diff --git a/src/render/OpenGL.cpp b/src/render/OpenGL.cpp
index 83ced53d..25e45f88 100644
--- a/src/render/OpenGL.cpp
+++ b/src/render/OpenGL.cpp
@@ -600,6 +600,27 @@ void CHyprOpenGLImpl::preBlurForCurrentMonitor() {
     m_RenderData.pCurrentMonData->blurFBDirty = false;
 }
 
+void CHyprOpenGLImpl::preWindowPass() {
+    static auto* const PBLURNEWOPTIMIZE = &g_pConfigManager->getConfigValuePtr("decoration:blur_new_optimizations")->intValue;
+
+    if (!m_RenderData.pCurrentMonData->blurFBDirty || !*PBLURNEWOPTIMIZE)
+        return;
+
+    bool hasWindows = false;
+    for (auto& w : g_pCompositor->m_vWindows) {
+        if (w->m_iWorkspaceID == m_RenderData.pMonitor->activeWorkspace && !w->m_bHidden && w->m_bIsMapped) {
+            hasWindows = true;
+            break;  
+        }
+    }
+
+    if (!hasWindows)
+        return;
+
+    // blur the main FB, it will be rendered onto the mirror
+    preBlurForCurrentMonitor();
+}
+
 void CHyprOpenGLImpl::renderTextureWithBlur(const CTexture& tex, wlr_box* pBox, float a, wlr_surface* pSurface, int round) {
     RASSERT(m_RenderData.pMonitor, "Tried to render texture with blur without begin()!");
 
@@ -635,12 +656,6 @@ void CHyprOpenGLImpl::renderTextureWithBlur(const CTexture& tex, wlr_box* pBox,
         return;
     }
 
-    // blur the main FB, it will be rendered onto the mirror
-    if (*PBLURNEWOPTIMIZE && m_RenderData.pCurrentMonData->blurFBDirty) {
-        // redraw the blur. Since this resets the dirty flag, it will be drawn before the first window.
-        preBlurForCurrentMonitor();
-    }
-
         //                                                          vvv TODO: layered blur fbs?
     const auto POUTFB = (*PBLURNEWOPTIMIZE && m_pCurrentWindow && !m_pCurrentWindow->m_bIsFloating) ? &m_RenderData.pCurrentMonData->blurFB : blurMainFramebufferWithDamage(a, pBox, &inverseOpaque);
 
diff --git a/src/render/OpenGL.hpp b/src/render/OpenGL.hpp
index 4fd16612..14995979 100644
--- a/src/render/OpenGL.hpp
+++ b/src/render/OpenGL.hpp
@@ -87,6 +87,8 @@ public:
 
     void    markBlurDirtyForMonitor(CMonitor*);
 
+    void    preWindowPass();
+
     SCurrentRenderData m_RenderData;
 
     GLint  m_iCurrentOutputFb = 0;
diff --git a/src/render/Renderer.cpp b/src/render/Renderer.cpp
index 05a16004..1de132f3 100644
--- a/src/render/Renderer.cpp
+++ b/src/render/Renderer.cpp
@@ -320,6 +320,9 @@ void CHyprRenderer::renderAllClientsForMonitor(const int& ID, timespec* time) {
         renderLayer(ls.get(), PMONITOR, time);
     }
 
+    // pre window pass
+    g_pHyprOpenGL->preWindowPass();
+
     // if there is a fullscreen window, render it and then do not render anymore.
     // fullscreen window will hide other windows and top layers
     const auto PWORKSPACE = g_pCompositor->getWorkspaceByID(PMONITOR->activeWorkspace);