diff --git a/modules/highgui/src/window_cocoa.mm b/modules/highgui/src/window_cocoa.mm
index 36db7e836b..1cf55f9397 100644
--- a/modules/highgui/src/window_cocoa.mm
+++ b/modules/highgui/src/window_cocoa.mm
@@ -579,6 +579,8 @@ CV_IMPL int cvNamedWindow( const char* name, int flags )
 
     [window setContentView:[[CVView alloc] init]];
 
+    [NSApp activateIgnoringOtherApps:YES];
+
     [window setHasShadow:YES];
     [window setAcceptsMouseMovedEvents:YES];
     [window useOptimizedDrawing:YES];