diff --git a/shell/browser/native_window_views.cc b/shell/browser/native_window_views.cc
index 78821fe2722..12617c1db77 100644
--- a/shell/browser/native_window_views.cc
+++ b/shell/browser/native_window_views.cc
@@ -538,6 +538,11 @@ void NativeWindowViews::ShowInactive() {
 #if BUILDFLAG(IS_LINUX)
   if (global_menu_bar_)
     global_menu_bar_->OnWindowMapped();
+
+  // On X11, setting Z order before showing the window doesn't take effect,
+  // so we have to call it again.
+  if (IsX11())
+    widget()->SetZOrderLevel(widget()->GetZOrderLevel());
 #endif
 }
 
diff --git a/spec/api-browser-window-spec.ts b/spec/api-browser-window-spec.ts
index cfa4bf58d34..c0934d250e9 100755
--- a/spec/api-browser-window-spec.ts
+++ b/spec/api-browser-window-spec.ts
@@ -2514,6 +2514,22 @@ describe('BrowserWindow module', () => {
       expect(c.isAlwaysOnTop()).to.be.true('child is not always on top');
       expect(c._getAlwaysOnTopLevel()).to.equal('screen-saver');
     });
+
+    it('works when called prior to show', async () => {
+      w = new BrowserWindow({ show: false });
+      w.setAlwaysOnTop(true, 'screen-saver');
+      w.show();
+      await setTimeout(1000);
+      expect(w.isAlwaysOnTop()).to.be.true('is not alwaysOnTop');
+    });
+
+    it('works when called prior to showInactive', async () => {
+      w = new BrowserWindow({ show: false });
+      w.setAlwaysOnTop(true, 'screen-saver');
+      w.showInactive();
+      await setTimeout(1000);
+      expect(w.isAlwaysOnTop()).to.be.true('is not alwaysOnTop');
+    });
   });
 
   describe('preconnect feature', () => {