diff --git a/mscore/musescore.cpp b/mscore/musescore.cpp
index ba233cd73bcac..a3857b3fb45b1 100644
--- a/mscore/musescore.cpp
+++ b/mscore/musescore.cpp
@@ -5879,6 +5879,10 @@ void MuseScore::cmd(QAction* a)
                tr("Command %1 not valid in current state").arg(cmdn));
             return;
             }
+      if (sc->assignedWidget() == MsWidget::SCORE_TAB && !ctab->isAncestorOf(QApplication::focusWidget())) {
+            qDebug("MuseScore::cmd(): not on score tab <%s>", qPrintable(cmdn));
+            return;
+            }
       if (cmdn == "toggle-palette") {
             showPalette(a->isChecked());
             if (a->isChecked()) {