diff --git a/common/content/options.js b/common/content/options.js
index b6d62cd3..619a9cb0 100644
--- a/common/content/options.js
+++ b/common/content/options.js
@@ -847,8 +847,10 @@ const Options = Module("options", {
         return this._loadPreference(name, forcedDefault);
     },
 
-    _checkPrefSafe: function (name, message) {
+    _checkPrefSafe: function (name, message, value) {
         let curval = this._loadPreference(name, null, false);
+        if (arguments.length > 2 && curval === value)
+            return;
         let defval = this._loadPreference(name, null, true);
         let saved  = this._loadPreference(Options.SAVED + name);
 
@@ -881,7 +883,7 @@ const Options = Module("options", {
      * @param {value} value The new preference value.
      */
     safeSetPref: function (name, value, message) {
-        this._checkPrefSafe(name, message);
+        this._checkPrefSafe(name, message, value);
         this._storePreference(name, value);
         this._storePreference(Options.SAVED + name, value);
     },
diff --git a/common/content/tabs.js b/common/content/tabs.js
index 86d31641..98cd0335 100644
--- a/common/content/tabs.js
+++ b/common/content/tabs.js
@@ -1014,20 +1014,33 @@ const Tabs = Module("tabs", {
             });
 
         if (config.hasTabbrowser) {
+            let activateGroups = [
+                ["addons", ":addo[ns] command"],
+                ["bookmarks", "Tabs loaded from bookmarks", "loadBookmarksInBackground"],
+                ["diverted", "Links with targets set to new tabs", "loadDivertedInBackground"],
+                ["downloads", ":downl[oads] command"],
+                ["extoptions", ":exto[ptions] command"],
+                ["help", ":h[elp] command"],
+                ["homepage", "gH mapping"],
+                ["links", "Middle- or Control-clicked links", "loadInBackground"],
+                ["quickmark", "go and gn mappings"],
+                ["tabopen", ":tabopen[!] command"],
+                ["paste", "P and gP mappings"]
+            ];
             options.add(["activate", "act"],
                 "Define when tabs are automatically activated",
-                "stringlist", "addons,downloads,extoptions,help,homepage,quickmark,tabopen,paste",
+                "stringlist", [g[0] for (g in values(activateGroups)) if (!g[2] || !options.getPref("browser.tabs." + g[2]))].join(","),
                 {
-                    completer: function (context) [
-                        ["addons", ":addo[ns] command"],
-                        ["downloads", ":downl[oads] command"],
-                        ["extoptions", ":exto[ptions] command"],
-                        ["help", ":h[elp] command"],
-                        ["homepage", "gH mapping"],
-                        ["quickmark", "go and gn mappings"],
-                        ["tabopen", ":tabopen[!] command"],
-                        ["paste", "P and gP mappings"]
-                    ]
+                    completer: function (context) activateGroups,
+                    setter: function (newValues) {
+                        let valueSet = set(newValues);
+                        for (let group in values(activateGroups))
+                            if (group[2])
+                                options.safeSetPref("browser.tabs." + group[2],
+                                                    !(valueSet["all"] || valueSet[group[0]]),
+                                                    "See the 'activate' option");
+                        return newValues;
+                    }
                 });
 
             options.add(["newtab"],
diff --git a/common/locale/en-US/options.xml b/common/locale/en-US/options.xml
index fa667110..c27aab9b 100644
--- a/common/locale/en-US/options.xml
+++ b/common/locale/en-US/options.xml
@@ -330,10 +330,13 @@
         <dl>
             <dt>all</dt>           <dd>Activate all items.</dd>
             <dt>addons</dt>        <dd><ex>:addo<oa>ns</oa></ex> command</dd>
+            <dt>bookmarks</dt>     <dd>Tabs loaded from bookmarks</dd>
+            <dt>diverted</dt>      <dd>Links with targets set to new tabs</dd>
             <dt>downloads</dt>     <dd><ex>:downl<oa>oads</oa></ex> command</dd>
             <dt>extoptions</dt>    <dd><ex>:exto<oa>ptions</oa></ex> command</dd>
             <dt>help</dt>          <dd><ex>:h<oa>elp</oa></ex> command</dd>
             <dt>homepage</dt>      <dd><k>gH</k> mapping</dd>
+            <dt>links</dt>         <dd>Middle- or Control-clicked links</dd>
             <dt>quickmark</dt>     <dd><k>go</k> and <k>gn</k> mappings</dd>
             <dt>tabopen</dt>       <dd><ex>:tabopen<oa>!</oa></ex> command</dd>
             <dt>paste</dt>         <dd><k>P</k> and <k>gP</k> mappings</dd>
diff --git a/pentadactyl/NEWS b/pentadactyl/NEWS
index a64e43a1..8197607b 100644
--- a/pentadactyl/NEWS
+++ b/pentadactyl/NEWS
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@
     * IMPORTANT: 'extendedhinttags' is now a regexmap rather than a
       string.
     * IMPORTANT: 'guioptions' default value has changed.
+    * Added "bookmarks", "diverted", and "links" to 'activate'
+      option
     * Added 'altwildmode' and <A-Tab> command-line key binding.
     * Added 'autocomplete' option for specifying which completion
       groups should be auto-completed.
diff --git a/pentadactyl/TODO b/pentadactyl/TODO
index 98c0aeaf..8e269be7 100644
--- a/pentadactyl/TODO
+++ b/pentadactyl/TODO
@@ -35,14 +35,6 @@ FEATURES:
   :open foo
 8 use the storage module for autocommands
 8 support 'activate' in buffer.followLink?
-  Leave this to the bookmarks.tabs.loadInBackground. Hint activation
-  should be nearly equivalent to the corresponding mouse motion, and that
-  mouse movement would be governed by the FF pref. However, :tabopen is
-  something Vimp specific, and so it needs a specific setting (i.e.,
-  activate). OTOH, I think it would be better if ";t" *always* opens a
-  new foreground tab and ";b" *always* opensa  new background tab. So "F"
-  should be the only hint mode that changes based on loadInBackground.
-  --Ted
 8 add support for filename special characters such as %
 8 :redir and 'verbosefile'
 8 middleclick in content == p, and if command line is open, paste there the clipboard buffer