diff --git a/lib/awful/rules.lua.in b/lib/awful/rules.lua.in
index cfd07ee00..cb657cada 100644
--- a/lib/awful/rules.lua.in
+++ b/lib/awful/rules.lua.in
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ function rules.execute(c, props, callbacks)
     -- Do this at last so we do not erase things done by the focus
     -- signal.
     if props.focus and (type(props.focus) ~= "function" or props.focus(c)) then
-        client.emit_signal('request::activate', c)
+        c:emit_signal('request::activate')
     end
 end