diff --git a/spec/root-view-spec.coffee b/spec/root-view-spec.coffee
index 22db03f69..e7d62deb2 100644
--- a/spec/root-view-spec.coffee
+++ b/spec/root-view-spec.coffee
@@ -214,8 +214,9 @@ describe "RootView", ->
 
         it "can create multiple empty edit sessions as an item on a new pane", ->
           editSession = rootView.open()
-          editSession = rootView.open()
+          editSession2 = rootView.open()
           expect(rootView.getActivePane().getItems().length).toBe 2
+          expect(editSession).not.toBe editSession2
 
       describe "when called with a path", ->
         it "creates an edit session for the given path as an item on a new pane, and focuses the pane", ->
diff --git a/src/root-view.coffee b/src/root-view.coffee
index 43a9abfdb..599e9b94c 100644
--- a/src/root-view.coffee
+++ b/src/root-view.coffee
@@ -173,8 +173,8 @@ class RootView extends View
     initialLine = options.initialLine
     path = project.relativize(path)
     if activePane = @getActivePane()
-      editSession = activePane.itemForUri(path)
-      editSession = project.open(path, {initialLine}) unless path and editSession
+      editSession = activePane.itemForUri(path) if path
+      editSession ?= project.open(path, {initialLine})
       activePane.showItem(editSession)
     else
       editSession = project.open(path, {initialLine})