diff --git a/js/ui/messageTray.js b/js/ui/messageTray.js
index 6892ba193..cfc2e6ce1 100644
--- a/js/ui/messageTray.js
+++ b/js/ui/messageTray.js
@@ -1561,6 +1561,9 @@ const MessageTray = new Lang.Class({
     },
 
     _trayDwellTimeout: function() {
+        if (Main.modalCount > 0)
+            return false;
+
         // If the user interacted with the focus window since we started the tray
         // dwell (by clicking or typing), don't activate the message tray
         let focusWindow = global.display.focus_window;