diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/actions/node/open-file.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/actions/node/open-file.lua
index de43416eac1..600f8656fbb 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/actions/node/open-file.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/actions/node/open-file.lua
@@ -198,7 +198,15 @@ local function open_file_in_tab(filename)
   if M.relative_path then
     filename = utils.path_relative(filename, vim.fn.getcwd())
   end
-  vim.cmd("tabe " .. vim.fn.fnameescape(filename))
+  vim.cmd.tabnew()
+  vim.bo.bufhidden = "wipe"
+  -- Following vim.fn.tabnew the # buffer may be set to the tree buffer. There is no way to clear the # buffer via vim.fn.setreg as it requires a valid buffer. Clear # by setting it to a new temporary scratch buffer.
+  if utils.is_nvim_tree_buf(vim.fn.bufnr("#")) then
+    local tmpbuf = vim.api.nvim_create_buf(false, true)
+    vim.fn.setreg("#", tmpbuf)
+    vim.api.nvim_buf_delete(tmpbuf, { force = true })
+  end
+  vim.cmd.edit(vim.fn.fnameescape(filename))
 end
 
 local function drop(filename)