diff --git a/desmume/src/lua-engine.cpp b/desmume/src/lua-engine.cpp
index 901c13966..df74d1647 100644
--- a/desmume/src/lua-engine.cpp
+++ b/desmume/src/lua-engine.cpp
@@ -3655,10 +3655,10 @@ DEFINE_LUA_FUNCTION(input_getcurrentinputstatus, "")
 #if defined(_WIN32) && !defined(WXPORT)
 	// keyboard and mouse button status
 	{
-		int BackgroundInput = 0;//TODO
+		extern bool allowBackgroundInput;
 
 		unsigned char keys [256];
-		if(!BackgroundInput)
+		if(!allowBackgroundInput)
 		{
 			if(GetKeyboardState(keys))
 			{
diff --git a/desmume/src/windows/inputdx.cpp b/desmume/src/windows/inputdx.cpp
index da5567ed8..46ab8eaf7 100644
--- a/desmume/src/windows/inputdx.cpp
+++ b/desmume/src/windows/inputdx.cpp
@@ -252,6 +252,7 @@ SGuitar Guitar;
 u8	guitarState = 0;
 
 bool allowUpAndDown = false;
+bool allowBackgroundInput = false;
 
 extern volatile bool paused;
 
@@ -415,6 +416,7 @@ static void LoadInputConfig()
 #undef DO
 
 	allowUpAndDown = GetPrivateProfileInt("Controls","AllowUpAndDown",0,IniName) != 0;
+	allowBackgroundInput = GetPrivateProfileInt("Controls","AllowBackgroundInput",0,IniName) != 0;
 }
 
 static void WriteControl(char* name, WORD val)
@@ -2142,8 +2144,7 @@ bool S9xGetState (WORD KeyIdent)
 	if(KeyIdent == 0 || KeyIdent == 0xFF || KeyIdent == VK_ESCAPE) // if it's the 'disabled' key, it's never pressed
 		return true;
 
-	//TODO - option for background game keys
-	if(MainWindow->getHWnd() != GetForegroundWindow())
+	if(!allowBackgroundInput && MainWindow->getHWnd() != GetForegroundWindow())
 		return true;
 
     if (KeyIdent & 0x8000) // if it's a joystick 'key':
diff --git a/desmume/src/windows/main.cpp b/desmume/src/windows/main.cpp
index f66ab5400..6648c03d2 100644
--- a/desmume/src/windows/main.cpp
+++ b/desmume/src/windows/main.cpp
@@ -277,6 +277,7 @@ extern HWND RamSearchHWnd;
 static bool lostFocusPause = true;
 static bool lastPauseFromLostFocus = false;
 static bool FrameLimit = true;
+extern bool allowBackgroundInput;
 
 std::vector<HWND> LuaScriptHWnds;
 LRESULT CALLBACK LuaScriptProc(HWND, UINT, WPARAM, LPARAM);
@@ -3663,6 +3664,8 @@ LRESULT CALLBACK WindowProcedure (HWND hwnd, UINT message, WPARAM wParam, LPARAM
 			DesEnableMenuItem(mainMenu, ID_RAM_WATCH,          romloaded);
 			DesEnableMenuItem(mainMenu, ID_RAM_SEARCH,         romloaded);
 
+			DesEnableMenuItem(mainMenu, IDC_BACKGROUNDINPUT,   !lostFocusPause);
+
 			//Update savestate slot items based on ROM loaded
 			for (int x = 0; x < 10; x++)
 			{
@@ -3779,6 +3782,7 @@ LRESULT CALLBACK WindowProcedure (HWND hwnd, UINT message, WPARAM wParam, LPARAM
 			MainWindow->checkMenu(ID_DISPLAYMETHOD_DIRECTDRAWSW, (GetStyle()&DWS_DDRAW_SW)!=0);
 
 			MainWindow->checkMenu(IDC_BACKGROUNDPAUSE, lostFocusPause);
+			MainWindow->checkMenu(IDC_BACKGROUNDINPUT, allowBackgroundInput);
 
 			MainWindow->checkMenu(IDM_CHEATS_DISABLE, CommonSettings.cheatsDisable == true);
 
@@ -4921,7 +4925,14 @@ DOKEYDOWN:
 
 		case IDC_BACKGROUNDPAUSE:
 			lostFocusPause = !lostFocusPause;
+			allowBackgroundInput &= !lostFocusPause;
 			WritePrivateProfileInt("Focus", "BackgroundPause", (int)lostFocusPause, IniName);
+			WritePrivateProfileInt("Controls", "AllowBackgroundInput", (int)allowBackgroundInput, IniName);
+			return 0;
+
+		case IDC_BACKGROUNDINPUT:
+			allowBackgroundInput = !allowBackgroundInput;
+			WritePrivateProfileInt("Controls", "AllowBackgroundInput", (int)allowBackgroundInput, IniName);
 			return 0;
 
 		case ID_DISPLAYMETHOD_DIRECTDRAWHW:
diff --git a/desmume/src/windows/resource.h b/desmume/src/windows/resource.h
index 99fd44246..49c868a41 100644
--- a/desmume/src/windows/resource.h
+++ b/desmume/src/windows/resource.h
@@ -106,6 +106,7 @@
 #define IDC_16_BIT                      303
 #define IDC_32_BIT                      304
 #define IDC_BACKGROUNDPAUSE             305
+#define IDC_BACKGROUNDINPUT             306
 #define IDC_LUACONSOLE                  309
 #define IDC_EDIT_LUAPATH                310
 #define IDC_BUTTON_LUARUN               311
diff --git a/desmume/src/windows/resources.rc b/desmume/src/windows/resources.rc
index bbb9e7e04..31217b426 100644
Binary files a/desmume/src/windows/resources.rc and b/desmume/src/windows/resources.rc differ