diff --git a/awesomerc.1.txt b/awesomerc.1.txt
index 2e672c195..1ab129f33 100644
--- a/awesomerc.1.txt
+++ b/awesomerc.1.txt
@@ -338,6 +338,7 @@ screen <integer> [MULTI]
         font = <font>
         new_become_master = <boolean>
         new_get_focus = <boolean>
+        opacity_unfocused = <integer>
         resize_hints = <boolean>
         sloppy_focus = <boolean>
         sloppy_focus_raise = <boolean>
diff --git a/client.c b/client.c
index 5e1ada7b3..0370440df 100644
--- a/client.c
+++ b/client.c
@@ -147,6 +147,8 @@ client_updatetitle(Client *c)
 static void
 client_unfocus(Client *c)
 {
+    if(globalconf.screens[c->screen].opacity_unfocused != -1)
+        window_settrans(c->win, globalconf.screens[c->screen].opacity_unfocused);
     XSetWindowBorder(globalconf.display, c->win,
                      globalconf.screens[c->screen].colors_normal[ColBorder].pixel);
     widget_invalidate_cache(c->screen, WIDGET_CACHE_CLIENTS);
@@ -191,6 +193,8 @@ client_focus(Client *c, int screen, Bool from_mouse)
     {
         /* save sel in focus history */
         focus_add_client(c);
+        if(globalconf.screens[c->screen].opacity_unfocused != -1)
+            window_settrans(c->win, globalconf.screens[screen].opacity_unfocused);
         XSetWindowBorder(globalconf.display, c->win,
                          globalconf.screens[screen].colors_selected[ColBorder].pixel);
         XSetInputFocus(globalconf.display, c->win, RevertToPointerRoot, CurrentTime);
diff --git a/common/configopts.c b/common/configopts.c
index b64a5ce60..f6532c719 100644
--- a/common/configopts.c
+++ b/common/configopts.c
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ cfg_opt_t general_opts[] =
     CFG_BOOL((char *) "new_become_master", cfg_true, CFGF_NONE),
     CFG_BOOL((char *) "new_get_focus", cfg_true, CFGF_NONE),
     CFG_STR((char *) "font", (char *) "vera-10", CFGF_NONE),
+    CFG_INT((char *) "opacity_unfocused", -1, CFGF_NONE),
     CFG_END()
 };
 cfg_opt_t colors_opts[] =
diff --git a/config.c b/config.c
index bbfea7d89..a95eadaa7 100644
--- a/config.c
+++ b/config.c
@@ -317,6 +317,7 @@ config_parse_screen(cfg_t *cfg, int screen)
     virtscreen->sloppy_focus_raise = cfg_getbool(cfg_general, "sloppy_focus_raise");
     virtscreen->new_become_master = cfg_getbool(cfg_general, "new_become_master");
     virtscreen->new_get_focus = cfg_getbool(cfg_general, "new_get_focus");
+    virtscreen->opacity_unfocused = cfg_getint(cfg_general, "opacity_unfocused");
     virtscreen->font = XftFontOpenName(globalconf.display,
                                        phys_screen,
                                        cfg_getstr(cfg_general, "font"));
diff --git a/structs.h b/structs.h
index f83c30939..8d932826d 100644
--- a/structs.h
+++ b/structs.h
@@ -270,6 +270,8 @@ typedef struct
     XColor colors_selected[ColLast];
     /** Urgency colors */
     XColor colors_urgent[ColLast];
+    /** Transparency of unfocused clients */
+    int opacity_unfocused;
     /** Tag list */
     Tag *tags;
     /** Layout list */