diff --git a/gdk/wayland/gdkapplaunchcontext-wayland.c b/gdk/wayland/gdkapplaunchcontext-wayland.c
index 75742dd8e5..d6252b3e5a 100644
--- a/gdk/wayland/gdkapplaunchcontext-wayland.c
+++ b/gdk/wayland/gdkapplaunchcontext-wayland.c
@@ -46,6 +46,21 @@ static const struct xdg_activation_token_v1_listener token_listener = {
   token_done,
 };
 
+static struct wl_surface *
+peek_launcher_toplevel (GdkSeat *seat)
+{
+  struct wl_surface *wl_surface = NULL;
+  GdkSurface *focus_surface;
+
+  focus_surface = gdk_wayland_device_get_focus (gdk_seat_get_keyboard (seat));
+  while (focus_surface && focus_surface->parent)
+    focus_surface = focus_surface->parent;
+  if (focus_surface)
+    wl_surface = gdk_wayland_surface_get_wl_surface (focus_surface);
+
+  return wl_surface;
+}
+
 static char *
 gdk_wayland_app_launch_context_get_startup_notify_id (GAppLaunchContext *context,
                                                       GAppInfo          *info,
@@ -62,7 +77,6 @@ gdk_wayland_app_launch_context_get_startup_notify_id (GAppLaunchContext *context
       struct wl_event_queue *event_queue;
       struct wl_surface *wl_surface = NULL;
       GdkWaylandSeat *seat;
-      GdkSurface *focus_surface;
       AppLaunchData app_launch_data = { 0 };
 
       event_queue = wl_display_create_queue (display->wl_display);
@@ -78,9 +92,7 @@ gdk_wayland_app_launch_context_get_startup_notify_id (GAppLaunchContext *context
                                           _gdk_wayland_seat_get_last_implicit_grab_serial (seat, NULL),
                                           gdk_wayland_seat_get_wl_seat (GDK_SEAT (seat)));
 
-      focus_surface = gdk_wayland_device_get_focus (gdk_seat_get_keyboard (GDK_SEAT (seat)));
-      if (focus_surface)
-        wl_surface = gdk_wayland_surface_get_wl_surface (focus_surface);
+      wl_surface = peek_launcher_toplevel (GDK_SEAT (seat));
       if (wl_surface)
         xdg_activation_token_v1_set_surface (token, wl_surface);