diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 2ba7ec153..d838c46f5 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](http://semver.org/).
 ### Changed
 
 - `Placeholder` now sets its color cycle per app https://github.com/Textualize/textual/issues/2590
+- Footer now clears key highlight regardless of whether it's in the active screen or not https://github.com/Textualize/textual/issues/2606
 
 ### Removed
 
diff --git a/src/textual/widgets/_footer.py b/src/textual/widgets/_footer.py
index a52e05785..b5e772ab6 100644
--- a/src/textual/widgets/_footer.py
+++ b/src/textual/widgets/_footer.py
@@ -79,8 +79,7 @@ class Footer(Widget):
 
     def _on_leave(self, _: events.Leave) -> None:
         """Clear any highlight when the mouse leaves the widget"""
-        if self.screen.is_current:
-            self.highlight_key = None
+        self.highlight_key = None
 
     def __rich_repr__(self) -> rich.repr.Result:
         yield from super().__rich_repr__()