diff --git a/dlls/d3d8/tests/device.c b/dlls/d3d8/tests/device.c
index ec6f2ce51b3..b61ad207cc9 100644
--- a/dlls/d3d8/tests/device.c
+++ b/dlls/d3d8/tests/device.c
@@ -3203,9 +3203,15 @@ static void test_wndproc(void)
 
     /* I have to minimize and restore the focus window, otherwise native d3d8 fails
      * device::reset with D3DERR_DEVICELOST. This does not happen when the window
-     * restore is triggered by the user. */
+     * restore is triggered by the user.
+     *
+     * fvwm randomly sends a focus loss notification when we minimize, so do it
+     * before checking the incoming messages. It might match WM_ACTIVATEAPP but has
+     * a wrong WPARAM. Use SW_SHOWMINNOACTIVE to make sure we don't accidentally
+     * activate the window at this point and miss our WM_ACTIVATEAPP(wparam=1). */
+    ShowWindow(focus_window, SW_SHOWMINNOACTIVE);
+    flush_events();
     expect_messages = reactivate_messages;
-    ShowWindow(focus_window, SW_MINIMIZE);
     ShowWindow(focus_window, SW_RESTORE);
     /* Set focus twice to make KDE and fvwm in focus-follows-mouse mode happy. */
     SetForegroundWindow(focus_window);