diff --git a/modules/juce_gui_basics/widgets/juce_ComboBox.cpp b/modules/juce_gui_basics/widgets/juce_ComboBox.cpp
index 95702233a4..a601c86b0e 100644
--- a/modules/juce_gui_basics/widgets/juce_ComboBox.cpp
+++ b/modules/juce_gui_basics/widgets/juce_ComboBox.cpp
@@ -505,7 +505,14 @@ void ComboBox::showPopupIfNotActive()
     if (! menuActive)
     {
         menuActive = true;
-        showPopup();
+
+        SafePointer<ComboBox> safePointer (this);
+
+        // as this method was triggered by a mouse event, the same mouse event may have
+        // exited the modal state of other popups currently on the screen. By calling
+        // showPopup asynchronously, we are giving the other popups a chance to properly
+        // close themselves
+        MessageManager::callAsync([safePointer] () mutable { if (safePointer != nullptr) safePointer->showPopup(); });
     }
 }