diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 315b705..0867132 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -181,6 +181,9 @@ plugin {
     # offset from group split direction when only one window is in a group
     group_inset = <int> # default: 10
 
+    # if a tab group will automatically be created for the first window spawned in a workspace
+    tab_first_window = <bool>
+
     # tab group settings
     tabs {
       # height of the tab bar
diff --git a/src/Hy3Layout.cpp b/src/Hy3Layout.cpp
index 04a982b..d34a0b2 100644
--- a/src/Hy3Layout.cpp
+++ b/src/Hy3Layout.cpp
@@ -130,6 +130,8 @@ void Hy3Layout::onWindowCreatedTiling(CWindow* window, eDirection) {
 		opening_into = opening_after->parent;
 	} else {
 		if ((opening_into = this->getWorkspaceRootGroup(window->m_iWorkspaceID)) == nullptr) {
+			static const auto* tab_first_window = &HyprlandAPI::getConfigValue(PHANDLE, "plugin:hy3:tab_first_window")->intValue;
+
 			this->nodes.push_back({
 			    .data = Hy3GroupLayout::SplitH,
 			    .position = monitor->vecPosition + monitor->vecReservedTopLeft,
@@ -138,6 +140,21 @@ void Hy3Layout::onWindowCreatedTiling(CWindow* window, eDirection) {
 			    .layout = this,
 			});
 
+			if (*tab_first_window) {
+				auto& parent = this->nodes.back();
+
+				this->nodes.push_back({
+					.parent = &parent,
+					.data = Hy3GroupLayout::Tabbed,
+			    .position = parent.position,
+			    .size = parent.size,
+					.workspace_id = window->m_iWorkspaceID,
+					.layout = this,
+				});
+
+				parent.data.as_group.children.push_back(&this->nodes.back());
+			}
+
 			opening_into = &this->nodes.back();
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index 138ec7f..12944a2 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ APICALL EXPORT PLUGIN_DESCRIPTION_INFO PLUGIN_INIT(HANDLE handle) {
 	CONF("no_gaps_when_only", int, 0);
 	CONF("node_collapse_policy", int, 2);
 	CONF("group_inset", int, 10);
+	CONF("tab_first_window", int, 0);
 
 	// tabs
 	CONF("tabs:height", int, 15);