diff --git a/Sources/Panels/BrowserPanel.swift b/Sources/Panels/BrowserPanel.swift
index 24a7150a..1f4b72ad 100644
--- a/Sources/Panels/BrowserPanel.swift
+++ b/Sources/Panels/BrowserPanel.swift
@@ -3149,7 +3149,7 @@ private class BrowserNavigationDelegate: NSObject, WKNavigationDelegate {
            navigationAction.targetFrame?.isMainFrame != false,
            shouldBlockInsecureHTTPNavigation?(url) == true {
             let intent: BrowserInsecureHTTPNavigationIntent
-            if shouldOpenInNewTab {
+            if shouldOpenInNewTab || navigationAction.targetFrame == nil {
                 intent = .newTab
             } else {
                 intent = .currentTab
@@ -3192,14 +3192,13 @@ private class BrowserNavigationDelegate: NSObject, WKNavigationDelegate {
             return
         }
 
-        // target=_blank or window.open() without explicit new-tab intent — navigate in-place.
+        // target=_blank or window.open() — open in a new tab.
         if navigationAction.targetFrame == nil,
-           navigationAction.request.url != nil {
+           let url = navigationAction.request.url {
 #if DEBUG
-            let targetURL = navigationAction.request.url?.absoluteString ?? "nil"
-            dlog("browser.nav.decidePolicy.action kind=loadInPlaceFromNilTarget url=\(targetURL)")
+            dlog("browser.nav.decidePolicy.action kind=openInNewTabFromNilTarget url=\(url.absoluteString)")
 #endif
-            browserLoadRequest(navigationAction.request, in: webView)
+            openInNewTab?(url)
             decisionHandler(.cancel)
             return
         }
@@ -3306,20 +3305,16 @@ private class BrowserUIDelegate: NSObject, WKUIDelegate {
     }
 
     /// Returning nil tells WebKit not to open a new window.
-    /// Cmd+click and middle-click open in a new tab; regular target=_blank navigates in-place.
+    /// createWebViewWith is only called when the page requests a new window
+    /// (window.open(), target=_blank, etc.). Always open in a new tab.
     func webView(
         _ webView: WKWebView,
         createWebViewWith configuration: WKWebViewConfiguration,
         for navigationAction: WKNavigationAction,
         windowFeatures: WKWindowFeatures
     ) -> WKWebView? {
-        let hasRecentMiddleClickIntent = CmuxWebView.hasRecentMiddleClickIntent(for: webView)
-        let shouldOpenInNewTab = browserNavigationShouldOpenInNewTab(
-            navigationType: navigationAction.navigationType,
-            modifierFlags: navigationAction.modifierFlags,
-            buttonNumber: navigationAction.buttonNumber,
-            hasRecentMiddleClickIntent: hasRecentMiddleClickIntent
-        )
+        // createWebViewWith is only called when the page requests a new window,
+        // so always treat as new-tab intent regardless of modifiers/button.
 #if DEBUG
         let currentEventType = NSApp.currentEvent.map { String(describing: $0.type) } ?? "nil"
         let currentEventButton = NSApp.currentEvent.map { String($0.buttonNumber) } ?? "nil"
@@ -3328,8 +3323,7 @@ private class BrowserUIDelegate: NSObject, WKUIDelegate {
             "browser.nav.createWebView navType=\(navType) button=\(navigationAction.buttonNumber) " +
             "mods=\(navigationAction.modifierFlags.rawValue) targetNil=\(navigationAction.targetFrame == nil ? 1 : 0) " +
             "eventType=\(currentEventType) eventButton=\(currentEventButton) " +
-            "recentMiddleIntent=\(hasRecentMiddleClickIntent ? 1 : 0) " +
-            "openInNewTab=\(shouldOpenInNewTab ? 1 : 0)"
+            "openInNewTab=1"
         )
 #endif
         if let url = navigationAction.request.url {
@@ -3344,25 +3338,19 @@ private class BrowserUIDelegate: NSObject, WKUIDelegate {
                 return nil
             }
             if let requestNavigation {
-                let intent: BrowserInsecureHTTPNavigationIntent =
-                    shouldOpenInNewTab ? .newTab : .currentTab
+                let intent: BrowserInsecureHTTPNavigationIntent = .newTab
 #if DEBUG
                 dlog(
-                    "browser.nav.createWebView.action kind=requestNavigation intent=\(intent == .newTab ? "newTab" : "currentTab") " +
+                    "browser.nav.createWebView.action kind=requestNavigation intent=newTab " +
                     "url=\(url.absoluteString)"
                 )
 #endif
                 requestNavigation(navigationAction.request, intent)
-            } else if shouldOpenInNewTab {
+            } else {
 #if DEBUG
                 dlog("browser.nav.createWebView.action kind=openInNewTab url=\(url.absoluteString)")
 #endif
                 openInNewTab?(url)
-            } else {
-#if DEBUG
-                dlog("browser.nav.createWebView.action kind=loadInPlace url=\(url.absoluteString)")
-#endif
-                browserLoadRequest(navigationAction.request, in: webView)
             }
         }
         return nil