diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index 7a0ec2c8d..74f1d0890 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@ To update |kitty|, :doc:`follow the instructions <binary>`.
 - Allow choosing OpenType features for individual fonts via the
   :opt:`font_features` option.
 
+- Allow opening new tabs/windows before the current tab/window as well as after
+  it with the :option:`launch --location` option.
+
 - Add a :opt:`resize_in_steps` option that can be used to resize the OS window
   in steps as large as character cells (:pull:`2131`)
 
diff --git a/kitty/launch.py b/kitty/launch.py
index 6e98ff696..8b1afdc33 100644
--- a/kitty/launch.py
+++ b/kitty/launch.py
@@ -73,11 +73,12 @@ def options_spec():
 --location
 type=choices
 default=last
-choices=first,neighbor,last
+choices=first,after,before,neighbor,last
 Where to place the newly created window when it is added to a tab which
-already has existing windows in it. Also applies to creating a new tab,
-where the value of neighbor will cause the new tab to be placed next to
-the current tab instead of at the end.
+already has existing windows in it. :code:`after` and :code:`before` place the new
+window before or after the active window. :code:`neighbor` is a synonym for :code:`after`.
+Also applies to creating a new tab, where the value of :code:`after`
+will cause the new tab to be placed next to the current tab instead of at the end.
 
 
 --allow-remote-control
@@ -118,7 +119,7 @@ def options_spec():
 
 --marker
 Create a marker that highlights text in the newly created window. The syntax is
-the same as for the :opt:`toggle_marker` map action.
+the same as for the :code:`toggle_marker` map action (see :doc:`/marks`).
 '''
         options_spec.ans = OPTIONS
     return options_spec.ans
@@ -147,7 +148,7 @@ def get_env(opts, active_child):
 def tab_for_window(boss, opts, target_tab=None):
     if opts.type == 'tab':
         tm = boss.active_tab_manager
-        tab = tm.new_tab(empty_tab=True, as_neighbor=opts.location == 'neighbor')
+        tab = tm.new_tab(empty_tab=True, location=opts.location)
         if opts.tab_title:
             tab.set_title(opts.tab_title)
     elif opts.type == 'os-window':
diff --git a/kitty/layout.py b/kitty/layout.py
index e3fe2e8a3..15540ecf8 100644
--- a/kitty/layout.py
+++ b/kitty/layout.py
@@ -279,8 +279,12 @@ def add_window(self, all_windows, window, current_active_window_idx, location=No
                 all_windows[i] = window
                 active_window_idx = i
         elif location is not None:
-            if location == 'neighbor' and current_active_window_idx is not None and len(all_windows) > 1:
+            if location == 'neighbor':
+                location = 'after'
+            if location == 'after' and current_active_window_idx is not None and len(all_windows) > 1:
                 active_window_idx = min(current_active_window_idx + 1, len(all_windows))
+            elif location == 'before' and current_active_window_idx is not None and len(all_windows) > 1:
+                active_window_idx = current_active_window_idx
             elif location == 'first':
                 active_window_idx = 0
             if active_window_idx is not None:
diff --git a/kitty/tabs.py b/kitty/tabs.py
index 2b54e57b2..07e55ecd9 100644
--- a/kitty/tabs.py
+++ b/kitty/tabs.py
@@ -615,17 +615,26 @@ def move_tab(self, delta=1):
             self._set_active_tab(nidx)
             self.mark_tab_bar_dirty()
 
-    def new_tab(self, special_window=None, cwd_from=None, as_neighbor=False, empty_tab=False):
-        nidx = self.active_tab_idx + 1
+    def new_tab(self, special_window=None, cwd_from=None, as_neighbor=False, empty_tab=False, location='last'):
         idx = len(self.tabs)
+        orig_active_tab_idx = self.active_tab_idx
         self._add_tab(Tab(self, no_initial_window=True) if empty_tab else Tab(self, special_window=special_window, cwd_from=cwd_from))
         self._set_active_tab(idx)
-        if len(self.tabs) > 2 and as_neighbor and idx != nidx:
-            for i in range(idx, nidx, -1):
-                self.tabs[i], self.tabs[i-1] = self.tabs[i-1], self.tabs[i]
-                swap_tabs(self.os_window_id, i, i-1)
-            self._set_active_tab(nidx)
-            idx = nidx
+        if as_neighbor:
+            location = 'after'
+        if location == 'neighbor':
+            location = 'after'
+        if len(self.tabs) > 1 and location != 'last':
+            if location == 'first':
+                desired_idx = 0
+            else:
+                desired_idx = orig_active_tab_idx + (0 if location == 'before' else 1)
+            if idx != desired_idx:
+                for i in range(idx, desired_idx, -1):
+                    self.tabs[i], self.tabs[i-1] = self.tabs[i-1], self.tabs[i]
+                    swap_tabs(self.os_window_id, i, i-1)
+                self._set_active_tab(desired_idx)
+                idx = desired_idx
         self.mark_tab_bar_dirty()
         return self.tabs[idx]