diff --git a/helix-term/src/application.rs b/helix-term/src/application.rs
index 74c0a04f7a14..755fbed19e4f 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/application.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/application.rs
@@ -1199,7 +1199,7 @@ impl Application {
                                     Ok(path) => {
                                         let action = match take_focus {
                                             Some(true) => helix_view::editor::Action::Replace,
-                                            _ => helix_view::editor::Action::HorizontalSplit,
+                                            _ => helix_view::editor::Action::VerticalSplit,
                                         };
 
                                         match self.editor.open(&path, action) {