diff --git a/js/ui/layout.js b/js/ui/layout.js
index 3dc7466b5..20696ae90 100644
--- a/js/ui/layout.js
+++ b/js/ui/layout.js
@@ -280,6 +280,9 @@ const LayoutManager = new Lang.Class({
         this._inOverview = true;
         this._updateVisibility();
         this._updateRegions();
+
+        global.window_group.hide();
+        global.top_window_group.hide();
     },
 
     hideOverview: function() {
@@ -288,6 +291,9 @@ const LayoutManager = new Lang.Class({
         this._inOverview = false;
         this._updateVisibility();
         this._queueUpdateRegions();
+
+        global.window_group.show();
+        global.top_window_group.show();
     },
 
     _sessionUpdated: function() {
@@ -858,9 +864,6 @@ const LayoutManager = new Lang.Class({
     _updateVisibility: function() {
         let windowsVisible = Main.sessionMode.hasWindows && !this._inOverview;
 
-        global.window_group.visible = windowsVisible;
-        global.top_window_group.visible = windowsVisible;
-
         for (let i = 0; i < this._trackedActors.length; i++) {
             let actorData = this._trackedActors[i], visible;
             if (!actorData.trackFullscreen)
diff --git a/js/ui/screenShield.js b/js/ui/screenShield.js
index 41e06cec1..f34b3f531 100644
--- a/js/ui/screenShield.js
+++ b/js/ui/screenShield.js
@@ -1008,6 +1008,7 @@ const ScreenShield = new Lang.Class({
             return;
 
         this._ensureLockScreen();
+        this._lockDialogGroup.hide();
         this._lockDialogGroup.scale_x = 1;
         this._lockDialogGroup.scale_y = 1;
 
@@ -1106,8 +1107,10 @@ const ScreenShield = new Lang.Class({
         }));
         this._cursorTracker.set_pointer_visible(false);
 
-        this._lockScreenState = MessageTray.State.SHOWN;
+        this._lockDialogGroup.show();
         this._lockScreenGroup.fixed_position_set = false;
+        this._lockScreenState = MessageTray.State.SHOWN;
+        Main.layoutManager.sessionGroup.hide();
         this._lockScreenScrollCounter = 0;
 
         if (params.fadeToBlack && params.animateFade) {
@@ -1234,6 +1237,7 @@ const ScreenShield = new Lang.Class({
             this._isModal = false;
         }
 
+        Main.layoutManager.sessionGroup.show();
         Tweener.addTween(this._lockDialogGroup, {
             scale_x: 0,
             scale_y: 0,