diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 215ea56..eb15191 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ DESTDIR=/some/staging/path make install
 ## Usage
 
 ```bash
-gsplash <image_or_video_path> <game_executable> [game_arguments...]
+gsplash [options] <image_or_video_path> <game_executable> [game_arguments...]
 ```
 
 Example:
@@ -72,9 +72,17 @@ Gsplash allows you to configure how the image or video is displayed with 3 modes
 You can set these by using the `-m` or `--mode` flag:
 
 ```bash
-build/gsplash [--mode=stretch|center|crop] <background> <executable> [args...]
+gsplash [--mode=stretch|center|crop] <background> <executable> [args...]
 
-build/gsplash -m stretch|center|crop <background> <executable> [args...]
+gsplash -m stretch|center|crop <background> <executable> [args...]
+```
+
+You can optionally protect the splash screen from dismissing on focus changes for a given number of seconds using `-i` or `--ignore-focus=SEC`. This is useful if the game process itself brings up a short-lived focus window before the main game window opens:
+
+```bash
+gsplash --ignore-focus=2.5 <background> <executable> [args...]
+
+gsplash -i 2.5 <background> <executable> [args...]
 ```
 
 
diff --git a/src/gsplash.c b/src/gsplash.c
index 45722f0..b90af27 100644
--- a/src/gsplash.c
+++ b/src/gsplash.c
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@ static void compute_dest_rect(int src_w, int src_h, int out_w, int out_h,
 
 int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
   RenderMode render_mode = RENDER_CENTER;
+  float focus_ignore_seconds = 0.0f;
   int arg_index = 1;
 
 #ifndef GSPLASH_VERSION
@@ -114,6 +115,16 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
       }
       render_mode = parse_render_mode(argv[arg_index + 1]);
       arg_index += 2;
+    } else if (strncmp(argv[arg_index], "--ignore-focus=", 15) == 0) {
+      focus_ignore_seconds = atof(argv[arg_index] + 15);
+      arg_index++;
+    } else if (strcmp(argv[arg_index], "-i") == 0) {
+      if (arg_index + 1 >= argc) {
+        log_error("Missing value for option -i");
+        return 1;
+      }
+      focus_ignore_seconds = atof(argv[arg_index + 1]);
+      arg_index += 2;
     } else if (strcmp(argv[arg_index], "--version") == 0 ||
                strcmp(argv[arg_index], "-v") == 0) {
       printf("gsplash version %s\n", GSPLASH_VERSION);
@@ -123,11 +134,15 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
       printf("Usage: %s [options] <image_path> <game_executable> [args...]\n",
              argv[0]);
       printf("Options:\n");
-      printf("  -v, --version     Show version information\n");
+      printf("  -v, --version           Show version information\n");
       printf(
-          "  -m, --mode=MODE   Set render mode: stretch, center (default), "
+          "  -m, --mode=MODE         Set render mode: stretch, center "
+          "(default), "
           "crop\n");
-      printf("  -h, --help        Show this help message\n");
+      printf(
+          "  -i, --ignore-focus=SEC  Ignore focus changes for a given amount "
+          "of seconds\n");
+      printf("  -h, --help              Show this help message\n");
       return 0;
     } else {
       log_error("Unknown option: %s", argv[arg_index]);
@@ -261,6 +276,7 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
 
   // Fork the process to run the game
   log_info("Launching game executable");
+  Uint32 launch_time = SDL_GetTicks();
   pid_t pid = fork();
   if (pid == 0) {
     // Inside Child Process: Hand over execution directly to the game binary
@@ -328,10 +344,16 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
           // THE MOMENT THE GAME WINDOW STEALS FOCUS:
           if (event.window.event == SDL_WINDOWEVENT_FOCUS_LOST &&
               !hide_scheduled) {
-            log_info("Splash window hidden (focus lost), scheduling hide");
-            hide_scheduled = true;
-            hide_time =
-                SDL_GetTicks() + 100;  // 100ms delay to prevent desktop flash
+            Uint32 current_time = SDL_GetTicks();
+            if (current_time - launch_time <
+                (Uint32)(focus_ignore_seconds * 1000.0f)) {
+              log_info("Ignoring focus loss due to ignore limit");
+            } else {
+              log_info("Splash window hidden (focus lost), scheduling hide");
+              hide_scheduled = true;
+              hide_time =
+                  SDL_GetTicks() + 100;  // 100ms delay to prevent desktop flash
+            }
           }
           // Re-render static image when compositor requests a redraw
           if (event.window.event == SDL_WINDOWEVENT_EXPOSED && texture &&