diff --git a/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/AppLogic.cpp b/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/AppLogic.cpp
index 4381e24e0b..fa9e8da9bc 100644
--- a/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/AppLogic.cpp
+++ b/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/AppLogic.cpp
@@ -1184,6 +1184,12 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
                     if (!focusedObject)
                     {
                         focusedObject = winrt::Windows::UI::Xaml::Media::VisualTreeHelper::GetParent(focusedElement);
+
+                        // We were unable to find a focused object. Default to the xaml root so that the alt+space menu still works.
+                        if (!focusedObject)
+                        {
+                            focusedObject = _root.try_as<IInspectable>();
+                        }
                     }
                 }
                 else