diff --git a/background/background.js b/background/background.js
index 33bc518f..fa54e208 100644
--- a/background/background.js
+++ b/background/background.js
@@ -66,11 +66,13 @@ window.API_METHODS = Object.assign(window.API_METHODS || {}, {
   /* Same as openURL, the only extra prop in `opts` is `message` - it'll be sent when the tab is ready,
   which is needed in the popup, otherwise another extension could force the tab to open in foreground
   thus auto-closing the popup (in Chrome at least) and preventing the sendMessage code from running */
-  openURL(opts) {
-    const {message} = opts;
-    return openURL(opts) // will pass the resolved value untouched when `message` is absent or falsy
-      .then(message && (tab => tab.status === 'complete' ? tab : onTabReady(tab)))
-      .then(message && (tab => msg.sendTab(tab.id, opts.message)));
+  async openURL(opts) {
+    const tab = await openURL(opts);
+    if (opts.message) {
+      await onTabReady(tab);
+      await msg.sendTab(tab.id, opts.message);
+    }
+    return tab;
     function onTabReady(tab) {
       return new Promise((resolve, reject) =>
         setTimeout(function ping(numTries = 10, delay = 100) {