diff --git a/tests/end2end/features/conftest.py b/tests/end2end/features/conftest.py
index c2b5865a5..bea896a8d 100644
--- a/tests/end2end/features/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/end2end/features/conftest.py
@@ -177,21 +177,25 @@ def pdfjs_available():
 def open_path(quteproc, httpbin, path):
     """Open a URL.
 
-    If used like "When I open ... in a new tab", the URL is opened in a new
-    tab. With "... in a new window", it's opened in a new window. With
-    "... as a URL", it's opened according to new-instance-open-target.
+    - If used like "When I open ... in a new tab", the URL is opened in a new
+      tab.
+    - With "... in a new window", it's opened in a new window.
+    - With "... in a private window" it's opened in a new private window.
+    - With "... as a URL", it's opened according to new-instance-open-target.
     """
     path = path.replace('(port)', str(httpbin.port))
 
     new_tab = False
     new_bg_tab = False
     new_window = False
+    private = False
     as_url = False
     wait = True
 
     new_tab_suffix = ' in a new tab'
     new_bg_tab_suffix = ' in a new background tab'
     new_window_suffix = ' in a new window'
+    private_suffix = ' in a private window'
     do_not_wait_suffix = ' without waiting'
     as_url_suffix = ' as a URL'
 
@@ -205,6 +209,9 @@ def open_path(quteproc, httpbin, path):
         elif path.endswith(new_window_suffix):
             path = path[:-len(new_window_suffix)]
             new_window = True
+        elif path.endswith(private_suffix):
+            path = path[:-len(private_suffix)]
+            private = True
         elif path.endswith(as_url_suffix):
             path = path[:-len(as_url_suffix)]
             as_url = True
@@ -215,7 +222,8 @@ def open_path(quteproc, httpbin, path):
             break
 
     quteproc.open_path(path, new_tab=new_tab, new_bg_tab=new_bg_tab,
-                       new_window=new_window, as_url=as_url, wait=wait)
+                       new_window=new_window, private=private, as_url=as_url,
+                       wait=wait)
 
 
 @bdd.when(bdd.parsers.parse("I set {sect} -> {opt} to {value}"))
diff --git a/tests/end2end/features/misc.feature b/tests/end2end/features/misc.feature
index 83de1c822..21b220174 100644
--- a/tests/end2end/features/misc.feature
+++ b/tests/end2end/features/misc.feature
@@ -569,26 +569,6 @@ Feature: Various utility commands.
         And I run :command-accept
         Then the message "Hello World" should be shown
 
-    ## https://github.com/qutebrowser/qutebrowser/issues/1219
-
-    @qtwebengine_todo: private browsing is not implemented yet @qtwebkit_ng_skip: private browsing is not implemented yet
-    Scenario: Sharing cookies with private browsing
-        When I set general -> private-browsing to true
-        And I open cookies/set?qute-test=42 without waiting
-        And I wait until cookies is loaded
-        And I open cookies in a new tab
-        And I set general -> private-browsing to false
-        Then the cookie qute-test should be set to 42
-
-    ## https://github.com/qutebrowser/qutebrowser/issues/1742
-
-    @qtwebengine_todo: private browsing is not implemented yet @qtwebkit_ng_xfail: private browsing is not implemented yet
-    Scenario: Private browsing is activated in QtWebKit without restart
-        When I set general -> private-browsing to true
-        And I open data/javascript/localstorage.html
-        And I set general -> private-browsing to false
-        Then the page should contain the plaintext "Local storage status: not working"
-
     @no_xvfb
     Scenario: :window-only
         Given I run :tab-only
@@ -681,20 +661,6 @@ Feature: Various utility commands.
         And I run :command-accept
         Then the error "No command given" should be shown
 
-    @qtwebengine_todo: private browsing is not implemented yet @qtwebkit_ng_skip: private browsing is not implemented yet
-    Scenario: Calling previous command with private-browsing mode
-        When I run :set-cmd-text :message-info blah
-        And I run :command-accept
-        And I set general -> private-browsing to true
-        And I run :set-cmd-text :message-error "This should only be shown once"
-        And I run :command-accept
-        And I wait for the error "This should only be shown once"
-        And I run :set-cmd-text :
-        And I run :command-history-prev
-        And I run :command-accept
-        And I set general -> private-browsing to false
-        Then the message "blah" should be shown
-
     ## Modes blacklisted for :enter-mode
 
     Scenario: Trying to enter command mode with :enter-mode
diff --git a/tests/end2end/features/private.feature b/tests/end2end/features/private.feature
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0faf74014
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/end2end/features/private.feature
@@ -0,0 +1,112 @@
+# vim: ft=cucumber fileencoding=utf-8 sts=4 sw=4 et:
+
+Feature: Using private browsing
+
+    Background:
+        Given I open about:blank
+        And I clean up open tabs
+
+    @qtwebkit_ng_xfail: private browsing is not implemented yet
+    Scenario: Opening new tab in private window
+        When I open about:blank in a private window
+        And I run :window-only
+        And I open data/javascript/localstorage.html in a new tab
+        Then the page should contain the plaintext "Local storage status: not working"
+
+    @qtwebkit_ng_xfail: private browsing is not implemented yet
+    Scenario: Opening new tab in private window with :navigate next
+        When I open data/navigate in a private window
+        And I run :window-only
+        And I run :navigate -t next
+        And I wait until data/navigate/next.html is loaded
+        And I open data/javascript/localstorage.html
+        Then the page should contain the plaintext "Local storage status: not working"
+
+    Scenario: Using command history in a new private browsing window
+        When I run :set-cmd-text :message-info "Hello World"
+        And I run :command-accept
+        And I open about:blank in a private window
+        And I run :set-cmd-text :message-error "This should only be shown once"
+        And I run :command-accept
+        And I wait for the error "This should only be shown once"
+        And I run :close
+        And I run :set-cmd-text :
+        And I run :command-history-prev
+        And I run :command-accept
+        # Then the error should not be shown again
+
+    ## https://github.com/qutebrowser/qutebrowser/issues/1219
+
+    @qtwebkit_ng_skip: private browsing is not implemented yet
+    Scenario: Sharing cookies with private browsing
+        When I open cookies/set?qute-test=42 without waiting in a private window
+        And I wait until cookies is loaded
+        And I open cookies in a new tab
+        And I set general -> private-browsing to false
+        Then the cookie qute-test should be set to 42
+
+    Scenario: Opening private window with :navigate increment
+        # Private window handled in commands.py
+        When I open data/numbers/1.txt in a private window
+        And I run :window-only
+        And I run :navigate -w increment
+        And I wait until data/numbers/2.txt is loaded
+        Then the session should look like:
+            windows:
+            - private: True
+              tabs:
+              - history:
+                - url: http://localhost:*/data/numbers/1.txt
+            - private: True
+              tabs:
+              - history:
+                - url: http://localhost:*/data/numbers/2.txt
+
+    Scenario: Opening private window with :navigate next
+        # Private window handled in navigate.py
+        When I open data/navigate in a private window
+        And I run :window-only
+        And I run :navigate -w next
+        And I wait until data/navigate/next.html is loaded
+        Then the session should look like:
+            windows:
+            - private: True
+              tabs:
+              - history:
+                - url: http://localhost:*/data/navigate
+            - private: True
+              tabs:
+              - history:
+                - url: http://localhost:*/data/navigate/next.html
+
+    Scenario: Opening private window with :tab-clone
+        When I open data/hello.txt in a private window
+        And I run :window-only
+        And I run :tab-clone -w
+        And I wait until data/hello.txt is loaded
+        Then the session should look like:
+            windows:
+            - private: True
+              tabs:
+              - history:
+                - url: http://localhost:*/data/hello.txt
+            - private: True
+              tabs:
+              - history:
+                - url: http://localhost:*/data/hello.txt
+
+    Scenario: Opening private window via :click-element
+        When I open data/click_element.html in a private window
+        And I run :window-only
+        And I run :click-element --target window id link
+        And I wait until data/hello.txt is loaded
+        Then the session should look like:
+            windows:
+            - private: True
+              tabs:
+              - history:
+                - url: http://localhost:*/data/click_element.html
+            - private: True
+              tabs:
+              - history:
+                - url: http://localhost:*/data/hello.txt
diff --git a/tests/end2end/features/test_misc_bdd.py b/tests/end2end/features/test_misc_bdd.py
index e78840d68..a47b89af4 100644
--- a/tests/end2end/features/test_misc_bdd.py
+++ b/tests/end2end/features/test_misc_bdd.py
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@
 # along with qutebrowser.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 import sys
-import json
 import os.path
 import subprocess
 
@@ -57,18 +56,6 @@ def update_documentation():
     subprocess.call([sys.executable, update_script])
 
 
-@bdd.then(bdd.parsers.parse('the cookie {name} should be set to {value}'))
-def check_cookie(quteproc, name, value):
-    """Check if a given cookie is set correctly.
-
-    This assumes we're on the httpbin cookies page.
-    """
-    content = quteproc.get_content()
-    data = json.loads(content)
-    print(data)
-    assert data['cookies'][name] == value
-
-
 @bdd.then(bdd.parsers.parse('the PDF {filename} should exist in the tmpdir'))
 def pdf_exists(quteproc, tmpdir, filename):
     path = tmpdir / filename
diff --git a/tests/end2end/features/test_private_bdd.py b/tests/end2end/features/test_private_bdd.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6ff44ce6e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/end2end/features/test_private_bdd.py
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+# vim: ft=python fileencoding=utf-8 sts=4 sw=4 et:
+
+# Copyright 2017 Florian Bruhin (The Compiler) <mail@qutebrowser.org>
+#
+# This file is part of qutebrowser.
+#
+# qutebrowser is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+#
+# qutebrowser is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+# along with qutebrowser.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+import os.path
+import json
+
+import pytest_bdd as bdd
+bdd.scenarios('private.feature')
+
+
+@bdd.then(bdd.parsers.parse('the cookie {name} should be set to {value}'))
+def check_cookie(quteproc, name, value):
+    """Check if a given cookie is set correctly.
+
+    This assumes we're on the httpbin cookies page.
+    """
+    content = quteproc.get_content()
+    data = json.loads(content)
+    print(data)
+    assert data['cookies'][name] == value
diff --git a/tests/end2end/fixtures/quteprocess.py b/tests/end2end/fixtures/quteprocess.py
index 992714095..88c98f80f 100644
--- a/tests/end2end/fixtures/quteprocess.py
+++ b/tests/end2end/fixtures/quteprocess.py
@@ -497,18 +497,20 @@ class QuteProc(testprocess.Process):
         self.set_setting(sect, opt, old_value)
 
     def open_path(self, path, *, new_tab=False, new_bg_tab=False,
-                  new_window=False, as_url=False, port=None, https=False,
-                  wait=True):
+                  new_window=False, private=False, as_url=False, port=None,
+                  https=False, wait=True):
         """Open the given path on the local webserver in qutebrowser."""
         url = self.path_to_url(path, port=port, https=https)
         self.open_url(url, new_tab=new_tab, new_bg_tab=new_bg_tab,
-                      new_window=new_window, as_url=as_url, wait=wait)
+                      new_window=new_window, private=private, as_url=as_url,
+                      wait=wait)
 
     def open_url(self, url, *, new_tab=False, new_bg_tab=False,
-                 new_window=False, as_url=False, wait=True):
+                 new_window=False, private=False, as_url=False, wait=True):
         """Open the given url in qutebrowser."""
-        if new_tab and new_window:
-            raise ValueError("new_tab and new_window given!")
+        if sum(1 for opt in [new_tab, new_bg_tab, new_window, private, as_url]
+               if opt) > 1:
+            raise ValueError("Conflicting options given!")
 
         if as_url:
             self.send_cmd(url, invalid=True)
@@ -518,6 +520,8 @@ class QuteProc(testprocess.Process):
             self.send_cmd(':open -b ' + url)
         elif new_window:
             self.send_cmd(':open -w ' + url)
+        elif private:
+            self.send_cmd(':open -p ' + url)
         else:
             self.send_cmd(':open ' + url)
 
diff --git a/tests/end2end/test_invocations.py b/tests/end2end/test_invocations.py
index e4470ac3a..f048849cb 100644
--- a/tests/end2end/test_invocations.py
+++ b/tests/end2end/test_invocations.py
@@ -267,3 +267,21 @@ def test_launching_with_python2():
     assert proc.returncode == 1
     error = "At least Python 3.4 is required to run qutebrowser"
     assert stderr.decode('ascii').startswith(error)
+
+
+def test_initial_private_browsing(request, quteproc_new):
+    """Make sure the initial window is private when the setting is set."""
+    args = (_base_args(request.config) +
+            ['--temp-basedir', '-s', 'general', 'private-browsing', 'true'])
+    quteproc_new.start(args)
+
+    quteproc_new.compare_session("""
+        windows:
+            - private: True
+              tabs:
+              - history:
+                - url: about:blank
+    """)
+
+    quteproc_new.send_cmd(':quit')
+    quteproc_new.wait_for_quit()