--- a/browser/base/content/urlbarBindings.xml
+++ b/browser/base/content/urlbarBindings.xml
@@ -69,16 +69,18 @@ file, You can obtain one at http://mozil
                                 .getService(Components.interfaces.nsIPrefService)
                                 .getBranch("browser.urlbar.");
         this._prefs.addObserver("", this);
 
         this._defaultPrefs = Components.classes["@mozilla.org/preferences-service;1"]
                                        .getService(Components.interfaces.nsIPrefService)
                                        .getDefaultBranch("browser.urlbar.");
 
+        Services.prefs.addObserver("browser.search.openintab", this);
+        this.browserSearchOpenInTab = Services.prefs.getBoolPref("browser.search.openintab");
         Services.prefs.addObserver("browser.search.suggest.enabled", this);
         this.browserSearchSuggestEnabled = Services.prefs.getBoolPref("browser.search.suggest.enabled");
 
         this.clickSelectsAll = this._prefs.getBoolPref("clickSelectsAll");
         this.doubleClickSelectsAll = this._prefs.getBoolPref("doubleClickSelectsAll");
         this.completeDefaultIndex = this._prefs.getBoolPref("autoFill");
         this.speculativeConnectEnabled = this._prefs.getBoolPref("speculativeConnect.enabled");
         this.urlbarSearchSuggestEnabled = this._prefs.getBoolPref("suggest.searches");
@@ -132,16 +134,17 @@ file, You can obtain one at http://mozil
         // to handle cases like backspace, autofill or repeated searches.
         // Ensure to clear those internal caches when switching tabs.
         gBrowser.tabContainer.addEventListener("TabSelect", this);
       ]]></constructor>
 
       <destructor><![CDATA[
         this._prefs.removeObserver("", this);
         this._prefs = null;
+        Services.prefs.removeObserver("browser.search.openintab", this);
         Services.prefs.removeObserver("browser.search.suggest.enabled", this);
         this.inputField.controllers.removeController(this._copyCutController);
         this.inputField.removeEventListener("paste", this);
         this.inputField.removeEventListener("mousedown", this);
         this.inputField.removeEventListener("mousemove", this);
         this.inputField.removeEventListener("mouseout", this);
         this.inputField.removeEventListener("overflow", this);
         this.inputField.removeEventListener("underflow", this);
@@ -552,16 +555,18 @@ file, You can obtain one at http://mozil
             selectedOneOff.doCommand();
             return;
           }
 
           let where = openUILinkWhere;
           if (!where) {
             if (isMouseEvent) {
               where = whereToOpenLink(event, false, false);
+            } else if (this.browserSearchOpenInTab) {
+              where = "tab";
             } else {
               // If the current tab is empty, ignore Alt+Enter (reuse this tab)
               let altEnter = !isMouseEvent &&
                              event &&
                              event.altKey &&
                              !isTabEmpty(gBrowser.selectedTab);
               where = altEnter ? "tab" : "current";
             }
@@ -1088,16 +1093,19 @@ file, You can obtain one at http://mozil
                 this.timeout = this._prefs.getIntPref(aData);
                 break;
               case "formatting.enabled":
                 this._formattingEnabled = this._prefs.getBoolPref(aData);
                 break;
               case "speculativeConnect.enabled":
                 this.speculativeConnectEnabled = this._prefs.getBoolPref(aData);
                 break;
+              case "browser.search.openintab":
+                this.browserSearchOpenInTab = Services.prefs.getBoolPref(aData);
+                break;
               case "browser.search.suggest.enabled":
                 this.browserSearchSuggestEnabled = Services.prefs.getBoolPref(aData);
                 break;
               case "suggest.searches":
                 this.urlbarSearchSuggestEnabled = this._prefs.getBoolPref(aData);
               case "userMadeSearchSuggestionsChoice":
                 // Mirror the value for future use, see the comment in the
                 // binding's constructor.