--- a/src/window.c
+++ b/src/window.c
@@ -3290,11 +3290,12 @@ win_new_tabpage(after)
     int
 may_open_tabpage()
 {
-    int		n = cmdmod.tab;
-
-    if (cmdmod.tab != 0)
+    int		n = (cmdmod.tab == 0) ? postponed_split_tab : cmdmod.tab;
+
+    if (n != 0)
     {
 	cmdmod.tab = 0;	    /* reset it to avoid doing it twice */
+	postponed_split_tab = 0;
 	return win_new_tabpage(n);
     }
     return FAIL;