diff --git a/qutebrowser/mainwindow/tabbedbrowser.py b/qutebrowser/mainwindow/tabbedbrowser.py
index ba5a5c725..d54b22d0c 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/mainwindow/tabbedbrowser.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/mainwindow/tabbedbrowser.py
@@ -296,7 +296,7 @@ class TabbedBrowser(tabwidget.TabWidget):
             newtab: True to open URL in a new tab, False otherwise.
         """
         qtutils.ensure_valid(url)
-        if newtab:
+        if newtab or self.currentWidget() is None:
             self.tabopen(url, background=False)
         else:
             self.currentWidget().openurl(url)