diff --git a/kitty/boss.py b/kitty/boss.py
index 8f2dea8fc..0e3f02939 100644
--- a/kitty/boss.py
+++ b/kitty/boss.py
@@ -434,4 +434,6 @@ class Boss(Thread):
     def previous_tab(self):
         self.queue_action(self.tab_manager.next_tab, -1)
 
+    def new_tab(self):
+        self.tab_manager.new_tab()
     # }}}
diff --git a/kitty/kitty.conf b/kitty/kitty.conf
index 55567c379..b09bc6c1d 100644
--- a/kitty/kitty.conf
+++ b/kitty/kitty.conf
@@ -144,5 +144,7 @@ map ctrl+shift+w        close_window
 map ctrl+shift+l        next_layout
 
 # Tab management
-map ctrl+shift+right        next_tab
-map ctrl+shift+left         previous_tab
+map ctrl+shift+right    next_tab
+map ctrl+shift+left     previous_tab
+map ctrl+shift+t        new_tab
+map ctrl+shift+q        close_tab
diff --git a/kitty/tabs.py b/kitty/tabs.py
index 93dca41f9..27ded928f 100644
--- a/kitty/tabs.py
+++ b/kitty/tabs.py
@@ -29,12 +29,13 @@ class Tab:
         self.active_window_idx = 0
         if session_tab is None:
             self.cwd = args.directory
-            self.current_layout = self.enabled_layouts[0]
+            l = self.enabled_layouts[0]
             queue_action(self.new_window)
         else:
             self.cwd = session_tab.cwd or args.directory
-            self.current_layout = all_layouts[session_tab.layout](opts, self.borders.border_width, self.windows)
+            l = session_tab.layout
             queue_action(self.startup, session_tab)
+        self.current_layout = all_layouts[l](opts, self.borders.border_width, self.windows)
 
     def startup(self, session_tab):
         for cmd in session_tab.windows:
@@ -210,6 +211,10 @@ class TabManager:
     def __len__(self):
         return len(self.tabs)
 
+    def new_tab(self):
+        self.active_tab_idx = len(self.tabs)
+        self.tabs.append(Tab(self.opts, self.args, self.title_changed))
+
     @property
     def active_tab(self):
         return self.tabs[self.active_tab_idx] if self.tabs else None