diff --git a/autoload/fugitive.vim b/autoload/fugitive.vim
index ca92393..04a3cb8 100644
--- a/autoload/fugitive.vim
+++ b/autoload/fugitive.vim
@@ -2547,7 +2547,7 @@ function! s:StatusCommand(line1, line2, range, count, bang, mods, reg, arg, args
     elseif a:bang
       return mods . 'pedit' . arg . '|wincmd P'
     else
-      return mods . (a:count > 0 ? a:count : '') . 'split' . arg
+      return mods . (a:count > 0 ? a:count : '') . 'keepalt split' . arg
     endif
   catch /^fugitive:/
     return 'echoerr ' . string(v:exception)