diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/commands.py b/qutebrowser/browser/commands.py
index f47bcb00b..bced44db4 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/commands.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/commands.py
@@ -114,7 +114,8 @@ class CommandDispatcher:
             raise cmdexc.CommandError("No WebView available yet!")
         return widget
 
-    def _open(self, url, tab=False, background=False, window=False):
+    def _open(self, url, explicit=True,
+              tab=False, background=False, window=False):
         """Helper function to open a page.
 
         Args:
@@ -130,9 +131,9 @@ class CommandDispatcher:
             tabbed_browser = self._new_tabbed_browser()
             tabbed_browser.tabopen(url)
         elif tab:
-            tabbed_browser.tabopen(url, background=False, explicit=True)
+            tabbed_browser.tabopen(url, background=False, explicit=explicit)
         elif background:
-            tabbed_browser.tabopen(url, background=True, explicit=True)
+            tabbed_browser.tabopen(url, background=True, explicit=explicit)
         else:
             widget = self._current_widget()
             widget.openurl(url)
@@ -231,7 +232,8 @@ class CommandDispatcher:
                        maxsplit=0, scope='window')
     @cmdutils.argument('url', completion=usertypes.Completion.url)
     @cmdutils.argument('count', count=True)
-    def openurl(self, url=None, bg=False, tab=False, window=False, count=None):
+    def openurl(self, url=None, implicit=False,
+                bg=False, tab=False, window=False, count=None):
         """Open a URL in the current/[count]th tab.
 
         Args:
@@ -239,6 +241,8 @@ class CommandDispatcher:
             bg: Open in a new background tab.
             tab: Open in a new tab.
             window: Open in a new window.
+            implicit: If opening a new tab, treat the tab as implicit (like
+                      clicking on a link).
             count: The tab index to open the URL in, or None.
         """
         if url is None:
@@ -259,7 +263,7 @@ class CommandDispatcher:
                     message.error(self._win_id, str(e))
                     return
         if tab or bg or window:
-            self._open(url, tab, bg, window)
+            self._open(url, not implicit, tab, bg, window)
         else:
             curtab = self._cntwidget(count)
             if curtab is None:
diff --git a/tests/end2end/features/open.feature b/tests/end2end/features/open.feature
index 4264ccb9c..6a9daeabb 100644
--- a/tests/end2end/features/open.feature
+++ b/tests/end2end/features/open.feature
@@ -108,3 +108,37 @@ Feature: Opening pages
         When I run :quickmark-add http://localhost:(port)/data/numbers/8.txt quickmarktest
         And I run :open quickmarktest
         Then data/numbers/8.txt should be loaded
+
+    Scenario: :open with URL (explicit)
+        Given I open about:blank
+        When I set tabs -> new-tab-position-explicit to right
+        And I set tabs -> new-tab-position to left
+        And I run :tab-only
+        And I run :open -t http://localhost:(port)/data/numbers/9.txt
+        And I wait until data/numbers/9.txt is loaded
+        Then the session should look like:
+            windows:
+            - tabs:
+              - history:
+                - url: about:blank
+              - active: true
+                history:
+                - active: true
+                  url: http://localhost:*/data/numbers/9.txt
+
+    Scenario: :open with URL (implicit)
+        Given I open about:blank
+        When I set tabs -> new-tab-position-explicit to right
+        And I set tabs -> new-tab-position to left
+        And I run :tab-only
+        And I run :open -t -i http://localhost:(port)/data/numbers/10.txt
+        And I wait until data/numbers/10.txt is loaded
+        Then the session should look like:
+            windows:
+            - tabs:
+              - active: true
+                history:
+                - active: true
+                  url: http://localhost:*/data/numbers/10.txt
+              - history:
+                - url: about:blank