--- a/browser/components/search/content/search.xml
+++ b/browser/components/search/content/search.xml
@@ -276,18 +276,20 @@
               return;
             where = whereToOpenLink(aEvent, false, true);
           } else if (aForceNewTab) {
             where = "tab";
             if (Services.prefs.getBoolPref("browser.tabs.loadInBackground"))
               where += "-background";
           } else {
             var newTabPref = Services.prefs.getBoolPref("browser.search.openintab");
-            if (((aEvent instanceof KeyboardEvent) && aEvent.altKey) ^ newTabPref)
+            if (((aEvent instanceof KeyboardEvent && aEvent.altKey) ^ newTabPref) &&
+                !isTabEmpty(gBrowser.selectedTab)) {
               where = "tab";
+            }
             if ((aEvent instanceof MouseEvent) &&
                 (aEvent.button == 1 || aEvent.getModifierState("Accel"))) {
               where = "tab";
               params = {
                 inBackground: true,
               };
             }
           }
@@ -1778,18 +1780,20 @@
             where = "tab";
             if (Services.prefs.getBoolPref("browser.tabs.loadInBackground")) {
               params = {
                 inBackground: true,
               };
             }
           } else {
             var newTabPref = Services.prefs.getBoolPref("browser.search.openintab");
-            if (((aEvent instanceof KeyboardEvent) && aEvent.altKey) ^ newTabPref)
+            if (((aEvent instanceof KeyboardEvent && aEvent.altKey) ^ newTabPref) &&
+                !isTabEmpty(gBrowser.selectedTab)) {
               where = "tab";
+            }
             if ((aEvent instanceof MouseEvent) &&
                 (aEvent.button == 1 || aEvent.getModifierState("Accel"))) {
               where = "tab";
               params = {
                 inBackground: true,
               };
             }
           }