--- a/suite/common/utilityOverlay.js
+++ b/suite/common/utilityOverlay.js
@@ -1518,17 +1518,19 @@ function switchToTabHavingURI(aURI, aOpe
     if (browserWin.closed || browserWin == window)
       continue;
     if (switchIfURIInWindow(browserWin))
       return true;
   }
 
   // No opened tab has that url.
   if (aOpenNew) {
-    let browserWin = openUILinkIn(aURI.spec, "tabfocused");
+    let newWindowPref = Services.prefs.getIntPref("browser.link.open_external");
+    let where = newWindowPref == kNewTab ? "tabfocused" : "window";
+    let browserWin = openUILinkIn(aURI.spec, where);
     if (aCallback) {
       browserWin.addEventListener("pageshow", function(event) {
         if (event.target.location.href != aURI.spec)
           return;
         browserWin.removeEventListener("pageshow", arguments.callee, true);
         aCallback(browserWin.getBrowser().selectedBrowser);
       }, true);
     }