diff --git a/layers.cpp b/layers.cpp
index 7a71086e46..a552624c61 100644
--- a/layers.cpp
+++ b/layers.cpp
@@ -431,6 +431,21 @@ void Workspace::restackClientUnderActive( Client* c )
                 }
             }
         }
+    // the same for global_focus_chain
+    if( c->wantsTabFocus() && global_focus_chain.contains( active_client ))
+        {
+        global_focus_chain.removeAll( c );
+        for ( int i = global_focus_chain.size() - 1;
+              i >= 0;
+              --i )
+            {
+            if( Client::belongToSameApplication( active_client, global_focus_chain.at( i ) ))
+                {
+                global_focus_chain.insert( i, c );
+                break;
+                }
+            }
+        }
     updateStackingOrder();
     }
 
diff --git a/tabbox.cpp b/tabbox.cpp
index f6ad7c09da..82663a9e78 100644
--- a/tabbox.cpp
+++ b/tabbox.cpp
@@ -1165,14 +1165,13 @@ int Workspace::previousDesktopFocusChain( int iDesktop ) const
 */
 Client* Workspace::nextFocusChainClient( Client* c ) const
     {
-    int desktop = !c || c->isOnAllDesktops() ? currentDesktop() : c->desktop();
-    if ( focus_chain[desktop].isEmpty() )
+    if ( global_focus_chain.isEmpty() )
         return 0;
-    ClientList::ConstIterator it = focus_chain[desktop].find( c );
-    if ( it == focus_chain[desktop].end() )
-        return focus_chain[desktop].last();
-    if ( it == focus_chain[desktop].begin() )
-        return focus_chain[desktop].last();
+    ClientList::ConstIterator it = global_focus_chain.find( c );
+    if ( it == global_focus_chain.end() )
+        return global_focus_chain.last();
+    if ( it == global_focus_chain.begin() )
+        return global_focus_chain.last();
     --it;
     return *it;
     }
@@ -1183,15 +1182,14 @@ Client* Workspace::nextFocusChainClient( Client* c ) const
 */
 Client* Workspace::previousFocusChainClient( Client* c ) const
     {
-    int desktop = !c || c->isOnAllDesktops() ? currentDesktop() : c->desktop();
-    if ( focus_chain[desktop].isEmpty() )
+    if ( global_focus_chain.isEmpty() )
         return 0;
-    ClientList::ConstIterator it = focus_chain[desktop].find( c );
-    if ( it == focus_chain[desktop].end() )
-        return focus_chain[desktop].first();
+    ClientList::ConstIterator it = global_focus_chain.find( c );
+    if ( it == global_focus_chain.end() )
+        return global_focus_chain.first();
     ++it;
-    if ( it == focus_chain[desktop].end() )
-        return focus_chain[desktop].first();
+    if ( it == global_focus_chain.end() )
+        return global_focus_chain.first();
     return *it;
     }
 
diff --git a/workspace.cpp b/workspace.cpp
index e7f5722bb0..c146ebf856 100644
--- a/workspace.cpp
+++ b/workspace.cpp
@@ -568,6 +568,7 @@ void Workspace::removeClient( Client* c, allowed_t )
          i <= numberOfDesktops();
          ++i )
         focus_chain[ i ].remove( c );
+    global_focus_chain.remove( c );
     attention_chain.remove( c );
     if( c->isTopMenu())
         removeTopMenu( c );
@@ -602,6 +603,7 @@ void Workspace::updateFocusChains( Client* c, bool make_first )
              i<= numberOfDesktops();
              ++i )
             focus_chain[i].remove(c);
+        global_focus_chain.remove( c );
         return;
         }
     if(c->desktop() == NET::OnAllDesktops)
@@ -635,6 +637,13 @@ void Workspace::updateFocusChains( Client* c, bool make_first )
                 focus_chain[ i ].remove( c );
             }
         }
+    if( make_first )
+        {
+        global_focus_chain.remove( c );
+        global_focus_chain.append( c );
+        }
+    else if( !global_focus_chain.contains( c ))
+        global_focus_chain.prepend( c );
     }
 
 void Workspace::updateCurrentTopMenu()
diff --git a/workspace.h b/workspace.h
index 636e8dd743..d5cae85b6c 100644
--- a/workspace.h
+++ b/workspace.h
@@ -510,6 +510,7 @@ class Workspace : public QObject, public KWinInterface, public KDecorationDefine
         ClientList unconstrained_stacking_order;
         ClientList stacking_order;
         QVector< ClientList > focus_chain;
+        ClientList global_focus_chain; // this one is only for things like tabbox's MRU
         ClientList should_get_focus; // last is most recent
         ClientList attention_chain;