diff --git a/include/sway/input/seat.h b/include/sway/input/seat.h
index c7be58b5..05fff6f7 100644
--- a/include/sway/input/seat.h
+++ b/include/sway/input/seat.h
@@ -87,8 +87,12 @@ struct sway_container *seat_get_focus(struct sway_seat *seat);
 struct sway_container *seat_get_focus_inactive(struct sway_seat *seat,
 		struct sway_container *container);
 
-struct sway_container *seat_get_focus_by_type(struct sway_seat *seat,
-		struct sway_container *container, enum sway_container_type type);
+/**
+ * Descend into the focus stack to find the focus-inactive view. Useful for
+ * container placement when they change position in the tree.
+ */
+struct sway_container *seat_get_focus_inactive_view(struct sway_seat *seat,
+		struct sway_container *container);
 
 void seat_apply_config(struct sway_seat *seat, struct seat_config *seat_config);
 
diff --git a/sway/input/seat.c b/sway/input/seat.c
index b94e3291..1a646715 100644
--- a/sway/input/seat.c
+++ b/sway/input/seat.c
@@ -86,6 +86,31 @@ static void seat_send_focus(struct sway_seat *seat,
 	}
 }
 
+static struct sway_container *seat_get_focus_by_type(struct sway_seat *seat,
+		struct sway_container *container, enum sway_container_type type) {
+	if (container->type == C_VIEW || container->children->length == 0) {
+		return container;
+	}
+
+	struct sway_seat_container *current = NULL;
+	wl_list_for_each(current, &seat->focus_stack, link) {
+		if (current->container->type != type && type != C_TYPES) {
+			continue;
+		}
+
+		if (container_has_child(container, current->container)) {
+			return current->container;
+		}
+	}
+
+	return NULL;
+}
+
+struct sway_container *seat_get_focus_inactive_view(struct sway_seat *seat,
+		struct sway_container *container) {
+	return seat_get_focus_by_type(seat, container, C_VIEW);
+}
+
 static void handle_seat_container_destroy(struct wl_listener *listener,
 		void *data) {
 	struct sway_seat_container *seat_con =
@@ -549,26 +574,6 @@ struct sway_container *sway_seat_get_focus(struct sway_seat *seat) {
 	return seat_get_focus_inactive(seat, &root_container);
 }
 
-struct sway_container *seat_get_focus_by_type(struct sway_seat *seat,
-		struct sway_container *container, enum sway_container_type type) {
-	if (container->type == C_VIEW || container->children->length == 0) {
-		return container;
-	}
-
-	struct sway_seat_container *current = NULL;
-	wl_list_for_each(current, &seat->focus_stack, link) {
-		if (current->container->type != type && type != C_TYPES) {
-			continue;
-		}
-
-		if (container_has_child(container, current->container)) {
-			return current->container;
-		}
-	}
-
-	return NULL;
-}
-
 struct sway_container *seat_get_focus(struct sway_seat *seat) {
 	if (!seat->has_focus) {
 		return NULL;
diff --git a/sway/tree/layout.c b/sway/tree/layout.c
index e81facc6..ce4457b1 100644
--- a/sway/tree/layout.c
+++ b/sway/tree/layout.c
@@ -872,7 +872,7 @@ struct sway_container *container_get_in_direction(
 			}
 			if (next->children && next->children->length) {
 				// TODO consider floating children as well
-				return seat_get_focus_by_type(seat, next, C_VIEW);
+				return seat_get_focus_inactive_view(seat, next);
 			} else {
 				return next;
 			}
@@ -910,7 +910,7 @@ struct sway_container *container_get_in_direction(
 				wlr_log(L_DEBUG,
 					"cont %d-%p dir %i sibling %d: %p", idx,
 					container, dir, desired, desired_con);
-				struct sway_container *next = seat_get_focus_by_type(seat, desired_con, C_VIEW);
+				struct sway_container *next = seat_get_focus_inactive_view(seat, desired_con);
 				return next;
 			}
 		}