diff --git a/tests/integration/features/conftest.py b/tests/integration/features/conftest.py
index 70d74d5ef..33710ce74 100644
--- a/tests/integration/features/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/integration/features/conftest.py
@@ -229,3 +229,29 @@ def check_contents(quteproc, filename):
                         'data', os.path.join(*filename.split('/')))
     with open(path, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
         assert content == f.read()
+
+
+@bdd.then(bdd.parsers.parse("the following tabs should be open:\n{tabs}"))
+def check_open_tabs(quteproc, tabs):
+    session = quteproc.get_session()
+    active_suffix = ' (active)'
+    tabs = tabs.splitlines()
+    assert len(session['windows']) == 1
+    assert len(session['windows'][0]['tabs']) == len(tabs)
+
+    for i, line in enumerate(tabs):
+        line = line.strip()
+        line = line[2:]  # remove "- " prefix
+        if line.endswith(active_suffix):
+            path = line[:-len(active_suffix)]
+            active = True
+        else:
+            path = line
+            active = False
+
+        session_tab = session['windows'][0]['tabs'][i]
+        assert session_tab['history'][-1]['url'] == quteproc.path_to_url(path)
+        if active:
+            assert session_tab['active']
+        else:
+            assert 'active' not in session_tab
diff --git a/tests/integration/features/set.feature b/tests/integration/features/set.feature
index a0c3a8c55..21d8dc11d 100644
--- a/tests/integration/features/set.feature
+++ b/tests/integration/features/set.feature
@@ -59,14 +59,8 @@ Feature: Setting settings.
     Scenario: Opening qute:settings
         When I run :set
         And I wait for "load status for <qutebrowser.browser.webview.WebView tab_id=0 url='qute:settings'>: LoadStatus.success" in the log
-        Then the session should look like:
-          windows:
-          - tabs:
-            - active: true
-              history:
-              - url: about:blank
-              - active: true
-                url: qute:settings
+        Then the following tabs should be open:
+            - qute:settings (active)
 
     Scenario: Empty option with ? (issue 1109)
         When I run :set general ?
diff --git a/tests/integration/features/tabs.feature b/tests/integration/features/tabs.feature
index 99e42b60c..c58bca55c 100644
--- a/tests/integration/features/tabs.feature
+++ b/tests/integration/features/tabs.feature
@@ -11,46 +11,28 @@ Feature: Tab management
         And I open data/numbers/2.txt in a new tab
         And I open data/numbers/3.txt in a new tab
         And I run :tab-close
-        Then the session should look like:
-          windows:
-            - tabs:
-              - history:
-                - ...
-                - url: http://localhost:*/data/numbers/1.txt
-              - active: true
-                history:
-                - url: http://localhost:*/data/numbers/2.txt
+        Then the following tabs should be open:
+            - data/numbers/1.txt
+            - data/numbers/2.txt (active)
 
     Scenario: :tab-close with count
         When I open data/numbers/1.txt
         And I open data/numbers/2.txt in a new tab
         And I open data/numbers/3.txt in a new tab
         And I run :tab-close with count 1
-        Then the session should look like:
-          windows:
-            - tabs:
-              - history:
-                - url: http://localhost:*/data/numbers/2.txt
-              - active: true
-                history:
-                - url: http://localhost:*/data/numbers/3.txt
+        Then the following tabs should be open:
+            - data/numbers/2.txt
+            - data/numbers/3.txt (active)
 
     Scenario: :tab-close with invalid count
         When I open data/numbers/1.txt
         And I open data/numbers/2.txt in a new tab
         And I open data/numbers/3.txt in a new tab
         And I run :tab-close with count 23
-        Then the session should look like:
-          windows:
-            - tabs:
-              - history:
-                - ...
-                - url: http://localhost:*/data/numbers/1.txt
-              - history:
-                - url: http://localhost:*/data/numbers/2.txt
-              - active: true
-                history:
-                - url: http://localhost:*/data/numbers/3.txt
+        Then the following tabs should be open:
+            - data/numbers/1.txt
+            - data/numbers/2.txt
+            - data/numbers/3.txt (active)
 
     Scenario: :tab-close with select-on-remove = right
         When I set tabs -> select-on-remove to right
@@ -59,15 +41,9 @@ Feature: Tab management
         And I open data/numbers/3.txt in a new tab
         And I run :tab-focus 2
         And I run :tab-close
-        Then the session should look like:
-          windows:
-            - tabs:
-              - history:
-                - ...
-                - url: http://localhost:*/data/numbers/1.txt
-              - active: true
-                history:
-                - url: http://localhost:*/data/numbers/3.txt
+        Then the following tabs should be open:
+            - data/numbers/1.txt
+            - data/numbers/3.txt (active)
 
     Scenario: :tab-close with select-on-remove = left
         When I set tabs -> select-on-remove to left
@@ -76,15 +52,9 @@ Feature: Tab management
         And I open data/numbers/3.txt in a new tab
         And I run :tab-focus 2
         And I run :tab-close
-        Then the session should look like:
-          windows:
-            - tabs:
-              - active: true
-                history:
-                - ...
-                - url: http://localhost:*/data/numbers/1.txt
-              - history:
-                - url: http://localhost:*/data/numbers/3.txt
+        Then the following tabs should be open:
+            - data/numbers/1.txt (active)
+            - data/numbers/3.txt
 
     Scenario: :tab-close with select-on-remove = previous
         When I set tabs -> select-on-remove to previous
@@ -94,17 +64,10 @@ Feature: Tab management
         And I open data/numbers/4.txt in a new tab
         And I run :tab-focus 2
         And I run :tab-close
-        Then the session should look like:
-          windows:
-            - tabs:
-              - history:
-                - ...
-                - url: http://localhost:*/data/numbers/1.txt
-              - history:
-                - url: http://localhost:*/data/numbers/3.txt
-              - active: true
-                history:
-                - url: http://localhost:*/data/numbers/4.txt
+        Then the following tabs should be open:
+            - data/numbers/1.txt
+            - data/numbers/3.txt
+            - data/numbers/4.txt (active)
 
     Scenario: :tab-close with select-on-remove = left and --right
         When I set tabs -> select-on-remove to left
@@ -113,15 +76,9 @@ Feature: Tab management
         And I open data/numbers/3.txt in a new tab
         And I run :tab-focus 2
         And I run :tab-close --right
-        Then the session should look like:
-          windows:
-            - tabs:
-              - history:
-                - ...
-                - url: http://localhost:*/data/numbers/1.txt
-              - active: true
-                history:
-                - url: http://localhost:*/data/numbers/3.txt
+        Then the following tabs should be open:
+            - data/numbers/1.txt
+            - data/numbers/3.txt (active)
 
     Scenario: :tab-close with select-on-remove = right and --left
         When I set tabs -> select-on-remove to right
@@ -130,15 +87,9 @@ Feature: Tab management
         And I open data/numbers/3.txt in a new tab
         And I run :tab-focus 2
         And I run :tab-close --left
-        Then the session should look like:
-          windows:
-            - tabs:
-              - active: true
-                history:
-                - ...
-                - url: http://localhost:*/data/numbers/1.txt
-              - history:
-                - url: http://localhost:*/data/numbers/3.txt
+        Then the following tabs should be open:
+            - data/numbers/1.txt (active)
+            - data/numbers/3.txt
 
     Scenario: :tab-close with select-on-remove = left and --opposite
         When I set tabs -> select-on-remove to left
@@ -147,15 +98,9 @@ Feature: Tab management
         And I open data/numbers/3.txt in a new tab
         And I run :tab-focus 2
         And I run :tab-close --opposite
-        Then the session should look like:
-          windows:
-            - tabs:
-              - history:
-                - ...
-                - url: http://localhost:*/data/numbers/1.txt
-              - active: true
-                history:
-                - url: http://localhost:*/data/numbers/3.txt
+        Then the following tabs should be open:
+            - data/numbers/1.txt
+            - data/numbers/3.txt (active)
 
     Scenario: :tab-close with select-on-remove = right and --opposite
         When I set tabs -> select-on-remove to right
@@ -164,15 +109,9 @@ Feature: Tab management
         And I open data/numbers/3.txt in a new tab
         And I run :tab-focus 2
         And I run :tab-close --opposite
-        Then the session should look like:
-          windows:
-            - tabs:
-              - active: true
-                history:
-                - ...
-                - url: http://localhost:*/data/numbers/1.txt
-              - history:
-                - url: http://localhost:*/data/numbers/3.txt
+        Then the following tabs should be open:
+            - data/numbers/1.txt (active)
+            - data/numbers/3.txt
 
     Scenario: :tab-close with select-on-remove = previous and --opposite
         When I set tabs -> select-on-remove to previous
@@ -189,15 +128,9 @@ Feature: Tab management
         And I run :tab-close --left
         And I run :tab-focus 2
         And I run :tab-close
-        Then the session should look like:
-          windows:
-            - tabs:
-              - history:
-                - ...
-                - url: http://localhost:*/data/numbers/1.txt
-              - active: true
-                history:
-                - url: http://localhost:*/data/numbers/4.txt
+        Then the following tabs should be open:
+            - data/numbers/1.txt
+            - data/numbers/4.txt (active)
 
     # :tab-only
 
@@ -206,12 +139,8 @@ Feature: Tab management
         And I open data/numbers/2.txt in a new tab
         And I open data/numbers/3.txt in a new tab
         And I run :tab-only
-        Then the session should look like:
-          windows:
-            - tabs:
-              - active: true
-                history:
-                - url: http://localhost:*/data/numbers/3.txt
+        Then the following tabs should be open:
+            - data/numbers/3.txt (active)
 
     Scenario: :tab-only with --left
         When I open data/numbers/1.txt
@@ -219,15 +148,9 @@ Feature: Tab management
         And I open data/numbers/3.txt in a new tab
         And I run :tab-focus 2
         And I run :tab-only --left
-        Then the session should look like:
-          windows:
-            - tabs:
-              - history:
-                - ...
-                - url: http://localhost:*/data/numbers/1.txt
-              - active: true
-                history:
-                - url: http://localhost:*/data/numbers/2.txt
+        Then the following tabs should be open:
+            - data/numbers/1.txt
+            - data/numbers/2.txt (active)
 
     Scenario: :tab-only with --right
         When I open data/numbers/1.txt
@@ -235,14 +158,9 @@ Feature: Tab management
         And I open data/numbers/3.txt in a new tab
         And I run :tab-focus 2
         And I run :tab-only --right
-        Then the session should look like:
-          windows:
-            - tabs:
-              - active: true
-                history:
-                - url: http://localhost:*/data/numbers/2.txt
-              - history:
-                - url: http://localhost:*/data/numbers/3.txt
+        Then the following tabs should be open:
+            - data/numbers/2.txt (active)
+            - data/numbers/3.txt
 
     Scenario: :tab-only with --left and --right
         When I run :tab-only --left --right
@@ -259,17 +177,10 @@ Feature: Tab management
         And I open data/numbers/2.txt in a new tab
         And I open data/numbers/3.txt in a new tab
         And I run :tab-focus 2
-        Then the session should look like:
-          windows:
-            - tabs:
-              - history:
-                - ...
-                - url: http://localhost:*/data/numbers/1.txt
-              - active: true
-                history:
-                - url: http://localhost:*/data/numbers/2.txt
-              - history:
-                - url: http://localhost:*/data/numbers/3.txt
+        Then the following tabs should be open:
+            - data/numbers/1.txt
+            - data/numbers/2.txt (active)
+            - data/numbers/3.txt
 
     Scenario: :tab-focus without index/count
         When I open data/numbers/1.txt
@@ -277,17 +188,10 @@ Feature: Tab management
         And I open data/numbers/3.txt in a new tab
         And I run :tab-focus 2
         And I run :tab-focus
-        Then the session should look like:
-          windows:
-            - tabs:
-              - history:
-                - ...
-                - url: http://localhost:*/data/numbers/1.txt
-              - history:
-                - url: http://localhost:*/data/numbers/2.txt
-              - active: true
-                history:
-                - url: http://localhost:*/data/numbers/3.txt
+        Then the following tabs should be open:
+            - data/numbers/1.txt
+            - data/numbers/2.txt
+            - data/numbers/3.txt (active)
 
     Scenario: :tab-focus with invalid index
         When I run :tab-focus 23
@@ -302,17 +206,10 @@ Feature: Tab management
         And I open data/numbers/2.txt in a new tab
         And I open data/numbers/3.txt in a new tab
         And I run :tab-focus with count 2
-        Then the session should look like:
-          windows:
-            - tabs:
-              - history:
-                - ...
-                - url: http://localhost:*/data/numbers/1.txt
-              - active: true
-                history:
-                - url: http://localhost:*/data/numbers/2.txt
-              - history:
-                - url: http://localhost:*/data/numbers/3.txt
+        Then the following tabs should be open:
+            - data/numbers/1.txt
+            - data/numbers/2.txt (active)
+            - data/numbers/3.txt
 
     Scenario: :tab-focus with count and index
         When I run :tab-focus 2 with count 2
@@ -325,17 +222,10 @@ Feature: Tab management
         And I run :tab-focus 1
         And I run :tab-focus 3
         And I run :tab-focus last
-        Then the session should look like:
-          windows:
-            - tabs:
-              - active: true
-                history:
-                - ...
-                - url: http://localhost:*/data/numbers/1.txt
-              - history:
-                - url: http://localhost:*/data/numbers/2.txt
-              - history:
-                - url: http://localhost:*/data/numbers/3.txt
+        Then the following tabs should be open:
+            - data/numbers/1.txt (active)
+            - data/numbers/2.txt
+            - data/numbers/3.txt
 
     Scenario: :tab-focus last with no last focused tab
         Given I have a fresh instance
diff --git a/tests/integration/features/yankpaste.feature b/tests/integration/features/yankpaste.feature
index 371abe1c1..28557e78a 100644
--- a/tests/integration/features/yankpaste.feature
+++ b/tests/integration/features/yankpaste.feature
@@ -67,16 +67,9 @@ Feature: Yanking and pasting.
         And I put "http://localhost:(port)/data/hello.txt" into the clipboard
         And I run :paste -t
         And I wait until data/hello.txt is loaded
-        Then the session should look like:
-            windows:
-            - tabs:
-              - history:
-                - active: true
-                  url: about:blank
-              - active: true
-                history:
-                - active: true
-                  url: http://localhost:*/data/hello.txt
+        Then the following tabs should be open:
+            - about:blank
+            - data/hello.txt (active)
 
     Scenario: Pasting in a background tab
         Given I open about:blank
@@ -84,16 +77,9 @@ Feature: Yanking and pasting.
         And I put "http://localhost:(port)/data/hello.txt" into the clipboard
         And I run :paste -b
         And I wait until data/hello.txt is loaded
-        Then the session should look like:
-            windows:
-            - tabs:
-              - active: true
-                history:
-                - active: true
-                  url: about:blank
-              - history:
-                - active: true
-                  url: http://localhost:*/data/hello.txt
+        Then the following tabs should be open:
+            - about:blank (active)
+            - data/hello.txt
 
     Scenario: Pasting in a new window
         Given I have a fresh instance