diff --git a/cmd/guilds_tree.go b/cmd/guilds_tree.go
index 52c9ee0..6a2e643 100644
--- a/cmd/guilds_tree.go
+++ b/cmd/guilds_tree.go
@@ -194,7 +194,9 @@ func (gt *guildsTree) onSelected(node *tview.TreeNode) {
 			app.chatView.messageInput.SetPlaceholder("You do not have permission to send messages in this channel.")
 		} else {
 			app.chatView.messageInput.SetPlaceholder("Message...")
-			app.SetFocus(app.chatView.messageInput)
+			if gt.cfg.AutoFocus {
+				app.SetFocus(app.chatView.messageInput)
+			}
 		}
 
 	case nil: // Direct messages folder
diff --git a/internal/config/config.go b/internal/config/config.go
index bbdd7c2..008acc7 100644
--- a/internal/config/config.go
+++ b/internal/config/config.go
@@ -32,8 +32,9 @@ type (
 	}
 
 	Config struct {
-		Mouse  bool   `toml:"mouse"`
-		Editor string `toml:"editor"`
+		AutoFocus bool   `toml:"auto_focus"`
+		Mouse     bool   `toml:"mouse"`
+		Editor    string `toml:"editor"`
 
 		Status discord.Status `toml:"status"`
 
diff --git a/internal/config/config.toml b/internal/config/config.toml
index 221786a..7963bf3 100644
--- a/internal/config/config.toml
+++ b/internal/config/config.toml
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+# Whether to focus the message input automatically when a channel is selected.
+# Set to false to preview channels without moving focus.
+auto_focus = true
+
 # Whether to enable mouse or not.
 mouse = true
 # The program to open when the `keys.message_input.editor` keymap is pressed. Set the value to `"default"` to use `$EDITOR`.