diff --git a/include/ui/sdl2.h b/include/ui/sdl2.h
index b29cf803c9..51084e6320 100644
--- a/include/ui/sdl2.h
+++ b/include/ui/sdl2.h
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ struct sdl2_console {
     int opengl;
     int updates;
     int idle_counter;
+    int ignore_hotkeys;
     SDL_GLContext winctx;
 #ifdef CONFIG_OPENGL
     QemuGLShader *gls;
diff --git a/ui/sdl2.c b/ui/sdl2.c
index 8a0bd9149b..89c6a2633c 100644
--- a/ui/sdl2.c
+++ b/ui/sdl2.c
@@ -312,22 +312,28 @@ static void toggle_full_screen(struct sdl2_console *scon)
     sdl2_redraw(scon);
 }
 
-static void handle_keydown(SDL_Event *ev)
+static int get_mod_state(void)
 {
-    int mod_state, win;
-    struct sdl2_console *scon = get_scon_from_window(ev->key.windowID);
+    SDL_Keymod mod = SDL_GetModState();
 
     if (alt_grab) {
-        mod_state = (SDL_GetModState() & (gui_grab_code | KMOD_LSHIFT)) ==
+        return (mod & (gui_grab_code | KMOD_LSHIFT)) ==
             (gui_grab_code | KMOD_LSHIFT);
     } else if (ctrl_grab) {
-        mod_state = (SDL_GetModState() & KMOD_RCTRL) == KMOD_RCTRL;
+        return (mod & KMOD_RCTRL) == KMOD_RCTRL;
     } else {
-        mod_state = (SDL_GetModState() & gui_grab_code) == gui_grab_code;
+        return (mod & gui_grab_code) == gui_grab_code;
     }
-    gui_key_modifier_pressed = mod_state;
+}
 
-    if (gui_key_modifier_pressed) {
+static void handle_keydown(SDL_Event *ev)
+{
+    int win;
+    struct sdl2_console *scon = get_scon_from_window(ev->key.windowID);
+
+    gui_key_modifier_pressed = get_mod_state();
+
+    if (!scon->ignore_hotkeys && gui_key_modifier_pressed && !ev->key.repeat) {
         switch (ev->key.keysym.scancode) {
         case SDL_SCANCODE_2:
         case SDL_SCANCODE_3:
@@ -401,6 +407,8 @@ static void handle_keyup(SDL_Event *ev)
     int mod_state;
     struct sdl2_console *scon = get_scon_from_window(ev->key.windowID);
 
+    scon->ignore_hotkeys = false;
+
     if (!alt_grab) {
         mod_state = (ev->key.keysym.mod & gui_grab_code);
     } else {
@@ -547,6 +555,14 @@ static void handle_windowevent(SDL_Event *ev)
         if (!gui_grab && (qemu_input_is_absolute() || absolute_enabled)) {
             absolute_mouse_grab(scon);
         }
+        /* If a new console window opened using a hotkey receives the
+         * focus, SDL sends another KEYDOWN event to the new window,
+         * closing the console window immediately after.
+         *
+         * Work around this by ignoring further hotkey events until a
+         * key is released.
+         */
+        scon->ignore_hotkeys = get_mod_state();
         break;
     case SDL_WINDOWEVENT_FOCUS_LOST:
         if (gui_grab && !gui_fullscreen) {