diff --git a/midori/midori-settings.vala b/midori/midori-settings.vala
index 041db0b1..70d213c2 100644
--- a/midori/midori-settings.vala
+++ b/midori/midori-settings.vala
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ namespace Midori {
         public bool flash_window_on_new_bg_tabs { get; set; default = false; }
 
         public bool close_buttons_on_tabs { get; set; default = true; }
-        public bool open_tabs_in_the_background { get; set; default = false; }
+        public bool open_tabs_in_the_background { get; set; default = true; }
         public bool open_tabs_next_to_current { get; set; default = true; }
         public bool always_show_tabbar { get; set; default = true; }