diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/commands.py b/qutebrowser/browser/commands.py
index ce18321c7..7c855c75b 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/commands.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/commands.py
@@ -1113,7 +1113,7 @@ class CommandDispatcher:
         if QWebSettings.globalSettings().testAttribute(
                 QWebSettings.JavascriptEnabled):
             if tab:
-                page.open_target = usertypes.ClickTarget.tab
+                widget.set_open_target(usertypes.ClickTarget.tab)
             widget.run_js_async(
                 'window.getSelection().anchorNode.parentNode.click()')
         else:
diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/tab.py b/qutebrowser/browser/tab.py
index e094e22ac..004d7ae77 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/tab.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/tab.py
@@ -462,6 +462,10 @@ class AbstractTab(QWidget):
     def icon(self):
         raise NotImplementedError
 
+    def set_open_target(self, target):
+        """Select where the next navigation request should open."""
+        raise NotImplementedError
+
     def __repr__(self):
         url = utils.elide(self.cur_url.toDisplayString(QUrl.EncodeUnicode),
                           100)
diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/webengine/webenginetab.py b/qutebrowser/browser/webengine/webenginetab.py
index 9d9cadbba..b942c6038 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/webengine/webenginetab.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/webengine/webenginetab.py
@@ -155,6 +155,9 @@ class WebEngineViewTab(tab.AbstractTab):
     def icon(self):
         return self._widget.icon()
 
+    def set_open_target(self, target):
+        raise NotImplementedError
+
     def _connect_signals(self):
         view = self._widget
         page = view.page()
diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/webkittab.py b/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/webkittab.py
index 3080187fe..4e8ec0802 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/webkittab.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/webkittab.py
@@ -464,6 +464,9 @@ class WebViewTab(tab.AbstractTab):
     def title(self):
         return self._widget.title()
 
+    def set_open_target(self, target):
+        self._widget.page().open_target = target
+
     def _connect_signals(self):
         view = self._widget
         page = view.page()