diff --git a/packages/core/src/components/overlay/overlay.tsx b/packages/core/src/components/overlay/overlay.tsx
index 5622f9adfe..cc33cba708 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/components/overlay/overlay.tsx
+++ b/packages/core/src/components/overlay/overlay.tsx
@@ -309,10 +309,15 @@ export class Overlay extends React.Component<IOverlayProps, IOverlayState> {
     }
 
     private handleBackdropMouseDown = (e: React.MouseEvent<HTMLDivElement>) => {
-        if (this.props.canOutsideClickClose) {
-            safeInvoke(this.props.onClose, e);
+        const { backdropProps, canOutsideClickClose, enforceFocus, onClose } = this.props;
+        if (canOutsideClickClose) {
+            safeInvoke(onClose, e);
+        }
+        if (enforceFocus) {
+            // make sure document.activeElement is updated before bringing the focus back
+            requestAnimationFrame(() => this.bringFocusInsideOverlay());
         }
-        safeInvoke(this.props.backdropProps.onMouseDown, e);
+        safeInvoke(backdropProps.onMouseDown, e);
     }
 
     private handleDocumentClick = (e: MouseEvent) => {
diff --git a/packages/core/test/overlay/overlayTests.tsx b/packages/core/test/overlay/overlayTests.tsx
index e485b30141..d3afc6ba0a 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/overlay/overlayTests.tsx
+++ b/packages/core/test/overlay/overlayTests.tsx
@@ -207,6 +207,20 @@ describe("<Overlay>", () => {
             );
         });
 
+        it("returns focus to overlay after clicking the backdrop if enforceFocus=true", (done) => {
+            wrapper = mount(
+                <Overlay enforceFocus={true} canOutsideClickClose={false} inline={true} isOpen={true}>
+                    {createOverlayContents()}
+                </Overlay>,
+                { attachTo: testsContainerElement },
+            );
+            wrapper.find(BACKDROP_SELECTOR).simulate("mousedown");
+            setTimeout(() => {
+                assert.equal(document.querySelector(`.${Classes.OVERLAY_CONTENT}`), document.activeElement);
+                done();
+            });
+        });
+
         it("does not result in maximum call stack if two overlays open with enforceFocus=true", () => {
             const anotherContainer = document.createElement("div");
             document.documentElement.appendChild(anotherContainer);