diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index 8d8172405..a5a6c9c27 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -21,6 +21,9 @@ Changelog
   full-screen/maximized/minimized. This replaces the ``--start-in-fullscreen``
   flag introduced in the previous release (:iss:`935`)
 
+- When mapping the new_tab action allow specifying that the tab should open
+  next to the current tab instead of at the end of the tabs list (:iss:`979`)
+
 - macOS: Add a new :opt:`macos_thicken_font` to make text rendering
   on macs thicker, which makes it similar to the result of
   sub-pixel antialiasing (:pull:`950`)
diff --git a/kitty/boss.py b/kitty/boss.py
index 5531d6ca1..deddd2933 100644
--- a/kitty/boss.py
+++ b/kitty/boss.py
@@ -850,7 +850,7 @@ class Boss:
             cmd.append(arg)
         return SpecialWindow(cmd, stdin, cwd_from=cwd_from)
 
-    def _new_tab(self, args, cwd_from=None):
+    def _new_tab(self, args, cwd_from=None, as_neighbor=False):
         special_window = None
         if args:
             if isinstance(args, SpecialWindowInstance):
@@ -859,15 +859,22 @@ class Boss:
                 special_window = self.args_to_special_window(args, cwd_from=cwd_from)
         tm = self.active_tab_manager
         if tm is not None:
-            return tm.new_tab(special_window=special_window, cwd_from=cwd_from)
+            return tm.new_tab(special_window=special_window, cwd_from=cwd_from, as_neighbor=as_neighbor)
+
+    def _create_tab(self, args, cwd_from=None):
+        as_neighbor = False
+        if args and args[0].startswith('!'):
+            as_neighbor = 'neighbor' in args[0][1:].split(',')
+            args = args[1:]
+        self._new_tab(args, as_neighbor=as_neighbor, cwd_from=cwd_from)
 
     def new_tab(self, *args):
-        self._new_tab(args)
+        self._create_tab(args)
 
     def new_tab_with_cwd(self, *args):
         w = self.active_window
         cwd_from = w.child.pid if w is not None else None
-        self._new_tab(args, cwd_from=cwd_from)
+        self._create_tab(args, cwd_from=cwd_from)
 
     def _new_window(self, args, cwd_from=None):
         tab = self.active_tab
diff --git a/kitty/config_data.py b/kitty/config_data.py
index 58832e1dc..e37f79a1f 100644
--- a/kitty/config_data.py
+++ b/kitty/config_data.py
@@ -146,7 +146,12 @@ You can also create shortcuts to go to specific tabs, with 1 being the first tab
     map ctrl+alt+2 goto_tab 2
 
 Just as with :code:`new_window` above, you can also pass the name of arbitrary
-commands to run when using new_tab and use :code:`new_tab_with_cwd`.
+commands to run when using new_tab and use :code:`new_tab_with_cwd`. Finally,
+if you want the new tab to open next to the current tab rather than at the
+end of the tabs list, use::
+
+    map ctrl+t new_tab !neighbor [optional cmd to run]
+
 ''')],
     'shortcuts.layout': [
             _('Layout management'), '',
diff --git a/kitty/tabs.py b/kitty/tabs.py
index 1dd3a810e..236cd76b4 100644
--- a/kitty/tabs.py
+++ b/kitty/tabs.py
@@ -464,10 +464,16 @@ class TabManager:  # {{{
             self._set_active_tab(nidx)
             self.mark_tab_bar_dirty()
 
-    def new_tab(self, special_window=None, cwd_from=None):
+    def new_tab(self, special_window=None, cwd_from=None, as_neighbor=False):
+        nidx = self.active_tab_idx + 1
         idx = len(self.tabs)
         self._add_tab(Tab(self, special_window=special_window, cwd_from=cwd_from))
         self._set_active_tab(idx)
+        if len(self.tabs) > 2 and as_neighbor and idx != nidx:
+            self.tabs[idx], self.tabs[nidx] = self.tabs[nidx], self.tabs[idx]
+            swap_tabs(self.os_window_id, idx, nidx)
+            self._set_active_tab(nidx)
+            idx = nidx
         self.mark_tab_bar_dirty()
         return self.tabs[idx]