diff --git a/doc/api/embed_parameters.md b/doc/api/embed_parameters.md
index d6f27af05..9ca0d429a 100644
--- a/doc/api/embed_parameters.md
+++ b/doc/api/embed_parameters.md
@@ -73,3 +73,11 @@ Default: 0
 Focuses pad at specific line number and places caret at beginning of this line
 Special note: Is not a URL parameter but instead of a Hash value
 
+## focusOnEditor
+ * Boolean
+
+Default: true
+
+If true, focus on the editor upon initial page load. Set this to false if the
+pad is embedded in an iframe adjacent to other editable content that should
+retain focus.
diff --git a/src/static/js/pad.js b/src/static/js/pad.js
index ccf29cc57..eb392b0cb 100644
--- a/src/static/js/pad.js
+++ b/src/static/js/pad.js
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ const socketio = require('./socketio');
 const hooks = require('./pluginfw/hooks');
 
 let receivedClientVars = false;
+let focusOnEditor = true;
 
 // This array represents all GET-parameters which can be used to change a setting.
 //   name:     the parameter-name, eg  `?noColors=true`  =>  `noColors`
@@ -146,13 +147,17 @@ const getParameters = [
       Cookies.set('language', val);
     },
   },
+  {
+    name: 'focusOnEditor',
+    callback: (val) => focusOnEditor = val !== 'false',
+  },
 ];
 
 const getParams = () => {
   // Tries server enforced options first..
   for (const setting of getParameters) {
     const value = clientVars.padOptions[setting.name];
-    if (value.toString() === setting.checkVal) {
+    if (value != null && value.toString() === setting.checkVal) {
       setting.callback(value);
     }
   }
@@ -463,9 +468,7 @@ const pad = {
 
     const postAceInit = () => {
       padeditbar.init();
-      setTimeout(() => {
-        padeditor.ace.focus();
-      }, 0);
+      if (focusOnEditor) setTimeout(() => padeditor.ace.focus(), 0);
       // if we have a cookie for always showing chat then show it
       if (padcookie.getPref('chatAlwaysVisible')) {
         chat.stickToScreen(true); // stick it to the screen
diff --git a/src/static/js/pad_editbar.js b/src/static/js/pad_editbar.js
index 9d006d2c7..87baf45d3 100644
--- a/src/static/js/pad_editbar.js
+++ b/src/static/js/pad_editbar.js
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ exports.padeditbar = new class {
   }
   setEmbedLinks() {
     const padUrl = window.location.href.split('?')[0];
-    const params = '?showControls=true&showChat=true&showLineNumbers=true&useMonospaceFont=false';
+    const params = '?showControls=true&showChat=true&showLineNumbers=true&useMonospaceFont=false&focusOnEditor=false';
     const props = 'width="100%" height="600" frameborder="0"';
 
     if ($('#readonlyinput').is(':checked')) {
diff --git a/src/tests/frontend/specs/embed_value.js b/src/tests/frontend/specs/embed_value.js
index e92d070a7..30c03deff 100644
--- a/src/tests/frontend/specs/embed_value.js
+++ b/src/tests/frontend/specs/embed_value.js
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ describe('embed links', function () {
       showChat: 'true',
       showLineNumbers: 'true',
       useMonospaceFont: 'false',
+      focusOnEditor: 'false',
     };
 
     // check the url
diff --git a/src/tests/frontend/specs/focus.js b/src/tests/frontend/specs/focus.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f401dda85
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/tests/frontend/specs/focus.js
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+'use strict';
+
+describe('caret focus', function () {
+  for (const params of [{}, {focusOnEditor: 'true'}, {focusOnEditor: 'false'}]) {
+    const wantFocus = params.focusOnEditor !== 'false';
+
+    describe(`focusOnEditor=${params.focusOnEditor}`, function () {
+      before(async function () {
+        await helper.aNewPad({params});
+      });
+
+      it(`does${wantFocus ? '' : ' not'} focus`, async function () {
+        if (wantFocus) {
+          expect(helper.padChrome$.document.activeElement)
+              .to.be(helper.padChrome$.document.querySelector('iframe[name="ace_outer"]'));
+          expect(helper.padOuter$.document.activeElement)
+              .to.be(helper.padOuter$.document.querySelector('iframe[name="ace_inner"]'));
+          expect(helper.padInner$.document.activeElement)
+              .to.be(helper.padInner$.document.body);
+        } else {
+          expect(helper.padChrome$.document.activeElement)
+              .to.not.be(helper.padChrome$.document.querySelector('iframe[name="ace_outer"]'));
+        }
+      });
+    });
+  }
+});