diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-input-focus.c b/clutter/clutter/clutter-input-focus.c
index 2aea51e24..b54e64aa3 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-input-focus.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-input-focus.c
@@ -179,6 +179,14 @@ clutter_input_focus_filter_event (ClutterInputFocus  *focus,
                                             event->im.offset);
       return TRUE;
     }
+  else if (event->type == CLUTTER_TOUCH_BEGIN ||
+	   (event->type == CLUTTER_BUTTON_PRESS &&
+	    event->button.button == CLUTTER_BUTTON_PRIMARY))
+    {
+      clutter_input_focus_reset (focus);
+      /* pointing events are not consumed by IMs */
+      return FALSE;
+    }
 
   return FALSE;
 }