diff --git a/data/core/config.lua b/data/core/config.lua
index 401ac0af..caecdfcd 100644
--- a/data/core/config.lua
+++ b/data/core/config.lua
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ config.non_word_chars = " \t\n/\\()\"':,.;<>~!@#$%^&*|+=[]{}`?-"
 config.undo_merge_timeout = 0.3
 config.max_undos = 10000
 config.max_tabs = 10
+config.always_show_tabs = false
 config.highlight_current_line = true
 config.line_height = 1.2
 config.indent_size = 2
diff --git a/data/core/rootview.lua b/data/core/rootview.lua
index 7b13487b..02d836ba 100644
--- a/data/core/rootview.lua
+++ b/data/core/rootview.lua
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ end
 
 
 function Node:get_tab_overlapping_point(px, py)
-  if #self.views == 1 then return nil end
+  if not self:should_show_tabs() then return nil end
   local tabs_number = self:get_visible_tabs_number()
   local x1, y1, w, h = self:get_tab_rect(self.tab_offset)
   local x2, y2 = self:get_tab_rect(self.tab_offset + tabs_number)
@@ -272,6 +272,16 @@ function Node:get_tab_overlapping_point(px, py)
 end
 
 
+function Node:should_show_tabs()
+  if self.locked then return false end
+  if #self.views > 1 then return true
+  elseif config.always_show_tabs then
+    return not self.views[1]:is(EmptyView)
+  end
+  return false
+end
+
+
 local function close_button_location(x, w)
   local cw = style.icon_font:get_width("C")
   local pad = style.padding.y
@@ -415,7 +425,7 @@ end
 function Node:update_layout()
   if self.type == "leaf" then
     local av = self.active_view
-    if #self.views > 1 then
+    if self:should_show_tabs() then
       local _, _, _, th = self:get_tab_rect(1)
       av.position.x, av.position.y = self.position.x, self.position.y + th
       av.size.x, av.size.y = self.size.x, self.size.y - th
@@ -570,7 +580,7 @@ end
 
 function Node:draw()
   if self.type == "leaf" then
-    if #self.views > 1 then
+    if self:should_show_tabs() then
       self:draw_tabs()
     end
     local pos, size = self.active_view.position, self.active_view.size