diff --git a/sway/commands/focus.c b/sway/commands/focus.c
index 5286851f..ba47d1e1 100644
--- a/sway/commands/focus.c
+++ b/sway/commands/focus.c
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+#include <strings.h>
 #include <wlr/util/log.h>
 #include "log.h"
 #include "sway/input/input-manager.h"
@@ -5,6 +6,30 @@
 #include "sway/view.h"
 #include "sway/commands.h"
 
+static bool parse_movement_direction(const char *name, enum movement_direction *out) {
+	if (strcasecmp(name, "left") == 0) {
+		*out = MOVE_LEFT;
+	} else if (strcasecmp(name, "right") == 0) {
+		*out = MOVE_RIGHT;
+	} else if (strcasecmp(name, "up") == 0) {
+		*out = MOVE_UP;
+	} else if (strcasecmp(name, "down") == 0) {
+		*out = MOVE_DOWN;
+	} else if (strcasecmp(name, "parent") == 0) {
+		*out = MOVE_PARENT;
+	} else if (strcasecmp(name, "child") == 0) {
+		*out = MOVE_CHILD;
+	} else if (strcasecmp(name, "next") == 0) {
+		*out = MOVE_NEXT;
+	} else if (strcasecmp(name, "prev") == 0) {
+		*out = MOVE_PREV;
+	} else {
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	return true;
+}
+
 struct cmd_results *cmd_focus(int argc, char **argv) {
 	swayc_t *con = config->handler_context.current_container;
 	struct sway_seat *seat = config->handler_context.seat;
@@ -22,11 +47,27 @@ struct cmd_results *cmd_focus(int argc, char **argv) {
 		wlr_log(L_DEBUG, "no container to focus");
 		return cmd_results_new(CMD_SUCCESS, NULL, NULL);
 	}
+	if (con->type < C_WORKSPACE) {
+		return cmd_results_new(CMD_FAILURE, "focus",
+			"Command 'focus' cannot be used above the workspace level");
+	}
 
 	if (argc == 0) {
 		sway_seat_set_focus(seat, con);
 		return cmd_results_new(CMD_SUCCESS, NULL, NULL);
 	}
 
+	// TODO mode_toggle
+	enum movement_direction direction = 0;
+	if (!parse_movement_direction(argv[0], &direction)) {
+		return cmd_results_new(CMD_INVALID, "focus",
+				"Expected 'focus <direction|parent|child|mode_toggle>' or 'focus output <direction|name>'");
+	}
+
+	swayc_t *next_focus = get_swayc_in_direction(con, seat, direction);
+	if (next_focus) {
+		sway_seat_set_focus(seat, next_focus);
+	}
+
 	return cmd_results_new(CMD_SUCCESS, NULL, NULL);
 }