diff --git a/sat_frontends/primitivus/primitivus b/sat_frontends/primitivus/primitivus
index c9566f1c..c2dbf117 100755
--- a/sat_frontends/primitivus/primitivus
+++ b/sat_frontends/primitivus/primitivus
@@ -640,10 +640,17 @@ class PrimitivusApp(QuickApp, InputHistory):
             self.x_notify.sendNotification(message)
 
 
-    def newWidget(self, widget):
+    def newWidget(self, widget, user_action=False):
+        """Method called when a new widget is created
+
+        if suitable, the widget will be displayed
+        @param widget(widget.PrimitivusWidget): created widget
+        @param user_action(bool): if True, the widget has been created following an
+            explicit user action. In this case, the widget may get focus immediately
+        """
         # FIXME: when several widgets are possible (e.g. with :split)
         #        do not replace current widget when self.selected_widget != None
-        if self.selected_widget is None:
+        if user_action or self.selected_widget is None:
             self.selectWidget(widget)
 
     def selectWidget(self, widget):
diff --git a/sat_frontends/primitivus/xmlui.py b/sat_frontends/primitivus/xmlui.py
index 6b8b7a3e..f0946a7d 100644
--- a/sat_frontends/primitivus/xmlui.py
+++ b/sat_frontends/primitivus/xmlui.py
@@ -503,7 +503,7 @@ class XMLUIPanel(xmlui.XMLUIPanel, PrimitivusWidget):
         if show_type == "popup":
             self.host.showPopUp(self, valign=valign)
         elif show_type == "window":
-            self.host.newWidget(self)
+            self.host.newWidget(self, user_action=self.user_action)
         else:
             assert False
         self.host.redraw()