diff --git a/modules/highgui/src/window_QT.cpp b/modules/highgui/src/window_QT.cpp
index 56c51d2a02..e764b8544c 100644
--- a/modules/highgui/src/window_QT.cpp
+++ b/modules/highgui/src/window_QT.cpp
@@ -2544,6 +2544,10 @@ DefaultViewPort::DefaultViewPort(CvWindow* arg, int arg2) : QGraphicsView(arg),
 
     setInteractive(false);
     setMouseTracking(true); //receive mouse event everytime
+
+    // #13657 Tab key disables arrow keys
+    // #20215 QT backend: cv::waitKey() and cv::waitKeyEx() do not capture arrow keys once you click on the image or press TAB
+    setFocusPolicy(Qt::NoFocus);
 }