diff --git a/packages/react/src/hooks/useOpenAndCloseFocus.ts b/packages/react/src/hooks/useOpenAndCloseFocus.ts
index ca5d15d68c9..a5dd2f7962d 100644
--- a/packages/react/src/hooks/useOpenAndCloseFocus.ts
+++ b/packages/react/src/hooks/useOpenAndCloseFocus.ts
@@ -16,18 +16,25 @@ export function useOpenAndCloseFocus({
   preventFocusOnOpen,
 }: UseOpenAndCloseFocusSettings): void {
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (preventFocusOnOpen) {
+    const isOpen = containerRef.current || initialFocusRef?.current
+
+    // Do nothing if component is open and focus should be prevented on open
+    if (isOpen && preventFocusOnOpen) {
       return
     }
-    const returnRef = returnFocusRef.current
+
+    // If initial focus ref is given and present, apply focus
     if (initialFocusRef && initialFocusRef.current) {
       initialFocusRef.current.focus()
+    // If container ref is present, apply focus
     } else if (containerRef.current) {
       const firstItem = iterateFocusableElements(containerRef.current).next().value
       firstItem?.focus()
     }
+
+    // Else, component is closed, and focus should be applied to given returnFocusRef element
     return function () {
-      returnRef?.focus()
+      returnFocusRef.current?.focus()
     }
   }, [initialFocusRef, returnFocusRef, containerRef, preventFocusOnOpen])
 }