diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/stores/tabs/store.ts b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/stores/tabs/store.ts
index 8fc0f13a086..82c893bf794 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/stores/tabs/store.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/stores/tabs/store.ts
@@ -756,9 +756,7 @@ export const useTabsStore = create<TabsStore>()(
 
 					const tabPaneIds = extractPaneIdsFromLayout(activeTab.layout);
 					const reuseExisting = options.reuseExisting ?? "workspace";
-					const canReuseExistingPane =
-						!options.openInNewTab && reuseExisting !== "none";
-					const existingFileViewerPane = canReuseExistingPane
+					const existingFileViewerPane = reuseExisting !== "none"
 						? findReusableFileViewerPane({
 								workspaceId,
 								activeTabId: activeTab.id,
@@ -828,7 +826,7 @@ export const useTabsStore = create<TabsStore>()(
 
 					// If we found an unpinned (preview) file-viewer pane, reuse it
 					// (skip reuse when explicitly requesting a new tab, e.g. cmd+click)
-					if (fileViewerPanes.length > 0 && canReuseExistingPane) {
+					if (fileViewerPanes.length > 0 && !options.openInNewTab && reuseExisting !== "none") {
 						const paneToReuse = fileViewerPanes[0];
 						const existingFileViewer = paneToReuse.fileViewer;
 						if (!existingFileViewer) {