@@ -274,6 +274,9 @@ 
     /* get all the stuff off the window */
     client_get_all(self, TRUE);
 
+    ob_debug("Window type: %d\n", self->type);
+    ob_debug("Window group: 0x%x\n", self->group?self->group->leader:0);
+
     /* specify that if we exit, the window should not be destroyed and
        should be reparented back to root automatically */
     XChangeSaveSet(ob_display, window, SetModeInsert);
@@ -320,7 +323,7 @@ ((config_focus_new || (settings && settings->focus == 1)) ||
          client_search_focus_tree_full(self)) &&
         /* this checks for focus=false for the window */
         (!settings || settings->focus != 0) &&
-        focus_valid_target(self, FALSE, TRUE, FALSE, FALSE))
+        focus_valid_target(self, FALSE, FALSE, TRUE, FALSE, FALSE))
     {
         activate = TRUE;
     }

@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ 2. it is a valid auto-focus target
            3. it is not shaded
         */
         if ((allow_omnipresent || c->desktop == screen_desktop) &&
-            focus_valid_target(c, FALSE, FALSE, FALSE, FALSE) &&
+            focus_valid_target(c, TRUE, FALSE, FALSE, FALSE, FALSE) &&
             !c->shaded &&
             (allow_refocus || client_focus_target(c) != old) &&
             client_focus(c))
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ 2. it is a normal type window, don't fall back onto a dock or
            a splashscreen or a desktop window (save the desktop as a
            backup fallback though)
         */
-        if (focus_valid_target(c, FALSE, FALSE, FALSE, TRUE) &&
+        if (focus_valid_target(c, TRUE, FALSE, FALSE, FALSE, TRUE) &&
             (allow_refocus || client_focus_target(c) != old) &&
             client_focus(c))
         {
@@ -284,7 +284,8 @@ for (it = ft->group->members; it; it = g_slist_next(it)) {
         ObClient *c = it->data;
         /* check that it's not a helper window to avoid infinite recursion */
         if (c != ft && c->type == OB_CLIENT_TYPE_NORMAL &&
-            focus_valid_target(c, iconic_windows, all_desktops, FALSE, FALSE))
+            focus_valid_target(c, TRUE, iconic_windows, all_desktops,
+                               FALSE, FALSE))
         {
             return TRUE;
         }
@@ -293,6 +294,7 @@ return FALSE;
 }
 
 gboolean focus_valid_target(ObClient *ft,
+                            gboolean helper_windows,
                             gboolean iconic_windows,
                             gboolean all_desktops,
                             gboolean dock_windows,
@@ -326,10 +328,12 @@ ((client_normal(ft) && !client_helper(ft))
              ||
              /* helper windows are valid targets if... */
              (client_helper(ft) &&
-              /* ...a window in its group already has focus ... */
-              ((focus_client && ft->group == focus_client->group) ||
+              /* ...a window in its group already has focus and we want to
+                 include helper windows ... */
+              ((focus_client && ft->group == focus_client->group &&
+                helper_windows) ||
                /* ... or if there are no other windows in its group 
-                  that can be cycled to instead */
+                  that can be focused instead */
                !focus_target_has_siblings(ft, iconic_windows, all_desktops))));
 
     /* it's not set to skip the taskbar (unless it is a type that would be
@@ -348,6 +352,7 @@ you choose this window and bring the modal one here */
     {
         ObClient *cft = client_focus_target(ft);
         ok = ok && (ft == cft || !focus_valid_target(cft,
+                                                     TRUE,
                                                      iconic_windows,
                                                      all_desktops,
                                                      dock_windows,

@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ 
 struct _ObClient *focus_order_find_first(guint desktop);
 
 gboolean focus_valid_target(struct _ObClient *ft,
+                            gboolean helper_windows,
                             gboolean iconic_windows,
                             gboolean all_desktops,
                             gboolean dock_windows,

@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ {
     /* stop focus cycling if the given client is a valid focus target,
        and so the cycling is being disrupted */
     if (focus_cycle_target && ifclient &&
-        focus_valid_target(ifclient,
+        focus_valid_target(ifclient, TRUE,
                            focus_cycle_iconic_windows,
                            focus_cycle_all_desktops,
                            focus_cycle_dock_windows,
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ it = it->prev;
             if (it == NULL) it = g_list_last(list);
         }
         ft = it->data;
-        if (focus_valid_target(ft,
+        if (focus_valid_target(ft, TRUE,
                                focus_cycle_iconic_windows,
                                focus_cycle_all_desktops,
                                focus_cycle_dock_windows,
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ 
         /* the currently selected window isn't interesting */
         if (cur == c)
             continue;
-        if (!focus_valid_target(it->data, FALSE, FALSE, dock_windows,
+        if (!focus_valid_target(it->data, TRUE, FALSE, FALSE, dock_windows,
                                 desktop_windows))
             continue;
 
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ else {
         GList *it;
 
         for (it = focus_order; it; it = g_list_next(it))
-            if (focus_valid_target(it->data,
+            if (focus_valid_target(it->data, TRUE,
                                    focus_cycle_iconic_windows,
                                    focus_cycle_all_desktops,
                                    focus_cycle_dock_windows,

@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ n = 0;
     for (it = g_list_last(focus_order); it; it = g_list_previous(it)) {
         ObClient *ft = it->data;
 
-        if (focus_valid_target(ft,
+        if (focus_valid_target(ft, TRUE,
                                iconic_windows,
                                all_desktops,
                                dock_windows,