && !old_state)
+
+   static bool old_focus = true;
+   bool focus = true;
+
+   if (g_settings.pause_nonactive)
+      focus = driver.video->focus(driver.video_data);
+
+   if (focus && new_state && !old_state)
    {
       g_extern.is_paused = !g_extern.is_paused;
 
@@ -960,7 +967,22 @@ static void check_pause(void)
             driver.audio->start(driver.audio_data);
       }
    }
+   else if (focus && !old_focus)
+   {
+      SSNES_LOG("Unpaused!\n");
+      g_extern.is_paused = false;
+      if (driver.audio_data)
+         driver.audio->start(driver.audio_data);
+   }
+   else if (!focus && old_focus)
+   {
+      SSNES_LOG("Paused!\n");
+      g_extern.is_paused = true;
+      if (driver.audio_data)
+         driver.audio->stop(driver.audio_data);
+   }
 
+   old_focus = focus;
    old_state = new_state;
 }
 
diff --git a/ssnes.cfg b/ssnes.cfg
index 47f4ccabc9..8dbf70698c 100644
--- a/ssnes.cfg
+++ b/ssnes.cfg
@@ -212,3 +212,5 @@
 # Toggle between paused and non-paused state
 # input_pause_toggle = p
 
+# Pause gameplay when window focus is lost.
+# pause_nonactive = true