diff --git a/src/SearchAndDDE.cpp b/src/SearchAndDDE.cpp
index fdf4e2384cd4..32e3f4c6f7b2 100644
--- a/src/SearchAndDDE.cpp
+++ b/src/SearchAndDDE.cpp
@@ -756,6 +756,7 @@ static const char* HandleOpenCmd(const char* cmd, bool* ack) {
             win = FindMainWindowByHwnd(gLastActiveFrameHwnd);
         }
         LoadArgs args(pdfFile, win);
+        args.activateExisting = !IsCtrlPressed();
         win = LoadDocument(&args);
     } else if (!win->IsDocLoaded()) {
         ReloadDocument(win, false);