diff --git a/overlays/preferences.nix b/overlays/preferences.nix
index c40da4600..d02d01943 100644
--- a/overlays/preferences.nix
+++ b/overlays/preferences.nix
@@ -19,6 +19,22 @@
     # };
   });
 
+  # dino = super.dino.override {
+  #   gtk4 = gtk4.overrideAttrs (upstream: {
+  #     patches = (upstream.patches or []) ++ [
+  #       (fetchpatch2 {
+  #         # 2023/09/08: this allows gtk4 apps to request window activation from sway more reliably.
+  #         # e.g. if they send a notification, and i click that notification, the app can request focus.
+  #         # without this patch, dino (and probably other gtk4 apps) have quirks on moby:
+  #         # - they can only request activation after i've typed something into them (i.e. triggered a keyboard event for which they're listening).
+  #         name = "gdk/wayland: Provide latest touch serial even after a touch ended";
+  #         url = "https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gtk/-/merge_requests/5782.patch";
+  #         hash = "sha256-OwOUAFB+Q+FJ+TEDohfpA2stHPq3c0cAFfJf3mFRvPQ=";
+  #       })
+  #     ];
+  #   });
+  # };
+
   phog = super.phog.override {
     # disable squeekboard because it takes 20 minutes to compile when emulated
     squeekboard = null;
@@ -64,4 +80,31 @@
     # should be safe to remove after next staging -> master merge
     jackSupport = false;
   };
+
+  sway-unwrapped = super.sway-unwrapped.override {
+    wlroots = wlroots.overrideAttrs (upstream: {
+      # 2023/09/08: fix so clicking a notification can activate the corresponding window.
+      # - test: run dino, receive a message while tabbed away, click the desktop notification.
+      #   - if sway activates the dino window (i.e. colors the workspace and tab), then all good
+      #   - do all of this with only a touchscreen (e.g. on mobile phone) -- NOT a mouse/pointer
+      ## what this patch does:
+      # - allows any wayland window to request activation, at any time.
+      # - traditionally, wayland only allows windows to request activation if
+      #   the client requesting to transfer control has some connection to a recent user interaction.
+      #   - e.g. the active window may transfer control to any window
+      #   - a window which was very recently active may transfer control to itself
+      ## alternative (longer-term) solutions:
+      # - fix this class of bug in gtk:
+      #   - <https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gtk/-/merge_requests/5782>
+      #   - N.B.: this linked PR doesn't actually fix it
+      # - add xdg_activation_v1 support to SwayNC (my notification daemon):
+      #   - <https://github.com/ErikReider/SwayNotificationCenter/issues/71>
+      #   - mako notification daemon supports activation, can use as a reference
+      #     - all of ~30 LoC, looks straight-forward
+      postPatch = (upstream.postPatch or "") + ''
+        substituteInPlace types/wlr_xdg_activation_v1.c \
+          --replace 'if (token->seat != NULL)' 'if (false && token->seat != NULL)'
+      '';
+    });
+  };
 })