diff --git a/win32/rsrc/resource.h b/win32/rsrc/resource.h
index 07389e60..2f46d864 100644
--- a/win32/rsrc/resource.h
+++ b/win32/rsrc/resource.h
@@ -485,6 +485,7 @@
 #define ID_DEBUG_APU_TRACE              40173
 #define ID_EMULATION_BACKGROUNDINPUT    40174
 #define ID_SAVEMEMPACK                  40175
+#define ID_INPUT_BACKGROUNDKEYBOARDHOTKEYS 40176
 #define ID_FILE_SAVE0                   44000
 #define ID_FILE_SAVE1                   44001
 #define ID_FILE_SAVE2                   44002
@@ -513,8 +514,8 @@
 // 
 #ifdef APSTUDIO_INVOKED
 #ifndef APSTUDIO_READONLY_SYMBOLS
-#define _APS_NEXT_RESOURCE_VALUE        154
-#define _APS_NEXT_COMMAND_VALUE         40176
+#define _APS_NEXT_RESOURCE_VALUE        155
+#define _APS_NEXT_COMMAND_VALUE         40178
 #define _APS_NEXT_CONTROL_VALUE         3022
 #define _APS_NEXT_SYMED_VALUE           101
 #endif
diff --git a/win32/rsrc/snes9x.rc b/win32/rsrc/snes9x.rc
index 90ccdaec..33b0801f 100644
--- a/win32/rsrc/snes9x.rc
+++ b/win32/rsrc/snes9x.rc
@@ -880,6 +880,7 @@ BEGIN
         MENUITEM "&Customize Hotkeys...\tAlt+F9", ID_OPTIONS_KEYCUSTOM
         MENUITEM SEPARATOR
         MENUITEM "Enable Background Input",     ID_EMULATION_BACKGROUNDINPUT
+        MENUITEM "Background Keyboard Hotkeys", ID_INPUT_BACKGROUNDKEYBOARDHOTKEYS
         MENUITEM SEPARATOR
         MENUITEM "Use SNES Joypad(s)",          IDM_SNES_JOYPAD
         MENUITEM "Use SNES Mouse",              IDM_MOUSE_TOGGLE
diff --git a/win32/wconfig.cpp b/win32/wconfig.cpp
index 0646a97b..707b6a64 100644
--- a/win32/wconfig.cpp
+++ b/win32/wconfig.cpp
@@ -1042,6 +1042,7 @@ void WinRegisterConfigItems()
 #undef ADDTN
 #undef ADD2T2
 	AddBool2C("Input:Background", GUI.BackgroundInput, false, "on to detect game keypresses and hotkeys while window is inactive, if PauseWhenInactive = FALSE.");
+	AddBool2C("Input:BackgroundKeyHotkeys", GUI.BackgroundKeyHotkeys, true, "on to also detect keyboard hotkeys when backgroundinput is active");
 #undef CATEGORY
 #define	CATEGORY "Controls\\Win\\Hotkeys"
 	AddBool2C("Handler:Joystick", GUI.JoystickHotkeys, true, "on to detect game controller buttons assigned to hotkeys. May impact performance.");
diff --git a/win32/wsnes9x.cpp b/win32/wsnes9x.cpp
index b2251d38..84d55242 100644
--- a/win32/wsnes9x.cpp
+++ b/win32/wsnes9x.cpp
@@ -971,6 +971,12 @@ int HandleKeyMessage(WPARAM wParam, LPARAM lParam)
 
 	bool hitHotKey = false;
 
+    // if this is not a gamepad press and background hotkeys are disabled, skip it if we do not have focus
+    if (!GUI.BackgroundKeyHotkeys && !(wParam & 0x8000) && GUI.hWnd != GetForegroundWindow())
+    {
+        return 0;
+    }
+
 	if(!(wParam == 0 || wParam == VK_ESCAPE)) // if it's the 'disabled' key, it's never pressed as a hotkey
 	{
 		int modifiers = 0;
@@ -1934,6 +1940,10 @@ LRESULT CALLBACK WinProc(
 				GUI.hHotkeyTimer = timeSetEvent (32, 0, (LPTIMECALLBACK)HotkeyTimer, 0, TIME_PERIODIC);
 			break;
 
+        case ID_INPUT_BACKGROUNDKEYBOARDHOTKEYS:
+            GUI.BackgroundKeyHotkeys = !GUI.BackgroundKeyHotkeys;
+            break;
+
 		case ID_FILE_LOADMULTICART:
 			{
 				RestoreGUIDisplay ();
@@ -4018,6 +4028,11 @@ static void CheckMenuStates ()
 	mii.fState = GUI.BackgroundInput ? MFS_CHECKED : MFS_UNCHECKED;
 	SetMenuItemInfo (GUI.hMenu, ID_EMULATION_BACKGROUNDINPUT, FALSE, &mii);
 
+    mii.fState = GUI.BackgroundKeyHotkeys ? MFS_CHECKED : MFS_UNCHECKED;
+    if (!GUI.BackgroundInput)
+        mii.fState |= MFS_DISABLED;
+    SetMenuItemInfo(GUI.hMenu, ID_INPUT_BACKGROUNDKEYBOARDHOTKEYS, FALSE, &mii);
+
 	UINT validFlag;
     ControllerOptionsFromControllers();
 
diff --git a/win32/wsnes9x.h b/win32/wsnes9x.h
index 05c2dada..66a9a067 100644
--- a/win32/wsnes9x.h
+++ b/win32/wsnes9x.h
@@ -374,6 +374,7 @@ struct sGUI {
 	int  ValidControllerOptions;
 	int  SoundChannelEnable;
 	bool BackgroundInput;
+    bool BackgroundKeyHotkeys;
 	bool JoystickHotkeys;
 	bool MovieClearSRAM;
 	bool MovieStartFromReset;