diff --git a/src/plugins/help/helpplugin.cpp b/src/plugins/help/helpplugin.cpp
index 9ff9a4e063ffec7a691b90256ed7a854024aff94..60c40b5c2177195f153939d8be8abf1bcb976478 100644
--- a/src/plugins/help/helpplugin.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/help/helpplugin.cpp
@@ -601,9 +601,12 @@ void HelpPlugin::slotHideRightPane()
 
 void HelpPlugin::showExternalWindow()
 {
+    bool firstTime = m_firstModeChange;
     setup();
     m_externalWindow->show();
     m_externalWindow->activateWindow();
+    if (firstTime)
+        Core::ICore::instance()->mainWindow()->activateWindow();
 }
 
 void HelpPlugin::modeChanged(Core::IMode *mode, Core::IMode *old)