diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index a8495e1d..e4853a22 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
     "html-minifier": "^3.5.21",
     "jsonminify": "^0.4.1",
     "node-sass": "^4.11.0",
-    "npm-check-updates": "^3.1.1",
+    "npm-check-updates": "^3.1.2",
     "read-file": "^0.2.0",
     "request": "^2.88.0",
     "terser": "^3.17.0",
diff --git a/src/js/helper/sidebarEvents.js b/src/js/helper/sidebarEvents.js
index 5b938e0c..febfb32a 100644
--- a/src/js/helper/sidebarEvents.js
+++ b/src/js/helper/sidebarEvents.js
@@ -65,7 +65,8 @@
                 data.reopenSidebar = ext.helper.model.getData("b/reopenSidebar");
 
                 if (middleClick) { // new tab -> middle click
-                    ext.helper.utility.openUrl(data, "newTab", config.newTab === "background" && config.linkAction === "newtab"); // open always in background except a normal click opens them in new tab in the background
+                    const active = opts.shiftKey || (config.newTab === "background" && config.linkAction === "newtab");
+                    ext.helper.utility.openUrl(data, "newTab", active); // open in foreground when a normal click opens the tab in new tab in the background or while pressing 'shift' always in the foreground
                 } else if (config.linkAction === "newtab") { // new tab -> normal click
                     ext.helper.utility.openUrl(data, "newTab", config.newTab === "foreground");
                 } else { // current tab