diff --git a/content/events.js b/content/events.js
index 1922b831..b0cb8c39 100644
--- a/content/events.js
+++ b/content/events.js
@@ -661,8 +661,10 @@ function Events() //{{{
             vimperator.input.pendingArgMap = null;
             vimperator.input.pendingMotionMap = null;
 
-            stop = false; // command was not a vimperator command, maybe it is a firefox command
+            // allow key to be passed to firefox if we can't handle it
+            stop = false;
 
+            // TODO: see if this check is needed or are all motion commands already mapped in these modes?
             if (!vimperator.hasMode(vimperator.modes.COMMAND_LINE))
                 vimperator.beep();
         }
diff --git a/content/tabs.js b/content/tabs.js
index 37b75f78..e0e25d7c 100644
--- a/content/tabs.js
+++ b/content/tabs.js
@@ -157,8 +157,14 @@ function Tabs() //{{{
                 getBrowser().removeTab(tab);
             else
             {
-                vimperator.open("about:blank", vimperator.NEW_BACKGROUND_TAB);
-                getBrowser().removeTab(tab);
+                if (vimperator.buffer.URL != "about:blank" ||
+                    getWebNavigation().sessionHistory.count > 0)
+                {
+                    vimperator.open("about:blank", vimperator.NEW_BACKGROUND_TAB);
+                    getBrowser().removeTab(tab);
+                }
+                else
+                    vimperator.beep();
             }
         }