diff --git a/program/include/rcube_output_html.php b/program/include/rcube_output_html.php
index db947bd2b..ac07d58e9 100644
--- a/program/include/rcube_output_html.php
+++ b/program/include/rcube_output_html.php
@@ -1087,7 +1087,7 @@ class rcube_output_html extends rcube_output
             // make valid href to specific buttons
             if (in_array($attrib['command'], rcmail::$main_tasks)) {
                 $attrib['href']    = $this->app->url(array('task' => $attrib['command']));
-                $attrib['onclick'] = sprintf("%s.command('switch-task','%s',null,event); return false", rcmail::JS_OBJECT_NAME, $attrib['command']);
+                $attrib['onclick'] = sprintf("return %s.command('switch-task','%s',this,event)", rcmail::JS_OBJECT_NAME, $attrib['command']);
             }
             else if ($attrib['task'] && in_array($attrib['task'], rcmail::$main_tasks)) {
                 $attrib['href'] = $this->app->url(array('action' => $attrib['command'], 'task' => $attrib['task']));
diff --git a/program/js/app.js b/program/js/app.js
index 0f5a60c6f..2a170b258 100644
--- a/program/js/app.js
+++ b/program/js/app.js
@@ -507,6 +507,11 @@ function rcube_webmail()
     if (this.busy)
       return false;
 
+    // let the browser handle this click (shift/ctrl usually opens the link in a new window/tab)
+    if ((obj && (obj.href.indexOf(location.href) < 0)) && rcube_event.get_modifier(event)) {
+      return true;
+    }
+
     // command not supported or allowed
     if (!this.commands[command]) {
       // pass command to parent window
@@ -562,7 +567,7 @@ function rcube_webmail()
         break;
 
       case 'about':
-        location.href = '?_task=settings&_action=about';
+        this.redirect('?_task=settings&_action=about', false);
         break;
 
       case 'permaurl':