diff --git a/README.asciidoc b/README.asciidoc
index 8574cb119..c078214d7 100644
--- a/README.asciidoc
+++ b/README.asciidoc
@@ -195,6 +195,7 @@ Contributors, sorted by the number of commits in descending order:
 * rikn00
 * kanikaa1234
 * haitaka
+* Sebastian Frysztak
 * Nick Ginther
 * Michał Góral
 * Michael Ilsaas
diff --git a/qutebrowser/mainwindow/tabwidget.py b/qutebrowser/mainwindow/tabwidget.py
index baeb7d620..657a38dc3 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/mainwindow/tabwidget.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/mainwindow/tabwidget.py
@@ -703,13 +703,10 @@ class TabBarStyle(QCommonStyle):
             text_rect.adjust(indicator_width + indicator_padding.left +
                              indicator_padding.right, 0, 0, 0)
 
-        if opt.icon.isNull():
-            icon_rect = QRect()
-        else:
+        icon_rect = self._get_icon_rect(opt, text_rect)
+        if icon_rect.isValid():
             icon_padding = self.pixelMetric(PixelMetrics.icon_padding, opt)
-            icon_rect = self._get_icon_rect(opt, text_rect)
-            if icon_rect.isValid():
-                text_rect.adjust(icon_rect.width() + icon_padding, 0, 0, 0)
+            text_rect.adjust(icon_rect.width() + icon_padding, 0, 0, 0)
 
         text_rect = self._style.visualRect(opt.direction, opt.rect, text_rect)
         return Layouts(text=text_rect, icon=icon_rect,
@@ -733,9 +730,17 @@ class TabBarStyle(QCommonStyle):
                      else QIcon.Disabled)
         icon_state = (QIcon.On if opt.state & QStyle.State_Selected
                       else QIcon.Off)
-        tab_icon_size = opt.icon.actualSize(icon_size, icon_mode, icon_state)
-        tab_icon_size = QSize(min(tab_icon_size.width(), icon_size.width()),
-                              min(tab_icon_size.height(), icon_size.height()))
+        # reserve space for favicon when tab bar is vertical (issue #1968)
+        position = config.get('tabs', 'position')
+        if (opt.icon.isNull() and
+                position in [QTabWidget.East, QTabWidget.West] and
+                config.get('tabs', 'show-favicons')):
+            tab_icon_size = icon_size
+        else:
+            actual_size = opt.icon.actualSize(icon_size, icon_mode, icon_state)
+            tab_icon_size = QSize(
+                min(actual_size.width(), icon_size.width()),
+                min(actual_size.height(), icon_size.height()))
         icon_rect = QRect(text_rect.left(), text_rect.top() + 1,
                           tab_icon_size.width(), tab_icon_size.height())
         icon_rect = self._style.visualRect(opt.direction, opt.rect, icon_rect)
diff --git a/tests/unit/mainwindow/test_tabwidget.py b/tests/unit/mainwindow/test_tabwidget.py
index 00f8b290d..bb84521d0 100644
--- a/tests/unit/mainwindow/test_tabwidget.py
+++ b/tests/unit/mainwindow/test_tabwidget.py
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ class TestTabWidget:
             'position': 0,
             'select-on-remove': 1,
             'show': 'always',
+            'show-favicons': True,
             'padding': configtypes.PaddingValues(0, 0, 5, 5),
             'indicator-width': 3,
             'indicator-padding': configtypes.PaddingValues(2, 2, 0, 4),