diff --git a/krita/krita.action b/krita/krita.action
--- a/krita/krita.action
+++ b/krita/krita.action
@@ -2096,6 +2096,18 @@
       <isCheckable>false</isCheckable>
       <statusTip></statusTip>
     </Action>
+    <Action name="switchToPreviouslyActiveNode">
+      <icon></icon>
+      <text>Activate previously selected layer</text>
+      <whatsThis></whatsThis>
+      <toolTip>Activate previously selected layer</toolTip>
+      <iconText>Activate previously selected layer</iconText>
+      <activationFlags>1000</activationFlags>
+      <activationConditions>0</activationConditions>
+      <shortcut>;</shortcut>
+      <isCheckable>false</isCheckable>
+      <statusTip></statusTip>
+    </Action>
     <Action name="add_new_group_layer">
       <icon>groupLayer</icon>
       <text>&amp;Group Layer</text>
diff --git a/libs/ui/kis_node_manager.h b/libs/ui/kis_node_manager.h
--- a/libs/ui/kis_node_manager.h
+++ b/libs/ui/kis_node_manager.h
@@ -177,6 +177,7 @@
     void mirrorNode(KisNodeSP node, const KUndo2MagicString& commandName, Qt::Orientation orientation);
     void activateNextNode();
     void activatePreviousNode();
+    void switchToPreviouslyActiveNode();
 
     /**
      * move the active node up the nodestack.
diff --git a/libs/ui/kis_node_manager.cpp b/libs/ui/kis_node_manager.cpp
--- a/libs/ui/kis_node_manager.cpp
+++ b/libs/ui/kis_node_manager.cpp
@@ -106,6 +106,8 @@
     KisNodeList selectedNodes;
     QPointer<KisNodeJugglerCompressed> nodeJuggler;
 
+    KisNodeWSP previouslyActiveNode;
+
     bool activateNodeImpl(KisNodeSP node);
 
     QSignalMapper nodeCreationSignalMapper;
@@ -144,8 +146,11 @@
         imageView->setCurrentNode(0);
         maskManager.activateMask(0);
         layerManager.activateLayer(0);
+        previouslyActiveNode = q->activeNode();
     } else {
 
+        previouslyActiveNode = q->activeNode();
+
         KoShape * shape = view->document()->shapeForNode(node);
         KIS_ASSERT_RECOVER_RETURN_VALUE(shape, false);
 
@@ -247,6 +252,9 @@
     action = actionManager->createAction("activatePreviousLayer");
     connect(action, SIGNAL(triggered()), this, SLOT(activatePreviousNode()));
 
+    action = actionManager->createAction("switchToPreviouslyActiveNode");
+    connect(action, SIGNAL(triggered()), this, SLOT(switchToPreviouslyActiveNode()));
+
     action  = actionManager->createAction("save_node_as_image");
     connect(action, SIGNAL(triggered()), this, SLOT(saveNodeAsImage()));
 
@@ -868,6 +876,13 @@
     }
 }
 
+void KisNodeManager::switchToPreviouslyActiveNode()
+{
+    if (m_d->previouslyActiveNode && m_d->previouslyActiveNode->parent()) {
+        slotNonUiActivatedNode(m_d->previouslyActiveNode);
+    }
+}
+
 void KisNodeManager::mergeLayer()
 {
     m_d->layerManager.mergeLayer();