diff --git a/qutebrowser/app.py b/qutebrowser/app.py
index 1ea415dfb..618fad6b5 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/app.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/app.py
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ def process_pos_args(args, via_ipc=False, cwd=None, target_arg=None):
                     cmd, e))
 
 
-def open_url(url, target=None):
+def open_url(url, target=None, force_raise=None):
     """Open an URLs in new window/tab
 
     Args:
@@ -308,7 +308,8 @@ def open_url(url, target=None):
     """
     target = target or config.val.new_instance_open_target
     background = target in ['tab-bg', 'tab-bg-silent']
-    win_id = mainwindow.get_window(True, force_target=target)
+    win_id = mainwindow.get_window(True, force_target=target,
+                                   force_raise=force_raise)
     tabbed_browser = objreg.get('tabbed-browser', scope='window',
                                 window=win_id)
     log.init.debug("About to open URL {}".format(url))
diff --git a/qutebrowser/mainwindow/mainwindow.py b/qutebrowser/mainwindow/mainwindow.py
index 28bd0ef72..4fd6abc86 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/mainwindow/mainwindow.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/mainwindow/mainwindow.py
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ win_id_gen = itertools.count(0)
 
 
 def get_window(via_ipc, force_window=False, force_tab=False,
-               force_target=None):
+               force_target=None, force_raise=None):
     """Helper function for app.py to get a window id.
 
     Args:
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ def get_window(via_ipc, force_window=False, force_tab=False,
         window.show()
         should_raise = True
 
-    if should_raise:
+    if (force_raise is True) or (force_raise is None and should_raise):
         raise_window(window)
 
     return window.win_id