diff --git a/amfora.go b/amfora.go
index d675cac..970e196 100644
--- a/amfora.go
+++ b/amfora.go
@@ -74,7 +74,6 @@ func main() {
 
 	// Initialize Amfora's settings
 	display.Init(version, commit, builtBy)
-	display.NewTab()
 
 	// Load a URL, file, or render from stdin
 	if len(os.Args[1:]) > 0 {
@@ -93,9 +92,11 @@ func main() {
 				url = "file://" + fileName
 			}
 		}
-		display.URL(url)
+		display.NewTabWithURL(url)
 	} else if !isStdinEmpty() {
 		renderFromStdin()
+	} else {
+		display.NewTab()
 	}
 
 	// Start
diff --git a/display/display.go b/display/display.go
index 02d8136..377aa8d 100644
--- a/display/display.go
+++ b/display/display.go
@@ -187,7 +187,6 @@ func Init(version, commit, builtBy string) {
 					if i <= len(tabs[tab].page.Links) && i > 0 {
 						// Open new tab and load link
 						oldTab := tab
-						NewTab()
 						// Resolve and follow link manually
 						prevParsed, _ := url.Parse(tabs[oldTab].page.URL)
 						nextParsed, err := url.Parse(tabs[oldTab].page.Links[i-1])
@@ -196,7 +195,7 @@ func Init(version, commit, builtBy string) {
 							reset()
 							return
 						}
-						URL(prevParsed.ResolveReference(nextParsed).String())
+						NewTabWithURL(prevParsed.ResolveReference(nextParsed).String())
 						return
 					}
 				} else {
@@ -328,8 +327,7 @@ func Init(version, commit, builtBy string) {
 					Error("URL Error", err.Error())
 					return nil
 				}
-				NewTab()
-				URL(next)
+				NewTabWithURL(next)
 			} else {
 				NewTab()
 			}
@@ -377,6 +375,17 @@ func Stop() {
 // NewTab opens a new tab and switches to it, displaying the
 // the default empty content because there's no URL.
 func NewTab() {
+	NewTabWithURL("about:newtab")
+
+	bottomBar.SetLabel("")
+	bottomBar.SetText("")
+	tabs[NumTabs()-1].saveBottomBar()
+
+}
+
+// NewTabWithURL opens a new tab and switches to it, displaying the
+// the URL provided.
+func NewTabWithURL(url string) {
 	// Create TextView and change curTab
 	// Set the TextView options, and the changed func to App.Draw()
 	// SetDoneFunc to do link highlighting
@@ -393,8 +402,16 @@ func NewTab() {
 	curTab = NumTabs()
 
 	tabs = append(tabs, makeNewTab())
-	temp := newTabPage // Copy
-	setPage(tabs[curTab], &temp)
+
+	var interstitial string
+	if !strings.HasPrefix(url, "about:") {
+		interstitial = "Loading " + url + "..."
+	}
+
+	setPage(tabs[curTab], renderPageFromString(interstitial))
+
+	// Regardless of the starting URL, about:newtab will
+	// be the history root.
 	tabs[curTab].addToHistory("about:newtab")
 	tabs[curTab].history.pos = 0 // Manually set as first page
 
@@ -406,9 +423,7 @@ func NewTab() {
 	browser.SetCurrentTab(strconv.Itoa(curTab))
 	App.SetFocus(tabs[curTab].view)
 
-	bottomBar.SetLabel("")
-	bottomBar.SetText("")
-	tabs[curTab].saveBottomBar()
+	URL(url)
 
 	// Draw just in case
 	App.Draw()
@@ -529,11 +544,11 @@ func URL(u string) {
 
 func RenderFromString(str string) {
 	t := tabs[curTab]
-	page, _ := renderPageFromString(str)
+	page := renderPageFromString(str)
 	setPage(t, page)
 }
 
-func renderPageFromString(str string) (*structs.Page, bool) {
+func renderPageFromString(str string) *structs.Page {
 	rendered, links := renderer.RenderGemini(str, textWidth(), false)
 	page := &structs.Page{
 		Mediatype: structs.TextGemini,
@@ -543,7 +558,7 @@ func renderPageFromString(str string) (*structs.Page, bool) {
 		TermWidth: termW,
 	}
 
-	return page, true
+	return page
 }
 
 func NumTabs() int {
diff --git a/display/modals.go b/display/modals.go
index eb4bb68..5ad362e 100644
--- a/display/modals.go
+++ b/display/modals.go
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import (
 var infoModal = cview.NewModal()
 
 var errorModal = cview.NewModal()
+var errorModalDone = make(chan struct{})
 
 var inputModal = cview.NewModal()
 var inputCh = make(chan string)
@@ -152,6 +153,7 @@ func modalInit() {
 		panels.HidePanel("error")
 		App.SetFocus(tabs[curTab].view)
 		App.Draw()
+		errorModalDone <- struct{}{}
 	})
 
 	inputModal.SetBorder(true)
@@ -200,6 +202,8 @@ func Error(title, text string) {
 	panels.SendToFront("error")
 	App.SetFocus(errorModal)
 	App.Draw()
+
+	<-errorModalDone
 }
 
 // Info displays some info on the screen in a modal.
diff --git a/display/private.go b/display/private.go
index ecf4491..d483124 100644
--- a/display/private.go
+++ b/display/private.go
@@ -134,6 +134,9 @@ func goURL(t *tab, u string) {
 	final, displayed := handleURL(t, u, 0)
 	if displayed {
 		t.addToHistory(final)
+	} else if t.page.URL == "" {
+		// The tab is showing interstitial or no content. Let's go to about:newtab.
+		handleAbout(t, "about:newtab")
 	}
 	if t == tabs[curTab] {
 		// Display the bottomBar state that handleURL set