diff --git a/CHANGELOG.asciidoc b/CHANGELOG.asciidoc
index dd27c434b..b75d20c4a 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.asciidoc
+++ b/CHANGELOG.asciidoc
@@ -47,6 +47,8 @@ Changed
   to frequent crashes due to a Qt bug.
 - stdin is now closed immediately for processes spawned from qutebrowser
 - When ui -> message-timeout is set to 0, messages are now never cleared.
+- Middle/right-clicking the blank parts of the tab bar (when vertical) now
+  closes the current tab.
 
 Fixed
 ~~~~~
diff --git a/qutebrowser/mainwindow/tabwidget.py b/qutebrowser/mainwindow/tabwidget.py
index ce96607fa..f6ed0a8d1 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/mainwindow/tabwidget.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/mainwindow/tabwidget.py
@@ -395,11 +395,12 @@ class TabBar(QTabBar):
         button = config.get('tabs', 'close-mouse-button')
         if (e.button() == Qt.RightButton and button == 'right' or
                 e.button() == Qt.MiddleButton and button == 'middle'):
+            e.accept()
             idx = self.tabAt(e.pos())
-            if idx != -1:
-                e.accept()
-                self.tabCloseRequested.emit(idx)
-                return
+            if idx == -1:
+                idx = self.currentIndex()
+            self.tabCloseRequested.emit(idx)
+            return
         super().mousePressEvent(e)
 
     def minimumTabSizeHint(self, index):