diff --git a/data/rc.xsd b/data/rc.xsd
--- a/data/rc.xsd
+++ b/data/rc.xsd
@@ -218,6 +218,7 @@
     <xsd:complexType name="menu">
         <xsd:sequence>
             <xsd:element maxOccurs="unbounded" name="file" type="xsd:string"/>
+            <xsd:element minOccurs="0" name="TopMenuKbdGroup" type="xsd:integer"/>
             <xsd:element minOccurs="0" name="hideDelay" type="xsd:integer"/>
             <xsd:element minOccurs="0" name="middle" type="ob:bool"/>
             <xsd:element minOccurs="0" name="utf8Enabled" type="ob:bool"/>
diff --git a/openbox/config.c b/openbox/config.c
--- a/openbox/config.c
+++ b/openbox/config.c
@@ -92,6 +92,7 @@ gint     config_mouse_dclicktime;
 gint     config_mouse_screenedgetime;
 gboolean config_mouse_screenedgewarp;
 
+guint config_menu_topmenu_kbd_group;
 guint    config_menu_hide_delay;
 gboolean config_menu_middle;
 guint    config_submenu_show_delay;
@@ -937,6 +938,8 @@ static void parse_menu(xmlNodePtr node, gpointer d)
     xmlNodePtr n;
     node = node->children;
 
+    if ((n = obt_xml_find_node(node, "TopMenuKbdGroup")))
+        config_menu_topmenu_kbd_group = obt_xml_node_int(n) + 1;
     if ((n = obt_xml_find_node(node, "hideDelay")))
         config_menu_hide_delay = obt_xml_node_int(n);
     if ((n = obt_xml_find_node(node, "middle")))
diff --git a/openbox/config.h b/openbox/config.h
--- a/openbox/config.h
+++ b/openbox/config.h
@@ -197,6 +197,9 @@ extern gint config_resist_win;
 /*! Number of pixels to resist while crossing a screen's edge */
 extern gint config_resist_edge;
 
+/*! Incremented by 1 keyboard layout group that must be set when the toplevel menu show.
+0 if not defined */
+extern guint config_menu_topmenu_kbd_group;
 /*! Delay for hiding menu when opening in milliseconds */
 extern guint    config_menu_hide_delay;
 /*! Center menus vertically about the parent entry */
diff --git a/openbox/menuframe.c b/openbox/menuframe.c
--- a/openbox/menuframe.c
+++ b/openbox/menuframe.c
@@ -1056,6 +1056,11 @@ gboolean menu_frame_show_topmenu(ObMenuFrame *self, gint x, gint y,
             e->ignore_enters++;
     }
 
+    /* set the keyboard layout if specified */
+    gint n = config_menu_topmenu_kbd_group;
+    if (n)
+        XkbLockGroup(obt_display, XkbUseCoreKbd, n - 1);
+
     return TRUE;
 }