diff --git a/interface/src/Application.cpp b/interface/src/Application.cpp
index 678f737f25..0e8c03e032 100644
--- a/interface/src/Application.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/Application.cpp
@@ -985,6 +985,7 @@ const bool DEFAULT_PREFER_STYLUS_OVER_LASER = false;
 const bool DEFAULT_PREFER_AVATAR_FINGER_OVER_STYLUS = false;
 const QString DEFAULT_CURSOR_NAME = "DEFAULT";
 const bool DEFAULT_MINI_TABLET_ENABLED = true;
+const bool DEFAULT_AWAY_STATE_WHEN_FOCUS_LOST_IN_VR_ENABLED = true;
 
 QSharedPointer<OffscreenUi> getOffscreenUI() {
 #if !defined(DISABLE_QML)
@@ -1015,6 +1016,7 @@ Application::Application(int& argc, char** argv, QElapsedTimer& startupTimer, bo
     _preferStylusOverLaserSetting("preferStylusOverLaser", DEFAULT_PREFER_STYLUS_OVER_LASER),
     _preferAvatarFingerOverStylusSetting("preferAvatarFingerOverStylus", DEFAULT_PREFER_AVATAR_FINGER_OVER_STYLUS),
     _constrainToolbarPosition("toolbar/constrainToolbarToCenterX", true),
+    _awayStateWhenFocusLostInVREnabled("awayStateWhenFocusLostInVREnabled", DEFAULT_AWAY_STATE_WHEN_FOCUS_LOST_IN_VR_ENABLED),
     _preferredCursor("preferredCursor", DEFAULT_CURSOR_NAME),
     _miniTabletEnabledSetting("miniTabletEnabled", DEFAULT_MINI_TABLET_ENABLED),
     _scaleMirror(1.0f),
@@ -3642,6 +3644,11 @@ void Application::setSettingConstrainToolbarPosition(bool setting) {
     getOffscreenUI()->setConstrainToolbarToCenterX(setting);
 }
 
+void Application::setAwayStateWhenFocusLostInVREnabled(bool enabled) {
+    _awayStateWhenFocusLostInVREnabled.set(enabled);
+    emit awayStateWhenFocusLostInVRChanged(enabled);
+}
+
 void Application::setMiniTabletEnabled(bool enabled) {
     _miniTabletEnabledSetting.set(enabled);
     emit miniTabletEnabledChanged(enabled);
diff --git a/interface/src/Application.h b/interface/src/Application.h
index 373e2c16a2..e64101d2fd 100644
--- a/interface/src/Application.h
+++ b/interface/src/Application.h
@@ -241,6 +241,9 @@ public:
     float getSettingConstrainToolbarPosition() { return _constrainToolbarPosition.get(); }
     void setSettingConstrainToolbarPosition(bool setting);
 
+    float getAwayStateWhenFocusLostInVREnabled() { return _awayStateWhenFocusLostInVREnabled.get(); }
+    void setAwayStateWhenFocusLostInVREnabled(bool setting);
+
     Q_INVOKABLE void setMinimumGPUTextureMemStabilityCount(int stabilityCount) { _minimumGPUTextureMemSizeStabilityCount = stabilityCount; }
 
     NodeToOctreeSceneStats* getOcteeSceneStats() { return &_octreeServerSceneStats; }
@@ -371,6 +374,7 @@ signals:
     void loginDialogFocusDisabled();
 
     void miniTabletEnabledChanged(bool enabled);
+    void awayStateWhenFocusLostInVRChanged(bool enabled);
 
 public slots:
     QVector<EntityItemID> pasteEntities(float x, float y, float z);
@@ -673,6 +677,7 @@ private:
     Setting::Handle<bool> _preferStylusOverLaserSetting;
     Setting::Handle<bool> _preferAvatarFingerOverStylusSetting;
     Setting::Handle<bool> _constrainToolbarPosition;
+    Setting::Handle<bool> _awayStateWhenFocusLostInVREnabled;
     Setting::Handle<QString> _preferredCursor;
     Setting::Handle<bool> _miniTabletEnabledSetting;
     Setting::Handle<bool> _keepLogWindowOnTop { "keepLogWindowOnTop", false };
diff --git a/interface/src/scripting/HMDScriptingInterface.cpp b/interface/src/scripting/HMDScriptingInterface.cpp
index a365b84a15..baca6250d2 100644
--- a/interface/src/scripting/HMDScriptingInterface.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/scripting/HMDScriptingInterface.cpp
@@ -30,6 +30,9 @@ HMDScriptingInterface::HMDScriptingInterface() {
     connect(qApp, &Application::miniTabletEnabledChanged, [this](bool enabled) {
         emit miniTabletEnabledChanged(enabled);
     });
+    connect(qApp, &Application::awayStateWhenFocusLostInVRChanged, [this](bool enabled) {
+        emit awayStateWhenFocusLostInVRChanged(enabled);
+    });
 }
 
 glm::vec3 HMDScriptingInterface::calculateRayUICollisionPoint(const glm::vec3& position, const glm::vec3& direction) const {
@@ -137,6 +140,14 @@ bool HMDScriptingInterface::getMiniTabletEnabled() {
     return qApp->getMiniTabletEnabled();
 }
 
+void HMDScriptingInterface::setAwayStateWhenFocusLostInVREnabled(bool enabled) {
+    qApp->setAwayStateWhenFocusLostInVREnabled(enabled);
+}
+
+bool HMDScriptingInterface::getAwayStateWhenFocusLostInVREnabled() {
+    return qApp->getAwayStateWhenFocusLostInVREnabled();
+}
+
 
 QScriptValue HMDScriptingInterface::getHUDLookAtPosition2D(QScriptContext* context, QScriptEngine* engine) {
     glm::vec3 hudIntersection;
diff --git a/interface/src/scripting/HMDScriptingInterface.h b/interface/src/scripting/HMDScriptingInterface.h
index c6202d4105..335816bf7c 100644
--- a/interface/src/scripting/HMDScriptingInterface.h
+++ b/interface/src/scripting/HMDScriptingInterface.h
@@ -375,6 +375,14 @@ signals:
      */
     bool miniTabletEnabledChanged(bool enabled);
 
+    /**jsdoc
+     * Triggered when the altering the mode for going into an away state when the interface focus is lost in VR.
+     * @function HMD.awayStateWhenFocusLostInVRChanged
+     * @param {boolean} enabled - <code>true</code> if the setting to go into an away state in VR when the interface focus is lost is enabled, otherwise <code>false</code>.
+     * @returns {Signal}
+     */
+    bool awayStateWhenFocusLostInVRChanged(bool enabled);
+
 public:
     HMDScriptingInterface();
 
@@ -423,6 +431,9 @@ public:
     void setMiniTabletEnabled(bool enabled);
     bool getMiniTabletEnabled();
 
+    void setAwayStateWhenFocusLostInVREnabled(bool enabled);
+    bool getAwayStateWhenFocusLostInVREnabled();
+
     QVariant getPlayAreaRect();
     QVector<glm::vec3> getSensorPositions();
 
diff --git a/interface/src/ui/PreferencesDialog.cpp b/interface/src/ui/PreferencesDialog.cpp
index 6a2516115d..fb7b0ef993 100644
--- a/interface/src/ui/PreferencesDialog.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/ui/PreferencesDialog.cpp
@@ -111,6 +111,12 @@ void setupPreferences() {
         auto setter = [](bool value) { qApp->setSettingConstrainToolbarPosition(value); };
         preferences->addPreference(new CheckPreference(UI_CATEGORY, "Constrain Toolbar Position to Horizontal Center", getter, setter));
     }
+	
+    {
+        auto getter = []()->bool { return qApp->getAwayStateWhenFocusLostInVREnabled(); };
+        auto setter = [](bool value) { qApp->setAwayStateWhenFocusLostInVREnabled(value); };
+        preferences->addPreference(new CheckPreference(UI_CATEGORY, "Go into away state when interface window loses focus in VR", getter, setter));
+    }
 
     {
         auto getter = []()->float { return qApp->getDesktopTabletScale(); };
diff --git a/scripts/system/away.js b/scripts/system/away.js
index 5180588e9d..6293c0c452 100644
--- a/scripts/system/away.js
+++ b/scripts/system/away.js
@@ -67,6 +67,8 @@ var avatarPosition = MyAvatar.position;
 var wasHmdMounted = HMD.mounted;
 var previousBubbleState = Users.getIgnoreRadiusEnabled();
 
+var enterAwayStateWhenFocusLostInVR = HMD.enterAwayStateWhenFocusLostInVR;
+
 // some intervals we may create/delete
 var avatarMovedInterval;
 
@@ -283,8 +285,10 @@ function maybeGoAway() {
     if (Reticle.mouseCaptured !== wasMouseCaptured) {
         wasMouseCaptured = !wasMouseCaptured;
         if (!wasMouseCaptured) {
-            goAway();
-            return;
+            if (enterAwayStateWhenFocusLostInVR) {
+                goAway();
+                return;
+            }
         }
     }
 
@@ -357,9 +361,14 @@ eventMapping.from(Controller.Standard.Back).peek().to(goActive);
 eventMapping.from(Controller.Standard.Start).peek().to(goActive);
 Controller.enableMapping(eventMappingName);
 
+function awayStateWhenFocusLostInVRChanged(enabled) {
+    enterAwayStateWhenFocusLostInVR = enabled;
+}
+
 Script.scriptEnding.connect(function () {
     Script.clearInterval(maybeIntervalTimer);
     goActive();
+    HMD.awayStateWhenFocusLostInVRChanged.disconnect(awayStateWhenFocusLostInVRChanged);
     Controller.disableMapping(eventMappingName);
     Controller.mousePressEvent.disconnect(goActive);
     Controller.keyPressEvent.disconnect(maybeGoActive);
@@ -367,6 +376,8 @@ Script.scriptEnding.connect(function () {
     Messages.unsubscribe(CHANNEL_AWAY_ENABLE);
 });
 
+HMD.awayStateWhenFocusLostInVRChanged.connect(awayStateWhenFocusLostInVRChanged);
+
 if (HMD.active && !HMD.mounted) {
     print("Starting script, while HMD is active and not mounted...");
     goAway(true);