diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index b704e38ba..cce4440c0 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -28,6 +28,9 @@ To update |kitty|, :doc:`follow the instructions <binary>`.
 
 - Allow setting OS window size in session files
 
+- Add an option :opt:`tab_switch_strategy` to control which
+  tab becomes active when the current tab is closed (:pull:`1524`)
+
 - Allow specifying a value of ``none`` for the :opt:`selection_foreground`
   which will cause kitty to not change text color in selections (:iss:`1358`)
 
diff --git a/kitty/config_data.py b/kitty/config_data.py
index 198dbf277..e9cfea8bf 100644
--- a/kitty/config_data.py
+++ b/kitty/config_data.py
@@ -631,6 +631,13 @@ o('tab_bar_min_tabs', 2, option_type=lambda x: max(1, positive_int(x)), long_tex
 The minimum number of tabs that must exist before the tab bar is shown
 '''))
 
+o('tab_switch_strategy', 'previous', option_type=choices('previous', 'left', 'last'), long_text=_('''
+The algorithm to use when switching to a tab when the current tab is closed.
+The default of :code:`previous` will switch to the last used tab. A value of
+:code:`left` will switch to the tab to the left of the closed tab. A value
+of :code:`last` will switch to the right-most tab.
+'''))
+
 
 def tab_fade(x):
     return tuple(map(unit_float, x.split()))
diff --git a/kitty/tabs.py b/kitty/tabs.py
index 8b7d5ca39..71cc08874 100644
--- a/kitty/tabs.py
+++ b/kitty/tabs.py
@@ -552,16 +552,25 @@ class TabManager:  # {{{
     def remove(self, tab):
         self._remove_tab(tab)
         next_active_tab = -1
-        while self.active_tab_history and next_active_tab < 0:
-            tab_id = self.active_tab_history.pop()
-            if tab_id == tab.id:
-                continue
-            for idx, qtab in enumerate(self.tabs):
-                if qtab.id == tab_id:
-                    next_active_tab = idx
-                    break
+        while True:
+            try:
+                self.active_tab_history.remove(tab.id)
+            except ValueError:
+                break
+
+        if self.opts.tab_switch_strategy == 'previous':
+            while self.active_tab_history and next_active_tab < 0:
+                tab_id = self.active_tab_history.pop()
+                for idx, qtab in enumerate(self.tabs):
+                    if qtab.id == tab_id:
+                        next_active_tab = idx
+                        break
+        elif self.opts.tab_switch_strategy == 'left':
+            next_active_tab = max(0, self.active_tab_idx - 1)
+
         if next_active_tab < 0:
             next_active_tab = max(0, min(self.active_tab_idx, len(self.tabs) - 1))
+
         self._set_active_tab(next_active_tab)
         self.mark_tab_bar_dirty()
         tab.destroy()