diff --git a/src/renderer/src/lib/activate-tab-and-focus-pane.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/lib/activate-tab-and-focus-pane.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b1573641fa9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/lib/activate-tab-and-focus-pane.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import { activateTabAndFocusPane } from './activate-tab-and-focus-pane'
+
+const setActiveTab = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn())
+
+vi.mock('@/store', () => ({
+  useAppStore: {
+    getState: () => ({
+      setActiveTab
+    })
+  }
+}))
+
+describe('activateTabAndFocusPane', () => {
+  afterEach(() => {
+    vi.unstubAllGlobals()
+    vi.clearAllMocks()
+  })
+
+  it('cancels a pending pane focus frame when a newer activation starts', () => {
+    const cancelAnimationFrame = vi.fn()
+    vi.stubGlobal(
+      'requestAnimationFrame',
+      vi.fn(() => 12)
+    )
+    vi.stubGlobal('cancelAnimationFrame', cancelAnimationFrame)
+    vi.stubGlobal('window', {
+      dispatchEvent: vi.fn()
+    })
+
+    activateTabAndFocusPane('tab-1', 'leaf-1')
+    activateTabAndFocusPane('tab-2', 'leaf-2')
+
+    expect(setActiveTab).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(1, 'tab-1')
+    expect(setActiveTab).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(2, 'tab-2')
+    expect(cancelAnimationFrame).toHaveBeenCalledWith(12)
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/lib/activate-tab-and-focus-pane.ts b/src/renderer/src/lib/activate-tab-and-focus-pane.ts
index 8f7860bcbab..eca2922eae3 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/lib/activate-tab-and-focus-pane.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/lib/activate-tab-and-focus-pane.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,15 @@
 import { useAppStore } from '@/store'
 import { FOCUS_TERMINAL_PANE_EVENT, type FocusTerminalPaneDetail } from '@/constants/terminal'
 
+let pendingFocusPaneFrameId: number | null = null
+
+function cancelPendingFocusPaneFrame(): void {
+  if (pendingFocusPaneFrameId !== null) {
+    cancelAnimationFrame(pendingFocusPaneFrameId)
+    pendingFocusPaneFrameId = null
+  }
+}
+
 export function activateTabAndFocusPane(
   tabId: string,
   leafId: string | null,
@@ -11,12 +20,14 @@ export function activateTabAndFocusPane(
   }
 ): void {
   useAppStore.getState().setActiveTab(tabId)
+  cancelPendingFocusPaneFrame()
   if (leafId === null) {
     return
   }
   // Why: defer one frame so the new TerminalPane has mounted its
   // FOCUS_TERMINAL_PANE_EVENT listener before we dispatch.
-  requestAnimationFrame(() => {
+  pendingFocusPaneFrameId = requestAnimationFrame(() => {
+    pendingFocusPaneFrameId = null
     const detail: FocusTerminalPaneDetail = {
       tabId,
       leafId,