diff --git a/spec/pane-spec.coffee b/spec/pane-spec.coffee
index e5cbee1a6..b4785e113 100644
--- a/spec/pane-spec.coffee
+++ b/spec/pane-spec.coffee
@@ -183,6 +183,41 @@ describe "Pane", ->
         pane.activateItem(itemD, true)
         expect(pane.getItems().map (item) -> item.name).toEqual ['A', 'B', 'D']
 
+  describe "::setPendingItem", ->
+    pane = null
+
+    beforeEach ->
+      pane = atom.workspace.getActivePane()
+
+    it "changes the pending item", ->
+      expect(pane.getPendingItem()).toBeNull()
+      pane.setPendingItem("fake item")
+      expect(pane.getPendingItem()).toEqual "fake item"
+
+  describe "::onItemDidTerminatePendingState callback", ->
+    pane = null
+    callbackCalled = false
+
+    beforeEach ->
+      pane = atom.workspace.getActivePane()
+      callbackCalled = false
+
+    it "is called when the pending item changes", ->
+      pane.setPendingItem("fake item one")
+      pane.onItemDidTerminatePendingState (item) ->
+        callbackCalled = true
+        expect(item).toEqual "fake item one"
+      pane.setPendingItem("fake item two")
+      expect(callbackCalled).toBeTruthy()
+
+    it "has access to the new pending item via ::getPendingItem", ->
+      pane.setPendingItem("fake item one")
+      pane.onItemDidTerminatePendingState (item) ->
+        callbackCalled = true
+        expect(pane.getPendingItem()).toEqual "fake item two"
+      pane.setPendingItem("fake item two")
+      expect(callbackCalled).toBeTruthy()
+
   describe "::activateNextRecentlyUsedItem() and ::activatePreviousRecentlyUsedItem()", ->
     it "sets the active item to the next/previous item in the itemStack, looping around at either end", ->
       pane = new Pane(paneParams(items: [new Item("A"), new Item("B"), new Item("C"), new Item("D"), new Item("E")]))
diff --git a/src/pane.coffee b/src/pane.coffee
index 12abc5448..9905680bd 100644
--- a/src/pane.coffee
+++ b/src/pane.coffee
@@ -441,8 +441,10 @@ class Pane extends Model
     item
 
   setPendingItem: (item) =>
-    @pendingItem = item if @pendingItem isnt item
-    @emitter.emit 'did-terminate-pending-state' if not item
+    if @pendingItem isnt item
+      mostRecentPendingItem = @pendingItem
+      @pendingItem = item
+      @emitter.emit 'item-did-terminate-pending-state', mostRecentPendingItem
 
   getPendingItem: =>
     @pendingItem or null
@@ -450,8 +452,8 @@ class Pane extends Model
   clearPendingItem: =>
     @setPendingItem(null)
 
-  onDidTerminatePendingState: (callback) =>
-    @emitter.on 'did-terminate-pending-state', callback
+  onItemDidTerminatePendingState: (callback) =>
+    @emitter.on 'item-did-terminate-pending-state', callback
 
   # Public: Add the given items to the pane.
   #