diff --git a/guake/guake_app.py b/guake/guake_app.py
index 5cf234dc0..12c79a7e5 100644
--- a/guake/guake_app.py
+++ b/guake/guake_app.py
@@ -1350,16 +1350,15 @@ def save_tabs(self, filename="session.json"):
             for index in range(nb.get_n_pages()):
                 try:
                     page = nb.get_nth_page(index)
-                    if page.child:
-                        panes = []
-                        page.save_box_layout(page.child, panes)
-                        tabs.append(
-                            {
-                                "panes": panes,
-                                "label": nb.get_tab_text_index(index),
-                                "custom_label_set": getattr(page, "custom_label_set", False),
-                            }
-                        )
+                    panes = []
+                    page.save_box_layout(page.child, panes)
+                    tabs.append(
+                        {
+                            "panes": panes,
+                            "label": nb.get_tab_text_index(index),
+                            "custom_label_set": getattr(page, "custom_label_set", False),
+                        }
+                    )
                 except FileNotFoundError:
                     # discard same broken tabs
                     pass
@@ -1444,16 +1443,18 @@ def restore_tabs(self, filename="session.json", suppress_notify=False):
                 # NOTE: If frame implement in future, we will need to update this code
                 for tabs in frames:
                     for index, tab in enumerate(tabs):
-                        directory = (
-                            tab["panes"][0]["directory"]
-                            if len(tab.get("panes", [])) == 1
-                            else tab.get("directory", None)
-                        )
-                        box, page_num, term = nb.new_page_with_focus(
-                            directory, tab["label"], tab["custom_label_set"]
-                        )
                         if tab.get("panes", False):
+                            box, page_num, term = nb.new_page_with_focus(
+                                label=tab["label"], empty=True
+                            )
                             box.restore_box_layout(box.child, tab["panes"])
+                        else:
+                            directory = (
+                                tab["panes"][0]["directory"]
+                                if len(tab.get("panes", [])) == 1
+                                else tab.get("directory", None)
+                            )
+                            nb.new_page_with_focus(directory, tab["label"], tab["custom_label_set"])
 
                     # Remove original pages in notebook
                     for i in range(current_pages):
diff --git a/guake/notebook.py b/guake/notebook.py
index 0719aec1a..d4361733e 100644
--- a/guake/notebook.py
+++ b/guake/notebook.py
@@ -340,10 +340,13 @@ def delete_page_by_label(self, label, kill=True, prompt=0):
     def delete_page_current(self, kill=True, prompt=0):
         self.delete_page(self.get_current_page(), kill, prompt)
 
-    def new_page(self, directory=None, position=None):
-        terminal = self.terminal_spawn(directory)
+    def new_page(self, directory=None, position=None, empty=False):
         terminal_box = TerminalBox()
-        terminal_box.set_terminal(terminal)
+        if empty:
+            terminal = None
+        else:
+            terminal = self.terminal_spawn(directory)
+            terminal_box.set_terminal(terminal)
         root_terminal_box = RootTerminalBox(self.guake, self)
         root_terminal_box.set_child(terminal_box)
         page_num = self.insert_page(
@@ -358,7 +361,8 @@ def new_page(self, directory=None, position=None):
         )
         # this is needed to initially set the last_terminal_focused,
         # one could also call terminal.get_parent().on_terminal_focus()
-        self.terminal_attached(terminal)
+        if not empty:
+            self.terminal_attached(terminal)
         self.hide_tabbar_if_one_tab()
 
         if self.guake:
@@ -405,14 +409,17 @@ def terminal_attached(self, terminal):
         terminal.emit("focus", Gtk.DirectionType.TAB_FORWARD)
         self.emit("terminal-spawned", terminal, terminal.pid)
 
-    def new_page_with_focus(self, directory=None, label=None, user_set=False, position=None):
-        box, page_num, terminal = self.new_page(directory, position=position)
+    def new_page_with_focus(
+        self, directory=None, label=None, user_set=False, position=None, empty=False
+    ):
+        box, page_num, terminal = self.new_page(directory, position=position, empty=empty)
         self.set_current_page(page_num)
         if not label:
             self.rename_page(page_num, _("Terminal"), False)
         else:
             self.rename_page(page_num, label, user_set)
-        terminal.grab_focus()
+        if terminal is not None:
+            terminal.grab_focus()
         return box, page_num, terminal
 
     def rename_page(self, page_index, new_text, user_set=False):
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/eliminate-redundant-spawning-4584ba3107d196e5.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/eliminate-redundant-spawning-4584ba3107d196e5.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ee95bf1a1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/eliminate-redundant-spawning-4584ba3107d196e5.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+release_summary: >
+  Eliminated redundant terminal spawning on startup