diff --git a/kitty/options/definition.py b/kitty/options/definition.py
index 9ec8b8e19..d791c84db 100644
--- a/kitty/options/definition.py
+++ b/kitty/options/definition.py
@@ -354,6 +354,15 @@ opt('cursor_stop_blinking_after', '15.0',
     long_text='''
 Stop blinking cursor after the specified number of seconds of keyboard
 inactivity. Set to zero to never stop blinking.
+'''
+    )
+
+opt('cursor_unfocused_shape', 'hollow',
+    option_type='to_cursor_unfocused_shape', ctype='int',
+    long_text='''
+Defines the cursor shape when the terminal window is not focused. The unfocused
+cursor shape can be one of :code:`block`, :code:`beam`, :code:`underline`,
+:code:`hollow`.
 '''
     )
 egr()  # }}}
diff --git a/kitty/options/parse.py b/kitty/options/parse.py
index 32c75dab2..b4b21fb95 100644
--- a/kitty/options/parse.py
+++ b/kitty/options/parse.py
@@ -17,9 +17,9 @@ from kitty.options.utils import (
     remote_control_password, resize_debounce_time, scrollback_lines, scrollback_pager_history_size,
     shell_integration, store_multiple, symbol_map, tab_activity_symbol, tab_bar_edge,
     tab_bar_margin_height, tab_bar_min_tabs, tab_fade, tab_font_style, tab_separator,
-    tab_title_template, titlebar_color, to_cursor_shape, to_font_size, to_layout_names, to_modifiers,
-    url_prefixes, url_style, visual_window_select_characters, window_border_width, window_logo_scale,
-    window_size
+    tab_title_template, titlebar_color, to_cursor_shape, to_cursor_unfocused_shape, to_font_size,
+    to_layout_names, to_modifiers, url_prefixes, url_style, visual_window_select_characters,
+    window_border_width, window_logo_scale, window_size
 )
 
 
@@ -929,6 +929,9 @@ class Parser:
     def cursor_underline_thickness(self, val: str, ans: typing.Dict[str, typing.Any]) -> None:
         ans['cursor_underline_thickness'] = positive_float(val)
 
+    def cursor_unfocused_shape(self, val: str, ans: typing.Dict[str, typing.Any]) -> None:
+        ans['cursor_unfocused_shape'] = to_cursor_unfocused_shape(val)
+
     def default_pointer_shape(self, val: str, ans: typing.Dict[str, typing.Any]) -> None:
         val = val.lower()
         if val not in self.choices_for_default_pointer_shape:
diff --git a/kitty/options/to-c-generated.h b/kitty/options/to-c-generated.h
index 1b51973fd..d424d327a 100644
--- a/kitty/options/to-c-generated.h
+++ b/kitty/options/to-c-generated.h
@@ -135,6 +135,19 @@ convert_from_opts_cursor_stop_blinking_after(PyObject *py_opts, Options *opts) {
     Py_DECREF(ret);
 }
 
+static void
+convert_from_python_cursor_unfocused_shape(PyObject *val, Options *opts) {
+    opts->cursor_unfocused_shape = PyLong_AsLong(val);
+}
+
+static void
+convert_from_opts_cursor_unfocused_shape(PyObject *py_opts, Options *opts) {
+    PyObject *ret = PyObject_GetAttrString(py_opts, "cursor_unfocused_shape");
+    if (ret == NULL) return;
+    convert_from_python_cursor_unfocused_shape(ret, opts);
+    Py_DECREF(ret);
+}
+
 static void
 convert_from_python_scrollback_indicator_opacity(PyObject *val, Options *opts) {
     opts->scrollback_indicator_opacity = PyFloat_AsFloat(val);
@@ -1171,6 +1184,8 @@ convert_opts_from_python_opts(PyObject *py_opts, Options *opts) {
     if (PyErr_Occurred()) return false;
     convert_from_opts_cursor_stop_blinking_after(py_opts, opts);
     if (PyErr_Occurred()) return false;
+    convert_from_opts_cursor_unfocused_shape(py_opts, opts);
+    if (PyErr_Occurred()) return false;
     convert_from_opts_scrollback_indicator_opacity(py_opts, opts);
     if (PyErr_Occurred()) return false;
     convert_from_opts_scrollback_pager_history_size(py_opts, opts);
diff --git a/kitty/options/types.py b/kitty/options/types.py
index 6f4bac55e..39c90a316 100644
--- a/kitty/options/types.py
+++ b/kitty/options/types.py
@@ -333,6 +333,7 @@ option_names = (  # {{{
  'cursor_stop_blinking_after',
  'cursor_text_color',
  'cursor_underline_thickness',
+ 'cursor_unfocused_shape',
  'default_pointer_shape',
  'detect_urls',
  'dim_opacity',
@@ -506,6 +507,7 @@ class Options:
     cursor_stop_blinking_after: float = 15.0
     cursor_text_color: typing.Optional[kitty.fast_data_types.Color] = Color(17, 17, 17)
     cursor_underline_thickness: float = 2.0
+    cursor_unfocused_shape: int = 0
     default_pointer_shape: choices_for_default_pointer_shape = 'beam'
     detect_urls: bool = True
     dim_opacity: float = 0.4
diff --git a/kitty/options/utils.py b/kitty/options/utils.py
index 4ed496605..394573df0 100644
--- a/kitty/options/utils.py
+++ b/kitty/options/utils.py
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ from kitty.conf.utils import (
     unit_float,
 )
 from kitty.constants import is_macos
-from kitty.fast_data_types import CURSOR_BEAM, CURSOR_BLOCK, CURSOR_UNDERLINE, Color, Shlex, SingleKey
+from kitty.fast_data_types import CURSOR_BEAM, CURSOR_BLOCK, CURSOR_UNDERLINE, NO_CURSOR_SHAPE, Color, Shlex, SingleKey
 from kitty.fonts import FontFeature, FontModification, ModificationType, ModificationUnit, ModificationValue
 from kitty.key_names import character_key_name_aliases, functional_key_name_aliases, get_key_name_lookup
 from kitty.rgb import color_as_int
@@ -525,7 +525,6 @@ cshapes = {
     'underline': CURSOR_UNDERLINE
 }
 
-
 def to_cursor_shape(x: str) -> int:
     try:
         return cshapes[x.lower()]
@@ -537,6 +536,24 @@ def to_cursor_shape(x: str) -> int:
         )
 
 
+cshapes_unfocused = {
+    'block': CURSOR_BLOCK,
+    'beam': CURSOR_BEAM,
+    'underline': CURSOR_UNDERLINE,
+    'hollow': NO_CURSOR_SHAPE
+}
+
+def to_cursor_unfocused_shape(x: str) -> int:
+    try:
+        return cshapes_unfocused[x.lower()]
+    except KeyError:
+        raise ValueError(
+            'Invalid inactive cursor shape: {} allowed values are {}'.format(
+                x, ', '.join(cshapes_unfocused)
+            )
+        )
+
+
 def scrollback_lines(x: str) -> int:
     ans = int(x)
     if ans < 0:
diff --git a/kitty/shaders.c b/kitty/shaders.c
index f1ff64840..8805e61ee 100644
--- a/kitty/shaders.c
+++ b/kitty/shaders.c
@@ -333,7 +333,18 @@ cell_update_uniform_block(ssize_t vao_idx, Screen *screen, int uniform_buffer, c
                 case CURSOR_UNDERLINE:
                     rd->cursor_fg_sprite_idx = UNDERLINE_IDX; break;
             }
-        } else rd->cursor_fg_sprite_idx = UNFOCUSED_IDX;
+        } else {
+            switch(OPT(cursor_unfocused_shape)) {
+                default:
+                    rd->cursor_fg_sprite_idx = UNFOCUSED_IDX; break;
+                case CURSOR_BEAM:
+                    rd->cursor_fg_sprite_idx = BEAM_IDX; break;
+                case CURSOR_UNDERLINE:
+                    rd->cursor_fg_sprite_idx = UNDERLINE_IDX; break;
+                case CURSOR_BLOCK:
+                    rd->cursor_fg_sprite_idx = BLOCK_IDX; break;
+            }
+        }
         color_type cell_fg = rd->default_fg, cell_bg = rd->default_bg;
         index_type cell_color_x = cursor->x;
         bool reversed = false;
diff --git a/kitty/state.h b/kitty/state.h
index 64641c14f..10db4c2cd 100644
--- a/kitty/state.h
+++ b/kitty/state.h
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ typedef struct {
     int wheel_scroll_min_lines;
     bool enable_audio_bell;
     CursorShape cursor_shape;
+    CursorShape cursor_unfocused_shape;
     float cursor_beam_thickness;
     float cursor_underline_thickness;
     unsigned int url_style;