diff --git a/browser/base/content/browser.js b/browser/base/content/browser.js
index 66f6260cbc88..3377df639c77 100644
--- a/browser/base/content/browser.js
+++ b/browser/base/content/browser.js
@@ -7771,7 +7771,10 @@ function switchToTabHavingURI(aURI, aOpenNew, aCallback) {
 
   // No opened tab has that url.
   if (aOpenNew) {
-    gBrowser.selectedTab = gBrowser.addTab(aURI.spec);
+    if (isTabEmpty(gBrowser.selectedTab))
+      gBrowser.selectedBrowser.loadURI(aURI.spec);
+    else
+      gBrowser.selectedTab = gBrowser.addTab(aURI.spec);
     if (aCallback) {
       let browser = gBrowser.selectedBrowser;
       browser.addEventListener("pageshow", function(event) {
diff --git a/browser/base/content/test/Makefile.in b/browser/base/content/test/Makefile.in
index a8e30dbff2f3..0603dfa96e22 100644
--- a/browser/base/content/test/Makefile.in
+++ b/browser/base/content/test/Makefile.in
@@ -138,6 +138,7 @@ _BROWSER_FILES = \
                  browser_bug563588.js \
                  browser_bug577121.js \
                  browser_bug580956.js \
+                 browser_bug581242.js \
                  browser_contextSearchTabPosition.js \
                  browser_ctrlTab.js \
                  browser_discovery.js \
diff --git a/browser/base/content/test/browser_bug581242.js b/browser/base/content/test/browser_bug581242.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..dee3fc427acc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/browser/base/content/test/browser_bug581242.js
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+/* ***** BEGIN LICENSE BLOCK *****
+ * Version: MPL 1.1/GPL 2.0/LGPL 2.1
+ *
+ * The contents of this file are subject to the Mozilla Public License Version
+ * 1.1 (the "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance with
+ * the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ * http://www.mozilla.org/MPL/
+ *
+ * Software distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" basis,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the License
+ * for the specific language governing rights and limitations under the
+ * License.
+ *
+ * The Original Code is bug 581242 test.
+ *
+ * The Initial Developer of the Original Code is
+ * Sindre Dammann <sindrebugzilla@gmail.com>
+ * Portions created by the Initial Developer are Copyright (C) 2010
+ * the Initial Developer. All Rights Reserved.
+ *
+ * Contributor(s):
+ *
+ * Alternatively, the contents of this file may be used under the terms of
+ * either the GNU General Public License Version 2 or later (the "GPL"), or
+ * the GNU Lesser General Public License Version 2.1 or later (the "LGPL"),
+ * in which case the provisions of the GPL or the LGPL are applicable instead
+ * of those above. If you wish to allow use of your version of this file only
+ * under the terms of either the GPL or the LGPL, and not to allow others to
+ * use your version of this file under the terms of the MPL, indicate your
+ * decision by deleting the provisions above and replace them with the notice
+ * and other provisions required by the GPL or the LGPL. If you do not delete
+ * the provisions above, a recipient may use your version of this file under
+ * the terms of any one of the MPL, the GPL or the LGPL.
+ *
+ * ***** END LICENSE BLOCK ***** */
+
+function test() {
+  // Create a new tab and load about:addons
+  let blanktab = gBrowser.addTab();
+  gBrowser.selectedTab = blanktab;
+  BrowserOpenAddonsMgr();
+
+  is(blanktab, gBrowser.selectedTab, "Current tab should be blank tab");
+  // Verify that about:addons loads
+  waitForExplicitFinish();
+  gBrowser.selectedBrowser.addEventListener("load", function() {
+    let browser = blanktab.linkedBrowser;
+    is(browser.currentURI.spec, "about:addons", "about:addons should load into blank tab.");
+    gBrowser.removeTab(blanktab);
+    finish();
+  }, true);
+}