diff --git a/spec/root-view-spec.coffee b/spec/root-view-spec.coffee
index 2e7abe220..22db03f69 100644
--- a/spec/root-view-spec.coffee
+++ b/spec/root-view-spec.coffee
@@ -212,6 +212,11 @@ describe "RootView", ->
           expect(editSession.getPath()).toBeUndefined()
           expect(rootView.getActivePane().focus).toHaveBeenCalled()
 
+        it "can create multiple empty edit sessions as an item on a new pane", ->
+          editSession = rootView.open()
+          editSession = rootView.open()
+          expect(rootView.getActivePane().getItems().length).toBe 2
+
       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", ->
           editSession = rootView.open('b')
diff --git a/src/root-view.coffee b/src/root-view.coffee
index 694f064b7..43a9abfdb 100644
--- a/src/root-view.coffee
+++ b/src/root-view.coffee
@@ -173,7 +173,8 @@ class RootView extends View
     initialLine = options.initialLine
     path = project.relativize(path)
     if activePane = @getActivePane()
-      editSession = activePane.itemForUri(path) ? project.open(path, {initialLine})
+      editSession = activePane.itemForUri(path)
+      editSession = project.open(path, {initialLine}) unless path and editSession
       activePane.showItem(editSession)
     else
       editSession = project.open(path, {initialLine})