diff --git a/src/services/mouse.ts b/src/services/mouse.ts
index 12c790ad7..ae8e03b48 100644
--- a/src/services/mouse.ts
+++ b/src/services/mouse.ts
@@ -115,7 +115,8 @@ class Controller_mouse extends Controller_latex {
     };
 
     if (ctrlr.blurred) {
-      textarea.focus();
+      //for static mathquills, we focus on mousemove
+      if (this.editable) textarea.focus();
       // focus call may bubble to clients, who may then write to
       // mathquill, triggering cancelSelectionOnEdit. If that happens, we
       // don't want to stop the cursor blink or bind listeners,