diff --git a/qutebrowser/config/configdata.py b/qutebrowser/config/configdata.py
index a7cfacf65..ce017e96c 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/config/configdata.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/config/configdata.py
@@ -380,6 +380,10 @@ DATA = collections.OrderedDict([
         ('indicator-space',
          SettingValue(typ.Int(minval=0), '3'),
          "Spacing between tab edge and indicator."),
+
+        ('tabs-are-windows',
+         SettingValue(typ.Bool(), 'false'),
+         "Whether to open windows instead of tabs."),
     )),
 
     ('storage', sect.KeyValue(
diff --git a/qutebrowser/widgets/tabbedbrowser.py b/qutebrowser/widgets/tabbedbrowser.py
index 23e3d061d..ebe293967 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/widgets/tabbedbrowser.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/widgets/tabbedbrowser.py
@@ -320,6 +320,12 @@ class TabbedBrowser(tabwidget.TabWidget):
         if url is not None:
             qtutils.ensure_valid(url)
         log.webview.debug("Creating new tab with URL {}".format(url))
+        if config.get('tabs', 'tabs-are-windows') and self.count() > 0:
+            from qutebrowser.widgets import mainwindow
+            window = mainwindow.MainWindow.spawn()
+            tabbed_browser = objreg.get('tabbed-browser', scope='window',
+                                        window=window)
+            return tabbed_browser.tabopen(url, background, explicit)
         tab = webview.WebView(self._win_id, self)
         self._connect_tab_signals(tab)
         if explicit: