diff --git a/docs/README.md b/docs/README.md
index e63ac121..36f58725 100644
--- a/docs/README.md
+++ b/docs/README.md
@@ -84,6 +84,11 @@ import ReactModal from 'react-modal';
     Note: By disabling the esc key from closing the modal you may introduce an accessibility issue.
   */
   shouldCloseOnEsc={true}
+  /*
+    Boolean indicating if the modal should restore focus to the element that
+    had focus prior to its display.
+  */
+  shouldReturnFocusAfterClose={true}  
   /*
     String indicating the role of the modal, allowing the 'dialog' role to be applied if desired.
   */
diff --git a/specs/Modal.spec.js b/specs/Modal.spec.js
index 5da1371a..6aed4586 100644
--- a/specs/Modal.spec.js
+++ b/specs/Modal.spec.js
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ export default () => {
     document.activeElement.should.be.eql(mcontent(modal));
   });
 
-  it("does not focus the modal content when shouldFocusAfterRender is false", () => {
+  it("does not focus modal content if shouldFocusAfterRender is false", () => {
     const modal = renderModal(
       { isOpen: true, shouldFocusAfterRender: false },
       null
@@ -317,7 +317,7 @@ export default () => {
     isBodyWithReactModalOpenClass("testBodyClass").should.not.be.ok();
   });
 
-  it("should not remove classes from document.body when rendering unopened modal", () => {
+  it("should not remove classes from document.body if modal is closed", () => {
     renderModal({ isOpen: true });
     isBodyWithReactModalOpenClass().should.be.ok();
     renderModal({ isOpen: false, bodyOpenClassName: "testBodyClass" });
@@ -340,7 +340,7 @@ export default () => {
     unmountModal();
   });
 
-  it("adding/removing aria-hidden without an appElement will try to fallback to document.body", () => {
+  it("uses document.body for aria-hidden if no appElement", () => {
     ariaAppHider.documentNotReadyOrSSRTesting();
     const node = document.createElement("div");
     ReactDOM.render(<Modal isOpen />, node);
@@ -349,7 +349,7 @@ export default () => {
     should(document.body.getAttribute("aria-hidden")).not.be.ok();
   });
 
-  it("raise an exception if appElement is a selector and no elements were found.", () => {
+  it("raises an exception if the appElement selector does not match", () => {
     should(() => ariaAppHider.setElement(".test")).throw();
   });
 
diff --git a/specs/Modal.style.spec.js b/specs/Modal.style.spec.js
index 2b17355f..c74d8eea 100644
--- a/specs/Modal.style.spec.js
+++ b/specs/Modal.style.spec.js
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ export default () => {
     mcontent(modal).style.top.should.be.eql("");
   });
 
-  it("overrides the default styles when a custom overlayClassName is used", () => {
+  it("overrides the default styles when using custom overlayClassName", () => {
     const modal = renderModal({
       isOpen: true,
       overlayClassName: "myOverlayClass"
diff --git a/src/components/Modal.js b/src/components/Modal.js
index d67d4b49..f3e037c3 100644
--- a/src/components/Modal.js
+++ b/src/components/Modal.js
@@ -52,8 +52,9 @@ export default class Modal extends Component {
     onRequestClose: PropTypes.func,
     closeTimeoutMS: PropTypes.number,
     ariaHideApp: PropTypes.bool,
-    shouldFocusAfter: PropTypes.bool,
+    shouldFocusAfterRender: PropTypes.bool,
     shouldCloseOnOverlayClick: PropTypes.bool,
+    shouldReturnFocusAfterClose: PropTypes.bool,
     parentSelector: PropTypes.func,
     aria: PropTypes.object,
     role: PropTypes.string,
@@ -71,6 +72,7 @@ export default class Modal extends Component {
     shouldFocusAfterRender: true,
     shouldCloseOnEsc: true,
     shouldCloseOnOverlayClick: true,
+    shouldReturnFocusAfterClose: true,
     parentSelector() {
       return document.body;
     }
diff --git a/src/components/ModalPortal.js b/src/components/ModalPortal.js
index 0a4354f6..434a9990 100644
--- a/src/components/ModalPortal.js
+++ b/src/components/ModalPortal.js
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ export default class ModalPortal extends Component {
     closeTimeoutMS: PropTypes.number,
     shouldFocusAfterRender: PropTypes.bool,
     shouldCloseOnOverlayClick: PropTypes.bool,
+    shouldReturnFocusAfterClose: PropTypes.bool,
     role: PropTypes.string,
     contentLabel: PropTypes.string,
     aria: PropTypes.object,
@@ -137,8 +138,23 @@ export default class ModalPortal extends Component {
   afterClose = () => {
     // Remove body class
     bodyClassList.remove(this.props.bodyOpenClassName);
-    focusManager.returnFocus();
-    focusManager.teardownScopedFocus();
+
+    if (this.shouldReturnFocus()) {
+      focusManager.returnFocus();
+      focusManager.teardownScopedFocus();
+    }
+  };
+
+  shouldReturnFocus = () => {
+    // Don't restore focus to the element that had focus prior to
+    // the modal's display if:
+    // 1. Focus was never shifted to the modal in the first place
+    //    (shouldFocusAfterRender = false)
+    // 2. Explicit direction to not restore focus
+    return (
+      this.props.shouldFocusAfterRender ||
+      this.props.shouldReturnFocusAfterClose
+    );
   };
 
   open = () => {
@@ -147,8 +163,11 @@ export default class ModalPortal extends Component {
       clearTimeout(this.closeTimer);
       this.setState({ beforeClose: false });
     } else {
-      focusManager.setupScopedFocus(this.node);
-      focusManager.markForFocusLater();
+      if (this.shouldReturnFocus()) {
+        focusManager.setupScopedFocus(this.node);
+        focusManager.markForFocusLater();
+      }
+
       this.setState({ isOpen: true }, () => {
         this.setState({ afterOpen: true });