diff --git a/data/org.virt-manager.virt-manager.gschema.xml b/data/org.virt-manager.virt-manager.gschema.xml
index d755f6eaf..2fede6cb1 100644
--- a/data/org.virt-manager.virt-manager.gschema.xml
+++ b/data/org.virt-manager.virt-manager.gschema.xml
@@ -188,6 +188,13 @@
       <description>Grab keyboard sequence for the graphical console</description>
     </key>
 
+    <!--This key is not intended to be exposed in the UI yet-->
+    <key name="grab-keyboard" type="b">
+      <default>true</default>
+      <summary>Enable grab keyboard when active and focused</summary>
+      <description>Enable grab keyboard when active and focused</description>
+    </key>
+
     <key name="auto-redirect" type="b">
       <default>true</default>
       <summary>Enable SPICE Auto USB redirection in console window</summary>
diff --git a/virtManager/config.py b/virtManager/config.py
index dd624e9a3..5c9c127bd 100644
--- a/virtManager/config.py
+++ b/virtManager/config.py
@@ -286,6 +286,14 @@ class vmmConfig(object):
     def on_keys_combination_changed(self, cb):
         return self.conf.notify_add("/console/grab-keys", cb)
 
+    # This key is not intended to be exposed in the UI yet
+    def get_grab_keyboard(self):
+        return self.conf.get("/console/grab-keyboard")
+    def set_grab_keyboard(self, val):
+        self.conf.set("/console/grab-keyboard", val)
+    def on_grab_keyboard_changed(self, cb):
+        return self.conf.notify_add("/console/grab-keyboard", cb)
+
     # Confirmation preferences
     def get_confirm_forcepoweroff(self):
         return self.conf.get("/confirm/forcepoweroff")
diff --git a/virtManager/console.py b/virtManager/console.py
index 651364504..ee12390ff 100644
--- a/virtManager/console.py
+++ b/virtManager/console.py
@@ -360,6 +360,9 @@ class Viewer(vmmGObject):
     def send_keys(self, keys):
         raise NotImplementedError()
 
+    def set_grab_keyboard(self):
+        raise NotImplementedError()
+
     def open_host(self, ginfo):
         raise NotImplementedError()
 
@@ -394,6 +397,7 @@ class VNCViewer(Viewer):
 
     def init_widget(self):
         self.set_grab_keys()
+        self.set_grab_keyboard()
 
         self.display.realize()
 
@@ -403,7 +407,6 @@ class VNCViewer(Viewer):
         self.console.sync_scaling_with_display()
         self.console.refresh_resizeguest_from_settings()
 
-        self.display.set_keyboard_grab(True)
         self.display.set_pointer_grab(True)
 
         self.display.connect("size-allocate",
@@ -461,6 +464,10 @@ class VNCViewer(Viewer):
     def send_keys(self, keys):
         return self.display.send_keys([Gdk.keyval_from_name(k) for k in keys])
 
+    def set_grab_keyboard(self):
+        self.display.set_keyboard_grab(self.config.get_grab_keyboard())
+        self.display.force_grab(self.config.get_grab_keyboard())
+
     def _desktop_resize(self, src_ignore, w, h):
         self.desktop_resolution = (w, h)
         self.console.widget("console-gfx-scroll").queue_resize()
@@ -571,6 +578,7 @@ class SpiceViewer(Viewer):
 
     def _init_widget(self):
         self.set_grab_keys()
+        self.set_grab_keyboard()
         self.console.sync_scaling_with_display()
         self.console.refresh_resizeguest_from_settings()
 
@@ -617,6 +625,9 @@ class SpiceViewer(Viewer):
         return self.display.send_keys([Gdk.keyval_from_name(k) for k in keys],
                                       SpiceClientGtk.DisplayKeyEvent.CLICK)
 
+    def set_grab_keyboard(self):
+        self.display.set_property("grab-keyboard", self.config.get_grab_keyboard())
+
     def close(self):
         if self.spice_session is not None:
             self.spice_session.disconnect()
@@ -875,6 +886,8 @@ class vmmConsolePages(vmmGObjectUI):
             self.config.on_console_accels_changed(self.set_enable_accel))
         self.add_gconf_handle(
             self.config.on_keys_combination_changed(self.grab_keys_changed))
+        self.add_gconf_handle(
+            self.config.on_grab_keyboard_changed(self.grab_keyboard_changed))
 
         self.page_changed()
 
@@ -1027,6 +1040,9 @@ class vmmConsolePages(vmmGObjectUI):
     def pointer_grabbed(self, src_ignore):
         self.pointer_is_grabbed = True
         self.change_title()
+        if not self.config.get_grab_keyboard():
+            self.viewer.display.force_grab(False)
+            self.viewer.display.set_keyboard_grab(self.config.get_grab_keyboard())
 
     def pointer_ungrabbed(self, src_ignore):
         self.pointer_is_grabbed = False
@@ -1067,6 +1083,10 @@ class vmmConsolePages(vmmGObjectUI):
         if self.viewer:
             self.viewer.set_grab_keys()
 
+    def grab_keyboard_changed(self):
+        if self.viewer:
+            self.viewer.set_grab_keyboard()
+
     def set_enable_accel(self):
         # Make sure modifiers are up to date
         self.viewer_focus_changed()