diff --git a/qutebrowser/config/configdata.py b/qutebrowser/config/configdata.py
index b3a885bcd..79531ff8a 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/config/configdata.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/config/configdata.py
@@ -148,7 +148,11 @@ DATA = OrderedDict([
         ('cmd_histlen',
          SettingValue(types.Int, "100"),
          "How many commands to save in the history. 0: no history / -1: "
-         "unlimited")
+         "unlimited"),
+
+        ('background_tabs',
+         SettingValue(types.Bool, "false"),
+         "Whether to open new tabs (middleclick/ctrl+click) in background"),
     )),
 
     ('tabbar', sect.KeyValue(
diff --git a/qutebrowser/widgets/browsertab.py b/qutebrowser/widgets/browsertab.py
index b9be0c66b..104b9ddc3 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/widgets/browsertab.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/widgets/browsertab.py
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ class BrowserTab(QWebView):
         _zoom: A NeighborList with the zoom levels.
         _scroll_pos: The old scroll position.
         _shutdown_callback: Callback to be called after shutdown.
-        _open_new_tab: Whether to open a new tab for the next action.
+        _open_target: Where to open the next tab ("normal", "tab", "bgtab")
         _shutdown_callback: The callback to call after shutting down.
         _destroyed: Dict of all items to be destroyed on shtudown.
 
@@ -56,14 +56,15 @@ class BrowserTab(QWebView):
                             arg 1: x-position in %.
                             arg 2: y-position in %.
         open_tab: A new tab should be opened.
-                  arg: The address to open
+                  arg 1: The address to open
+                  arg 2: Whether to open the tab in the background
         linkHovered: QWebPages linkHovered signal exposed.
         temp_message: Show a temporary message in the statusbar.
                       arg: Message to be shown.
     """
 
     scroll_pos_changed = pyqtSignal(int, int)
-    open_tab = pyqtSignal('QUrl')
+    open_tab = pyqtSignal('QUrl', bool)
     linkHovered = pyqtSignal(str, str, str)
     temp_message = pyqtSignal(str)
 
@@ -71,7 +72,7 @@ class BrowserTab(QWebView):
         super().__init__(parent)
         self._scroll_pos = (-1, -1)
         self._shutdown_callback = None
-        self._open_new_tab = False
+        self._open_target = "normal"
         self._destroyed = {}
         self._zoom = None
         self._init_neighborlist()
@@ -140,8 +141,10 @@ class BrowserTab(QWebView):
         Emit:
             open_tab: Emitted if window should be opened in a new tab.
         """
-        if self._open_new_tab:
-            self.open_tab.emit(url)
+        if self._open_target == "tab":
+            self.open_tab.emit(url, False)
+        elif self._open_target == "bgtab":
+            self.open_tab.emit(url, True)
         else:
             self.openurl(url)
 
@@ -246,7 +249,7 @@ class BrowserTab(QWebView):
         Extend the superclass event().
 
         This also is a bit of a hack, but it seems it's the only possible way.
-        Set the _open_new_tab attribute accordingly.
+        Set the _open_target attribute accordingly.
 
         Args:
             e: The arrived event.
@@ -255,6 +258,12 @@ class BrowserTab(QWebView):
             The superclass event return value.
         """
         if e.type() in [QEvent.MouseButtonPress, QEvent.MouseButtonDblClick]:
-            self._open_new_tab = (e.button() == Qt.MidButton or
-                                  e.modifiers() & Qt.ControlModifier)
+            if (e.button() == Qt.MidButton or
+                    e.modifiers() & Qt.ControlModifier):
+                if config.get('general', 'background_tabs'):
+                    self._open_target = "bgtab"
+                else:
+                    self._open_target = "tab"
+            else:
+                self._open_target = "normal"
         return super().event(e)
diff --git a/qutebrowser/widgets/tabbedbrowser.py b/qutebrowser/widgets/tabbedbrowser.py
index beda72d38..a1698f9ae 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/widgets/tabbedbrowser.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/widgets/tabbedbrowser.py
@@ -217,20 +217,20 @@ class TabbedBrowser(TabWidget):
             tab.openurl('about:blank')
 
     @cmdutils.register(instance='mainwindow.tabs', maxsplit=0)
-    def tabopen(self, url):
+    def tabopen(self, url, background=False):
         """Open a new tab with a given url.
 
         Also connect all the signals we need to _filter_signals.
 
         Args:
             url: The URL to open.
+            background: Whether to oepn the tab in the background.
         """
         logging.debug("Opening {}".format(url))
         url = urlutils.qurl(url)
         tab = BrowserTab(self)
         self._tabs.append(tab)
         self.addTab(tab, urlutils.urlstring(url))
-        self.setCurrentWidget(tab)
         tab.linkHovered.connect(self._filter.create(self.cur_link_hovered))
         tab.loadProgress.connect(self._filter.create(self.cur_progress))
         tab.loadFinished.connect(self._filter.create(self.cur_load_finished))
@@ -250,6 +250,8 @@ class TabbedBrowser(TabWidget):
         tab.show()
         tab.open_tab.connect(self.tabopen)
         tab.openurl(url)
+        if not background:
+            self.setCurrentWidget(tab)
 
     @cmdutils.register(instance='mainwindow.tabs', hide=True)
     def tabopencur(self):