diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/browsertab.py b/qutebrowser/browser/browsertab.py
index 2a9662eef..809c643c3 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/browsertab.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/browsertab.py
@@ -414,6 +414,13 @@ class AbstractCaret(QObject):
     def selection(self, callback):
         raise NotImplementedError
 
+    def _follow_enter(self, tab):
+        """Follow a link by faking an enter press."""
+        if tab:
+            self._tab.key_press(Qt.Key_Enter, modifier=Qt.ControlModifier)
+        else:
+            self._tab.key_press(Qt.Key_Enter)
+
     def follow_selected(self, *, tab=False):
         raise NotImplementedError
 
diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/webengine/webenginetab.py b/qutebrowser/browser/webengine/webenginetab.py
index 3df4c288c..1f1b4f374 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/webengine/webenginetab.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/webengine/webenginetab.py
@@ -337,10 +337,7 @@ class WebEngineCaret(browsertab.AbstractCaret):
             return
         if js_elem == "focused":
             # we had a focused element, not a selected one. Just send <enter>
-            if tab:
-                self._tab.key_press(Qt.Key_Enter, modifier=Qt.ControlModifier)
-            else:
-                self._tab.key_press(Qt.Key_Enter)
+            self._follow_enter(tab)
 
         assert isinstance(js_elem, dict), js_elem
         elem = webengineelem.WebEngineElement(js_elem, tab=self._tab)
@@ -364,11 +361,7 @@ class WebEngineCaret(browsertab.AbstractCaret):
 
             log.webview.debug("Clicking a searched link via fake key press.")
             # send a fake enter, clicking the orange selection box
-            if tab:
-                self._tab.key_press(Qt.Key_Enter, modifier=Qt.ControlModifier)
-            else:
-                self._tab.key_press(Qt.Key_Enter)
-
+            self._follow_enter(tab)
         else:
             # click an existing blue selection
             js_code = javascript.assemble('webelem',
diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/webkittab.py b/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/webkittab.py
index 36da17dac..a9f4f9840 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/webkittab.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/webkittab.py
@@ -392,11 +392,7 @@ class WebKitCaret(browsertab.AbstractCaret):
                 # about that until this commit is released:
                 # https://github.com/annulen/webkit/commit/0e75f3272d149bc64899c161f150eb341a2417af
                 # TODO find a way to check if something is focused
-                if tab:
-                    self._tab.key_press(Qt.Key_Enter,
-                                        modifier=Qt.ControlModifier)
-                else:
-                    self._tab.key_press(Qt.Key_Enter)
+                self._follow_enter(tab)
                 return
             try:
                 selected_element = xml.etree.ElementTree.fromstring(