diff --git a/container/container.go b/container/container.go
index ab60218..ba69898 100644
--- a/container/container.go
+++ b/container/container.go
@@ -278,8 +278,11 @@ func (c *Container) updateFocusFromMouse(m *terminalapi.Mouse) {
 // changes the focused container.
 // Caller must hold c.mu.
 func (c *Container) updateFocusFromKeyboard(k *terminalapi.Keyboard) {
-	if c.opts.global.keyFocusNext != nil && *c.opts.global.keyFocusNext == k.Key {
+	switch {
+	case c.opts.global.keyFocusNext != nil && *c.opts.global.keyFocusNext == k.Key:
 		c.focusTracker.next()
+	case c.opts.global.keyFocusPrevious != nil && *c.opts.global.keyFocusPrevious == k.Key:
+		c.focusTracker.previous()
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/container/focus.go b/container/focus.go
index 6b0b229..1e8c1f9 100644
--- a/container/focus.go
+++ b/container/focus.go
@@ -82,20 +82,20 @@ func (ft *focusTracker) setActive(c *Container) {
 func (ft *focusTracker) next() {
 	var (
 		errStr    string
-		first     *Container
-		cont      *Container
+		firstCont *Container
+		nextCont  *Container
 		focusNext bool
 	)
-	postOrder(rootCont(ft.container), &errStr, visitFunc(func(c *Container) error {
-		if cont != nil {
+	preOrder(rootCont(ft.container), &errStr, visitFunc(func(c *Container) error {
+		if nextCont != nil {
 			// Already found the next container, nothing to do.
 			return nil
 		}
 
-		if c.isLeaf() && first == nil {
+		if c.isLeaf() && firstCont == nil {
 			// Remember the first eligible container in case we "wrap" over,
 			// i.e. finish the iteration before finding the next container.
-			first = c
+			firstCont = c
 		}
 
 		if ft.container == c {
@@ -106,18 +106,49 @@ func (ft *focusTracker) next() {
 		}
 
 		if c.isLeaf() && focusNext {
-			cont = c
+			nextCont = c
 		}
 		return nil
 	}))
 
-	if cont == nil && first != nil {
+	if nextCont == nil && firstCont != nil {
 		// If the traversal finishes without finding the next container, move
 		// focus back to the first container.
-		cont = first
+		nextCont = firstCont
 	}
-	if cont != nil {
-		ft.setActive(cont)
+	if nextCont != nil {
+		ft.setActive(nextCont)
+	}
+}
+
+// previous moves focus to the previous container.
+func (ft *focusTracker) previous() {
+	var (
+		errStr      string
+		prevCont    *Container
+		lastCont    *Container
+		visitedCurr bool
+	)
+	preOrder(rootCont(ft.container), &errStr, visitFunc(func(c *Container) error {
+		if ft.container == c {
+			visitedCurr = true
+		}
+
+		if c.isLeaf() {
+			if !visitedCurr {
+				// Remember the last eligible container closest to the one
+				// currently focused.
+				prevCont = c
+			}
+			lastCont = c
+		}
+		return nil
+	}))
+
+	if prevCont != nil {
+		ft.setActive(prevCont)
+	} else if lastCont != nil {
+		ft.setActive(lastCont)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/container/focus_test.go b/container/focus_test.go
index 451efde..5f3a5a4 100644
--- a/container/focus_test.go
+++ b/container/focus_test.go
@@ -624,6 +624,120 @@ func TestFocusTrackerNextAndPrevious(t *testing.T) {
 			wantFocused:   contLocLeft,
 			wantProcessed: 5,
 		},
+		{
+			desc: "keyPrevious does nothing when only root exists",
+			container: func(ft *faketerm.Terminal) (*Container, error) {
+				return New(
+					ft,
+					KeyFocusPrevious(keyPrevious),
+				)
+			},
+			events: []*terminalapi.Keyboard{
+				{Key: keyPrevious},
+			},
+			wantFocused:   contLocRoot,
+			wantProcessed: 1,
+		},
+		{
+			desc: "keyPrevious focuses the last container",
+			container: func(ft *faketerm.Terminal) (*Container, error) {
+				return New(
+					ft,
+					SplitVertical(
+						Left(),
+						Right(),
+					),
+					KeyFocusPrevious(keyPrevious),
+				)
+			},
+			events: []*terminalapi.Keyboard{
+				{Key: keyPrevious},
+			},
+			wantFocused:   contLocRight,
+			wantProcessed: 1,
+		},
+		{
+			desc: "two keyPrevious presses focuses the first container",
+			container: func(ft *faketerm.Terminal) (*Container, error) {
+				return New(
+					ft,
+					SplitVertical(
+						Left(),
+						Right(),
+					),
+					KeyFocusPrevious(keyPrevious),
+				)
+			},
+			events: []*terminalapi.Keyboard{
+				{Key: keyPrevious},
+				{Key: keyPrevious},
+			},
+			wantFocused:   contLocLeft,
+			wantProcessed: 2,
+		},
+		{
+			desc: "three keyPrevious presses focuses the second container again",
+			container: func(ft *faketerm.Terminal) (*Container, error) {
+				return New(
+					ft,
+					SplitVertical(
+						Left(),
+						Right(),
+					),
+					KeyFocusPrevious(keyPrevious),
+				)
+			},
+			events: []*terminalapi.Keyboard{
+				{Key: keyPrevious},
+				{Key: keyPrevious},
+				{Key: keyPrevious},
+			},
+			wantFocused:   contLocRight,
+			wantProcessed: 3,
+		},
+		{
+			desc: "four keyPrevious presses focuses the first container again",
+			container: func(ft *faketerm.Terminal) (*Container, error) {
+				return New(
+					ft,
+					SplitVertical(
+						Left(),
+						Right(),
+					),
+					KeyFocusPrevious(keyPrevious),
+				)
+			},
+			events: []*terminalapi.Keyboard{
+				{Key: keyPrevious},
+				{Key: keyPrevious},
+				{Key: keyPrevious},
+				{Key: keyPrevious},
+			},
+			wantFocused:   contLocLeft,
+			wantProcessed: 4,
+		},
+		{
+			desc: "five keyPrevious presses focuses the second container again",
+			container: func(ft *faketerm.Terminal) (*Container, error) {
+				return New(
+					ft,
+					SplitVertical(
+						Left(),
+						Right(),
+					),
+					KeyFocusPrevious(keyPrevious),
+				)
+			},
+			events: []*terminalapi.Keyboard{
+				{Key: keyPrevious},
+				{Key: keyPrevious},
+				{Key: keyPrevious},
+				{Key: keyPrevious},
+				{Key: keyPrevious},
+			},
+			wantFocused:   contLocRight,
+			wantProcessed: 5,
+		},
 	}
 
 	for _, tc := range tests {