diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 172c83b..7132efa 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -32,7 +32,18 @@
         "command": "shellCommand.execute",
         "title": "Execute shell command"
       }
-    ]
+    ],
+    "configuration": {
+      "title": "Tasks Shell Input",
+      "type": "object",
+      "properties": {
+        "shellCommand.ignoreFocusOut": {
+          "type": "boolean",
+          "default": "true",
+          "description": "keep input boxes open when focus moves to another part of the editor"
+        }
+      }
+    }
   },
   "scripts": {
     "vscode:prepublish": "npm run compile",
diff --git a/src/extension.ts b/src/extension.ts
index 376a4b7..8318900 100644
--- a/src/extension.ts
+++ b/src/extension.ts
@@ -34,7 +34,8 @@ export function activate(this: any, context: vscode.ExtensionContext) {
     const handlePromptString = async () => {
         vscode.window.showWarningMessage(
             'shellCommand.promptString is deprecated. Please use `${prompt}`.');
-        const inputValue = await vscode.window.showInputBox();
+        const ignoreFocusOut = vscode.workspace.getConfiguration('shellCommand').get<boolean>('ignoreFocusOut');
+        const inputValue = await vscode.window.showInputBox({ ignoreFocusOut });
 
         return inputValue || '';
     };
diff --git a/src/lib/VariableResolver.ts b/src/lib/VariableResolver.ts
index e8ea43e..9fa916f 100644
--- a/src/lib/VariableResolver.ts
+++ b/src/lib/VariableResolver.ts
@@ -143,9 +143,11 @@ export class VariableResolver {
         const prevValue = this.context.workspaceState.get<string>(promptId, '');
         const initialValue = promptOptions.rememberPrevious ? prevValue : '';
 
+        const ignoreFocusOut = vscode.workspace.getConfiguration('shellCommand').get<boolean>('ignoreFocusOut');
         const result = (await vscode.window.showInputBox({
             value: initialValue,
             prompt: promptOptions.prompt,
+            ignoreFocusOut,
         })) ?? '';
 
         this.context.workspaceState.update(promptId, result);