diff --git a/src/modules/sway/workspaces.cpp b/src/modules/sway/workspaces.cpp
index dec5cddf0..b8ed73d40 100644
--- a/src/modules/sway/workspaces.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/sway/workspaces.cpp
@@ -494,16 +494,34 @@ std::string Workspaces::trimWorkspaceName(std::string name) {
   return name;
 }
 
+bool is_focused_recursive(const Json::Value& node) {
+  // If a workspace has a focused container then get_tree will say
+  // that the workspace itself isn't focused.  Therefore we need to
+  // check if any of its nodes are focused as well.
+  // some layouts like tabbed have many nested nodes
+  // all nested nodes must be checked for focused flag
+  if (node["focused"].asBool()) {
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  for (const auto& child : node["nodes"]) {
+    if (is_focused_recursive(child)) {
+      return true;
+    }
+  }
+
+  for (const auto& child : node["floating_nodes"]) {
+    if (is_focused_recursive(child)) {
+      return true;
+    }
+  }
+
+  return false;
+}
+
 void Workspaces::onButtonReady(const Json::Value &node, Gtk::Button &button) {
   if (config_["current-only"].asBool()) {
-    // If a workspace has a focused container then get_tree will say
-    // that the workspace itself isn't focused.  Therefore we need to
-    // check if any of its nodes are focused as well.
-    bool focused = node["focused"].asBool() ||
-                   std::any_of(node["nodes"].begin(), node["nodes"].end(),
-                               [](const auto &child) { return child["focused"].asBool(); });
-
-    if (focused) {
+    if (is_focused_recursive(node)) {
       button.show();
     } else {
       button.hide();