diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/tab.py b/qutebrowser/browser/tab.py
index d6d16a391..704c5b8f2 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/tab.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/tab.py
@@ -386,6 +386,9 @@ class AbstractTab(QWidget):
 
     Signals:
         See related Qt signals.
+
+        new_tab_requested: Emitted when a new tab should be opened with the
+                           given URL.
     """
 
     window_close_requested = pyqtSignal()
@@ -398,6 +401,7 @@ class AbstractTab(QWidget):
     url_text_changed = pyqtSignal(str)
     title_changed = pyqtSignal(str)
     load_status_changed = pyqtSignal(str)
+    new_tab_requested = pyqtSignal(QUrl)
     shutting_down = pyqtSignal()
 
     def __init__(self, win_id, parent=None):
diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/webkittab.py b/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/webkittab.py
index 3e50a04a5..028223fab 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/webkittab.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/webkittab.py
@@ -284,8 +284,10 @@ class WebViewCaret(tab.AbstractCaret):
                 except KeyError:
                     raise tab.WebTabError('Anchor element without href!')
                 url = self._tab.cur_url.resolved(QUrl(url))
-                # FIXME(refactoring) does this open in a new tab?
-                self._tab.openurl(url)
+                if tab:
+                    self._tab.new_tab_requested.emit(url)
+                else:
+                    self._tab.openurl(url)
 
 
 class WebViewZoom(tab.AbstractZoom):
diff --git a/qutebrowser/mainwindow/tabbedbrowser.py b/qutebrowser/mainwindow/tabbedbrowser.py
index 3b347dcff..225545adc 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/mainwindow/tabbedbrowser.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/mainwindow/tabbedbrowser.py
@@ -205,6 +205,7 @@ class TabbedBrowser(tabwidget.TabWidget):
             functools.partial(self.on_load_started, tab))
         tab.window_close_requested.connect(
             functools.partial(self.on_window_close_requested, tab))
+        tab.new_tab_requested.connect(self.tabopen)
 
     def current_url(self):
         """Get the URL of the current tab.
@@ -347,6 +348,7 @@ class TabbedBrowser(tabwidget.TabWidget):
             log.webview.debug("Requested to close {!r} which does not "
                               "exist!".format(widget))
 
+    @pyqtSlot('QUrl')
     @pyqtSlot('QUrl', bool)
     def tabopen(self, url=None, background=None, explicit=False):
         """Open a new tab with a given URL.