diff --git a/spec/pane-spec.coffee b/spec/pane-spec.coffee
index 5aa3c39e9..c7a5333eb 100644
--- a/spec/pane-spec.coffee
+++ b/spec/pane-spec.coffee
@@ -28,6 +28,29 @@ describe "Pane", ->
       expect(pane.items.length).toBe 2
       expect(pane.activeItem).toBe pane.items[0]
 
+  describe "::addItem(item, index)", ->
+    it "adds the item at the given index", ->
+      pane = new Pane(items: [new Item("A"), new Item("B")])
+      [item1, item2] = pane.items
+      item3 = new Item("C")
+      pane.addItem(item3, 1)
+      expect(pane.items).toEqual [item1, item3, item2]
+
+    it "adds the item after the active item ", ->
+      pane = new Pane(items: [new Item("A"), new Item("B"), new Item("C")])
+      [item1, item2, item3] = pane.items
+      pane.activateItem(item2)
+      item4 = new Item("D")
+      pane.addItem(item4)
+      console.log pane.items
+      expect(pane.items).toEqual [item1, item2, item4, item3]
+
+    it "sets the active item if it is undefined", ->
+      pane = new Pane
+      item = new Item("A")
+      pane.addItem(item)
+      expect(pane.activeItem).toBe item
+
   describe "::activateItem(item)", ->
     pane = null
 
diff --git a/src/pane.coffee b/src/pane.coffee
index fc9361b31..b874caaed 100644
--- a/src/pane.coffee
+++ b/src/pane.coffee
@@ -132,6 +132,7 @@ class Pane extends Model
     return if item in @items
 
     @items.splice(index, 0, item)
+    @activeItem ?= item
     @emit 'item-added', item, index
     item