diff --git a/spec/pane-container-spec.coffee b/spec/pane-container-spec.coffee
index 5d7a426c5..4a773e6c7 100644
--- a/spec/pane-container-spec.coffee
+++ b/spec/pane-container-spec.coffee
@@ -87,9 +87,6 @@ describe "PaneContainer", ->
       expect(panes).toEqual []
 
   describe ".reopenItem()", ->
-    beforeEach ->
-      pane3.makeActive()
-
     describe "when there is an active pane", ->
       it "reconstructs and shows the last-closed pane item", ->
         expect(container.getActivePane()).toBe pane3
diff --git a/src/pane-container.coffee b/src/pane-container.coffee
index 5564d34bd..62ea8eede 100644
--- a/src/pane-container.coffee
+++ b/src/pane-container.coffee
@@ -113,7 +113,8 @@ class PaneContainer extends View
     @empty()
     if root?
       @append(root)
-      @itemAdded(root.activeItem) if root.activeItem
+      @itemAdded(root.activeItem) if root.activeItem?
+      root.makeActive?()
     @state.set(root: root?.getState())
 
   removeChild: (child) ->
diff --git a/src/pane.coffee b/src/pane.coffee
index ba52b0db6..a54ba4764 100644
--- a/src/pane.coffee
+++ b/src/pane.coffee
@@ -412,6 +412,7 @@ class Pane extends View
       when 'before' then parent.insertChildBefore(this, newPane)
       when 'after' then parent.insertChildAfter(this, newPane)
     @getContainer().adjustPaneDimensions()
+    newPane.makeActive()
     newPane.focus()
     newPane