diff --git a/content/events.js b/content/events.js
index 0110ae03..07bd59d7 100644
--- a/content/events.js
+++ b/content/events.js
@@ -748,11 +748,13 @@ function Events() //{{{
 
             if (key != "<Esc>" && key != "<C-[>")
             {
-                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.mode != vimperator.modes.INSERT && vimperator.mode != vimperator.modes.COMMAND_LINE)
-                    vimperator.beep();
+                if (vimperator.mode != vimperator.modes.INSERT &&
+                    vimperator.mode != 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();
             }
         }