diff --git a/core/blockly.js b/core/blockly.js
index b673c9ebbad..af39f3fe5ca 100644
--- a/core/blockly.js
+++ b/core/blockly.js
@@ -168,14 +168,19 @@ Blockly.svgResize = function(workspace) {
 };
 
 /**
- * Handle a key-down on SVG drawing surface.
+ * Handle a key-down on SVG drawing surface. Does nothing if the main workspace is not visible.
  * @param {!Event} e Key down event.
  * @private
  */
+// TODO (https://github.com/google/blockly/issues/1998) handle cases where there are
+// multiple workspaces and non-main workspaces are able to accept input.
 Blockly.onKeyDown_ = function(e) {
-  if (Blockly.mainWorkspace.options.readOnly || Blockly.utils.isTargetInput(e)) {
+  if (Blockly.mainWorkspace.options.readOnly || Blockly.utils.isTargetInput(e)
+      || (Blockly.mainWorkspace.rendered && !Blockly.mainWorkspace.isVisible())) {
     // No key actions on readonly workspaces.
     // When focused on an HTML text input widget, don't trap any keys.
+    // Ignore keypresses on rendered workspaces that have been explicitly
+    // hidden.
     return;
   }
   var deleteBlock = false;
diff --git a/core/workspace_svg.js b/core/workspace_svg.js
index 7f4d2a5eb29..ce6e91174cc 100644
--- a/core/workspace_svg.js
+++ b/core/workspace_svg.js
@@ -131,12 +131,20 @@ Blockly.WorkspaceSvg.prototype.resizeHandlerWrapper_ = null;
 
 /**
  * The render status of an SVG workspace.
- * Returns `true` for visible workspaces and `false` for non-visible,
- * or headless, workspaces.
+ * Returns `false` for headless workspaces and true for instances of
+ * `Blockly.WorkspaceSvg`.
  * @type {boolean}
  */
 Blockly.WorkspaceSvg.prototype.rendered = true;
 
+/**
+ * Whether the workspace is visible.  False if the workspace has been hidden
+ * by calling `setVisible(false)`.
+ * @type {boolean}
+ * @private
+ */
+Blockly.WorkspaceSvg.prototype.isVisible_ = true;
+
 /**
  * Is this workspace the surface for a flyout?
  * @type {boolean}
@@ -334,6 +342,15 @@ Blockly.WorkspaceSvg.prototype.updateInverseScreenCTM = function() {
   this.inverseScreenCTMDirty_ = true;
 };
 
+/**
+ * Getter for isVisible
+ * @return {boolean} Whether the workspace is visible.  False if the workspace has been hidden
+ * by calling `setVisible(false)`.
+ */
+Blockly.WorkspaceSvg.prototype.isVisible = function() {
+  return this.isVisible_;
+};
+
 /**
  * Return the absolute coordinates of the top-left corner of this element,
  * scales that after canvas SVG element, if it's a descendant.
@@ -882,6 +899,7 @@ Blockly.WorkspaceSvg.prototype.setVisible = function(isVisible) {
   } else {
     Blockly.hideChaff(true);
   }
+  this.isVisible_ = isVisible;
 };
 
 /**