diff --git a/src/orca/scripts/apps/gtk-window-decorator/script.py b/src/orca/scripts/apps/gtk-window-decorator/script.py
index 3bde12b77fbf8f23263c9e027039d6b793720ffb..e79f00214aa268a7d85a4fbe34b8d1c39d832088 100644
--- a/src/orca/scripts/apps/gtk-window-decorator/script.py
+++ b/src/orca/scripts/apps/gtk-window-decorator/script.py
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ __license__   = "LGPL"
 
 import orca.messages as messages
 import orca.scripts.default as default
+import orca.orca as orca
+import orca.orca_state as orca_state
 import pyatspi
 
 ########################################################################
@@ -81,7 +83,12 @@ class Script(default.Script):
         """
 
         if event.source.getRole() != pyatspi.ROLE_STATUS_BAR:
-            default.Script.onTextInserted(self, event)
+            return default.Script.onTextInserted(self, event)
+
+        # prevent a window:deactivate from the "current" window to stop
+        # our speaking.
+        if orca_state.locusOfFocus:
+            orca.setLocusOfFocus(event, None)
 
         self.presentStatusBar(event.source)
 
diff --git a/src/orca/scripts/apps/metacity/script.py b/src/orca/scripts/apps/metacity/script.py
index 29d58d7a6e4bf83794f6a35b8ee73da194ab7c68..1bad82d97c61d41f588c60d5ad3fd872632f9291 100644
--- a/src/orca/scripts/apps/metacity/script.py
+++ b/src/orca/scripts/apps/metacity/script.py
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ __license__   = "LGPL"
 
 import orca.messages as messages
 import orca.scripts.default as default
+import orca.orca as orca
+import orca.orca_state as orca_state
 import pyatspi
 
 ########################################################################
@@ -76,6 +78,11 @@ class Script(default.Script):
         # If the status bar is suddenly showing, we need to handle it here
         # because we typically do not get onTextInserted events at that time.
         if role == pyatspi.ROLE_STATUS_BAR and event.detail1:
+            # prevent a window:deactivate from the "current" window to stop
+            # our speaking.
+            if orca_state.locusOfFocus:
+                orca.setLocusOfFocus(event, None)
+
             self.presentStatusBar(obj)
             return