diff --git a/ankiqt/config.py b/ankiqt/config.py
index f58e4995d..d8a37f04c 100644
--- a/ankiqt/config.py
+++ b/ankiqt/config.py
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ class Config(dict):
             'mediaLocation': "",
             'mainWindowState': None,
             'numBackups': 30,
+            'preserveKeyboard': True,
             'preventEditUntilAnswer': False,
             'proxyHost': '',
             'proxyPass': '',
diff --git a/ankiqt/ui/facteditor.py b/ankiqt/ui/facteditor.py
index c943f1edc..8e1d7ed54 100644
--- a/ankiqt/ui/facteditor.py
+++ b/ankiqt/ui/facteditor.py
@@ -1111,7 +1111,7 @@ class FactEdit(QTextEdit):
         self.parent.lastFocusedEdit = self
         self.parent.resetFormatButtons()
         self.parent.disableButtons()
-        if sys.platform.startswith("win32"):
+        if ankiqt.mw.config['preserveKeyboard'] and sys.platform.startswith("win32"):
             self._ownLayout = GetKeyboardLayout(0)
             ActivateKeyboardLayout(self._programLayout, 0)
         self.emit(SIGNAL("lostFocus"))
@@ -1131,7 +1131,7 @@ class FactEdit(QTextEdit):
         QTextEdit.focusInEvent(self, evt)
         self.parent.formatChanged(None)
         self.parent.enableButtons()
-        if sys.platform.startswith("win32"):
+        if ankiqt.mw.config['preserveKeyboard'] and sys.platform.startswith("win32"):
             self._programLayout = GetKeyboardLayout(0)
             if self._ownLayout == None:
                 self._ownLayout = self._programLayout