diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index c0f0e1a5c..0f1db38d8 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -49,6 +49,8 @@ Detailed list of changes
 
 - macOS: Remote control: Fix unable to launch a new OS window or background process when there is no OS window (:iss:`5210`)
 
+- macOS: Fix unable to open new tab or new window when there is no OS window (:iss:`5276`)
+
 - kitty @ set-colors: Fix changing inactive_tab_foreground not working (:iss:`5214`)
 
 - macOS: Fix a regression that caused switching keyboard input using Eisu and
diff --git a/kitty/boss.py b/kitty/boss.py
index 73b68020e..423008535 100644
--- a/kitty/boss.py
+++ b/kitty/boss.py
@@ -1812,6 +1812,8 @@ class Boss:
                 special_window = args
             else:
                 special_window = self.args_to_special_window(args, cwd_from=cwd_from)
+        if not self.os_window_map:
+            self.add_os_window()
         tm = self.active_tab_manager
         if tm is not None:
             return tm.new_tab(special_window=special_window, cwd_from=cwd_from, as_neighbor=as_neighbor)
@@ -1833,8 +1835,6 @@ class Boss:
         self._create_tab(list(args), cwd_from=CwdRequest(self.active_window_for_cwd))
 
     def new_tab_with_wd(self, wd: Union[str, List[str]], str_is_multiple_paths: bool = False) -> None:
-        if not self.os_window_map:
-            self.add_os_window()
         if isinstance(wd, str):
             wd = wd.split(os.pathsep) if str_is_multiple_paths else [wd]
         for path in wd:
@@ -1842,6 +1842,11 @@ class Boss:
             self._new_tab(special_window)
 
     def _new_window(self, args: List[str], cwd_from: Optional[CwdRequest] = None) -> Optional[Window]:
+        if not self.os_window_map:
+            os_window_id = self.add_os_window()
+            tm = self.os_window_map.get(os_window_id)
+            if tm is not None and not tm.active_tab:
+                tm.new_tab(empty_tab=True)
         tab = self.active_tab
         if tab is None:
             return None
diff --git a/kitty/rc/launch.py b/kitty/rc/launch.py
index d19da9cd2..022037df6 100644
--- a/kitty/rc/launch.py
+++ b/kitty/rc/launch.py
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ instead of the active tab
         tabs = self.tabs_for_match_payload(boss, window, payload_get)
         if tabs and tabs[0]:
             target_tab = tabs[0]
-        elif payload_get('type') not in ('os-window', 'background'):
+        elif payload_get('type') not in ('background', 'os-window', 'tab', 'window'):
             return None
         w = do_launch(boss, opts, payload_get('args') or [], target_tab=target_tab)
         return None if payload_get('no_response') else str(getattr(w, 'id', 0))