src/share/classes/java/awt/Component.java

@@ -7909,11 +7909,11 @@
             }
             if (toFocus != null) {
                 res = toFocus.requestFocusInWindow(CausedFocusEvent.Cause.TRAVERSAL_BACKWARD);
             }
         }
-        if (!res) {
+        if (clearOnFailure && !res) {
             if (focusLog.isLoggable(PlatformLogger.FINER)) {
                 focusLog.finer("clear global focus owner");
             }
             KeyboardFocusManager.getCurrentKeyboardFocusManager().clearGlobalFocusOwner();
         }