diff --git a/kitty/boss.py b/kitty/boss.py
index 1e0a64965..3314edd8e 100644
--- a/kitty/boss.py
+++ b/kitty/boss.py
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ class Boss(Thread):
         startup_session = create_session(opts, args)
         self.cursor_blink_zero_time = monotonic()
         self.cursor_blinking = True
+        self.window_is_focused = True
         self.glfw_window_title = None
         self.action_queue = Queue()
         self.pending_resize = False
@@ -287,10 +288,15 @@ class Boss(Thread):
 
     @callback
     def on_focus(self, window, focused):
+        self.window_is_focused = focused
         w = self.active_window
         if w is not None:
             yield w
             w.focus_changed(focused)
+        if focused:
+            self.start_cursor_blink()
+        else:
+            self.stop_cursor_blinking()
 
     def display_scrollback(self, data):
         if self.opts.scrollback_in_new_tab:
@@ -408,7 +414,7 @@ class Boss(Thread):
                         self.ui_timers.add_if_missing(((n + 1) * d / 1000) - now, glfw_post_empty_event)
                     if draw_cursor:
                         with self.cursor_program:
-                            active.char_grid.render_cursor(rd, self.cursor_program)
+                            active.char_grid.render_cursor(rd, self.cursor_program, self.window_is_focused)
 
     def gui_close_window(self, window):
         if window.char_grid.buffer_id is not None:
diff --git a/kitty/char_grid.py b/kitty/char_grid.py
index 9174f156c..473122f0f 100644
--- a/kitty/char_grid.py
+++ b/kitty/char_grid.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ from .utils import get_logical_dpi, to_color, set_primary_selection, open_url, c
 from .fast_data_types import (
     glUniform2ui, glUniform4f, glUniform1i, glUniform2f, glDrawArraysInstanced,
     GL_TRIANGLE_FAN, glEnable, glDisable, GL_BLEND, glDrawArrays, ColorProfile,
-    CURSOR_BEAM, CURSOR_BLOCK, CURSOR_UNDERLINE, DATA_CELL_SIZE
+    CURSOR_BEAM, CURSOR_BLOCK, CURSOR_UNDERLINE, DATA_CELL_SIZE, GL_LINE_LOOP
 )
 
 Cursor = namedtuple('Cursor', 'x y shape color blink')
@@ -454,7 +454,7 @@ class CharGrid:
     def render_cells(self, sg, cell_program, sprites):
         render_cells(self.buffer_id, sg, cell_program, sprites)
 
-    def render_cursor(self, sg, cursor_program):
+    def render_cursor(self, sg, cursor_program, is_focused):
         cursor = self.current_cursor
         if not self.screen.cursor_visible or self.scrolled_by:
             return
@@ -481,5 +481,8 @@ class CharGrid:
         glUniform4f(ul('color'), col[0], col[1], col[2], alpha)
         glUniform2f(ul('xpos'), left, right)
         glUniform2f(ul('ypos'), top, bottom)
-        glDrawArrays(GL_TRIANGLE_FAN, 0, 4)
+        if is_focused:
+            glDrawArrays(GL_TRIANGLE_FAN, 0, 4)
+        else:
+            glDrawArrays(GL_LINE_LOOP, 0, 4)
         glDisable(GL_BLEND)
diff --git a/kitty/gl.h b/kitty/gl.h
index 80f03b62e..34f8d1fd9 100644
--- a/kitty/gl.h
+++ b/kitty/gl.h
@@ -654,7 +654,7 @@ int add_module_gl_constants(PyObject *module) {
     GLC(GL_VENDOR);
     GLC(GL_SHADING_LANGUAGE_VERSION);
     GLC(GL_RENDERER);
-    GLC(GL_TRIANGLE_FAN); GLC(GL_TRIANGLE_STRIP); GLC(GL_TRIANGLES);
+    GLC(GL_TRIANGLE_FAN); GLC(GL_TRIANGLE_STRIP); GLC(GL_TRIANGLES); GLC(GL_LINE_LOOP);
     GLC(GL_COLOR_BUFFER_BIT);
     GLC(GL_VERTEX_SHADER);
     GLC(GL_FRAGMENT_SHADER);