diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/webelem.py b/qutebrowser/browser/webelem.py
index 5dd263da3..de6b9cfda 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/webelem.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/webelem.py
@@ -306,6 +306,11 @@ class AbstractWebElement(collections.abc.MutableMapping):
         qtutils.ensure_valid(url)
         return url
 
+    def is_link(self):
+        """Return True if this AbstractWebElement is a link."""
+        href_tags = ['a', 'area', 'link']
+        return self.tag_name() in href_tags
+
     def _mouse_pos(self):
         """Get the position to click/hover."""
         # Click the center of the largest square fitting into the top/left
@@ -403,9 +408,8 @@ class AbstractWebElement(collections.abc.MutableMapping):
             self._click_fake_event(click_target)
             return
 
-        href_tags = ['a', 'area', 'link']
         if click_target == usertypes.ClickTarget.normal:
-            if self.tag_name() in href_tags:
+            if self.is_link():
                 log.webelem.debug("Clicking via JS click()")
                 self._click_js(click_target)
             elif self.is_editable(strict=True):
@@ -418,7 +422,7 @@ class AbstractWebElement(collections.abc.MutableMapping):
         elif click_target in [usertypes.ClickTarget.tab,
                               usertypes.ClickTarget.tab_bg,
                               usertypes.ClickTarget.window]:
-            if self.tag_name() in href_tags:
+            if self.is_link():
                 self._click_href(click_target)
             else:
                 self._click_fake_event(click_target)
diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/webkitelem.py b/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/webkitelem.py
index ba15e4a66..a570eae3c 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/webkitelem.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/webkitelem.py
@@ -285,8 +285,7 @@ class WebKitElement(webelem.AbstractWebElement):
         for _ in range(5):
             if elem is None:
                 break
-            tag = elem.tag_name()
-            if tag == 'a' or tag == 'area':
+            if elem.is_link():
                 if elem.get('target', None) == '_blank':
                     elem['target'] = '_top'
                 break