diff -NrU5 rxvt-unicode-9.06.original/src/screen.C rxvt-unicode-9.06/src/screen.C
--- src/screen.C	2009-10-25 18:16:16.000000000 -0600
+++ src/screen.C	2009-10-25 18:17:53.000000000 -0600
@@ -1927,11 +1927,11 @@
 #  endif
     XMapWindow (dpy, parent[0]);
 # endif
 
 # if ENABLE_FRILLS
-  if (option (Opt_urgentOnBell))
+  if (option (Opt_urgentOnBell) && !focus)
     set_urgency (1);
 # endif
 
   if (option (Opt_visualBell))
     {