diff --git a/js/player.js b/js/player.js
index 1867497a..fc6fee9f 100644
--- a/js/player.js
+++ b/js/player.js
@@ -140,6 +140,7 @@ proto.activatePlayer = function() {
   }
   this.player.play();
   this.element.addEventListener( 'mouseenter', this );
+  this.element.addEventListener( 'focus', this );
 };
 
 // Player API, don't hate the ... thanks I know where the door is
@@ -182,6 +183,17 @@ proto.onmouseleave = function() {
   this.element.removeEventListener( 'mouseleave', this );
 };
 
+// ----- focus/blur ----- //
+proto.onfocus = function() {
+  this.player.pause();
+  this.element.addEventListener( 'blur', this );
+};
+
+proto.onblur = function() {
+  this.player.unpause();
+  this.element.removeEventListener( 'blur', this );
+};
+
 // -----  ----- //
 
 Flickity.Player = Player;
diff --git a/js/prev-next-button.js b/js/prev-next-button.js
index 058eef1d..a3ea2ddd 100644
--- a/js/prev-next-button.js
+++ b/js/prev-next-button.js
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ PrevNextButton.prototype._create = function() {
 PrevNextButton.prototype.activate = function() {
   this.bindStartEvent( this.element );
   this.element.addEventListener( 'click', this );
+  this.element.addEventListener( 'focus', this );
   // add to DOM
   this.parent.element.appendChild( this.element );
 };
@@ -127,6 +128,22 @@ PrevNextButton.prototype.onclick = function() {
   this.parent[ method ]();
 };
 
+PrevNextButton.prototype.onfocus = function() {
+  if ( !this.isEnabled ) {
+    return;
+  }
+  this.parent.stopPlayer();
+  this.element.addEventListener( 'blur', this );
+};
+
+PrevNextButton.prototype.onblur = function() {
+  if ( !this.isEnabled ) {
+    return;
+  }
+  this.parent.playPlayer();
+  this.element.removeEventListener( 'blur', this );
+};
+
 // -----  ----- //
 
 PrevNextButton.prototype.enable = function() {