diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/browsertab.py b/qutebrowser/browser/browsertab.py
index 3fb700420..bc1b6cb5c 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/browsertab.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/browsertab.py
@@ -616,6 +616,7 @@ class AbstractTab(QWidget):
                                      process terminated.
                                      arg 0: A TerminationStatus member.
                                      arg 1: The exit code.
+        predicted_navigation: Emitted before we tell Qt to open a URL.
     """
 
     window_close_requested = pyqtSignal()
@@ -633,6 +634,7 @@ class AbstractTab(QWidget):
     add_history_item = pyqtSignal(QUrl, QUrl, str)  # url, requested url, title
     fullscreen_requested = pyqtSignal(bool)
     renderer_process_terminated = pyqtSignal(TerminationStatus, int)
+    predicted_navigation = pyqtSignal(QUrl)
 
     def __init__(self, *, win_id, mode_manager, private, parent=None):
         self.private = private
@@ -663,6 +665,9 @@ class AbstractTab(QWidget):
         objreg.register('hintmanager', hintmanager, scope='tab',
                         window=self.win_id, tab=self.tab_id)
 
+        self.predicted_navigation.connect(
+            lambda url: self.title_changed.emit(url.toDisplayString()))
+
     def _set_widget(self, widget):
         # pylint: disable=protected-access
         self._widget = widget
@@ -811,7 +816,7 @@ class AbstractTab(QWidget):
 
     def _openurl_prepare(self, url):
         qtutils.ensure_valid(url)
-        self.title_changed.emit(url.toDisplayString())
+        self.predicted_navigation.emit(url)
 
     def openurl(self, url):
         raise NotImplementedError
diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/webengine/webenginetab.py b/qutebrowser/browser/webengine/webenginetab.py
index c3f493ba1..4fcb6d279 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/webengine/webenginetab.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/webengine/webenginetab.py
@@ -471,7 +471,8 @@ class WebEngineHistory(browsertab.AbstractHistory):
         return self._history.itemAt(i)
 
     def _go_to_item(self, item):
-        return self._history.goToItem(item)
+        self._tab.predicted_navigation.emit(item.url())
+        self._history.goToItem(item)
 
     def serialize(self):
         if not qtutils.version_check('5.9', compiled=False):
@@ -903,6 +904,11 @@ class WebEngineTab(browsertab.AbstractTab):
             QTimer.singleShot(100, lambda url=self._reload_url: self.openurl(url))
             self._reload_url = None
 
+    @pyqtSlot(QUrl)
+    def _on_predicted_navigation(self, url):
+        """If we know we're going to visit an URL soon, change the settings."""
+        self.settings.update_for_url(url)
+
     @pyqtSlot(usertypes.NavigationRequest)
     def _on_navigation_request(self, navigation):
         super()._on_navigation_request(navigation)
@@ -946,5 +952,7 @@ class WebEngineTab(browsertab.AbstractTab):
             page.loadFinished.connect(self._restore_zoom)
             page.loadFinished.connect(self._on_load_finished)
 
+        self.predicted_navigation.connect(self._on_predicted_navigation)
+
     def event_target(self):
         return self._widget.focusProxy()
diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/webkittab.py b/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/webkittab.py
index 5184550cd..7af0b474d 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/webkittab.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/webkittab.py
@@ -518,7 +518,8 @@ class WebKitHistory(browsertab.AbstractHistory):
         return self._history.itemAt(i)
 
     def _go_to_item(self, item):
-        return self._history.goToItem(item)
+        self._tab.predicted_navigation.emit(item.url())
+        self._history.goToItem(item)
 
     def serialize(self):
         return qtutils.serialize(self._history)