diff --git a/abstract_client.cpp b/abstract_client.cpp
index 00c188ba8e..59c9b84c38 100644
--- a/abstract_client.cpp
+++ b/abstract_client.cpp
@@ -804,7 +804,7 @@ bool AbstractClient::performMouseCommand(Options::MouseCommand cmd, const QPoint
         break;
     case Options::MouseActivateAndRaise: {
         replay = isActive(); // for clickraise mode
-        bool mustReplay = !rules()->checkAcceptFocus(info->input());
+        bool mustReplay = !rules()->checkAcceptFocus(acceptsFocus());
         if (mustReplay) {
             ToplevelList::const_iterator  it = workspace()->stackingOrder().constEnd(),
                                      begin = workspace()->stackingOrder().constBegin();
@@ -824,13 +824,13 @@ bool AbstractClient::performMouseCommand(Options::MouseCommand cmd, const QPoint
         workspace()->requestFocus(this);
         workspace()->lowerClient(this);
         screens()->setCurrent(globalPos);
-        replay = replay || !rules()->checkAcceptFocus(info->input());
+        replay = replay || !rules()->checkAcceptFocus(acceptsFocus());
         break;
     case Options::MouseActivate:
         replay = isActive(); // for clickraise mode
         workspace()->takeActivity(this, Workspace::ActivityFocus);
         screens()->setCurrent(globalPos);
-        replay = replay || !rules()->checkAcceptFocus(info->input());
+        replay = replay || !rules()->checkAcceptFocus(acceptsFocus());
         break;
     case Options::MouseActivateRaiseAndPassClick:
         workspace()->takeActivity(this, Workspace::ActivityFocus | Workspace::ActivityRaise);
diff --git a/abstract_client.h b/abstract_client.h
index 1cd60cd183..2c282620e4 100644
--- a/abstract_client.h
+++ b/abstract_client.h
@@ -589,6 +589,12 @@ protected:
     void setIcon(const QIcon &icon);
     void startAutoRaise();
     void autoRaise();
+    /**
+     * Whether the window accepts focus.
+     * The difference to wantsInput is that the implementation should not check rules and return
+     * what the window effectively supports.
+     **/
+    virtual bool acceptsFocus() const = 0;
     /**
      * Called from ::setActive once the active value got updated, but before the changed signal
      * is emitted.
diff --git a/client.cpp b/client.cpp
index d224eaf890..c0bc621f40 100644
--- a/client.cpp
+++ b/client.cpp
@@ -1815,7 +1815,12 @@ void Client::sendSyncRequest()
 
 bool Client::wantsInput() const
 {
-    return rules()->checkAcceptFocus(info->input() || info->supportsProtocol(NET::TakeFocusProtocol));
+    return rules()->checkAcceptFocus(acceptsFocus() || info->supportsProtocol(NET::TakeFocusProtocol));
+}
+
+bool Client::acceptsFocus() const
+{
+    return info->input();
 }
 
 void Client::setBlockingCompositing(bool block)
diff --git a/client.h b/client.h
index 1607396d85..b61f96a394 100644
--- a/client.h
+++ b/client.h
@@ -410,6 +410,7 @@ protected:
     bool isWaitingForMoveResizeSync() const override;
     void doResizeSync() override;
     QSize resizeIncrements() const override;
+    bool acceptsFocus() const override;
 
 private Q_SLOTS:
     void delayedSetShortcut();
diff --git a/shell_client.cpp b/shell_client.cpp
index 4821a7f144..abe1688c2a 100644
--- a/shell_client.cpp
+++ b/shell_client.cpp
@@ -569,6 +569,11 @@ bool ShellClient::userCanSetNoBorder() const
 }
 
 bool ShellClient::wantsInput() const
+{
+    return rules()->checkAcceptFocus(acceptsFocus());
+}
+
+bool ShellClient::acceptsFocus() const
 {
     if (isInternal()) {
         return false;
diff --git a/shell_client.h b/shell_client.h
index 9eb6794505..dfb740378f 100644
--- a/shell_client.h
+++ b/shell_client.h
@@ -129,6 +129,7 @@ protected:
     }
     void doResizeSync() override;
     bool isWaitingForMoveResizeSync() const override;
+    bool acceptsFocus() const override;
 
 private Q_SLOTS:
     void clientFullScreenChanged(bool fullScreen);