diff --git a/doc/nvim-tree-lua.txt b/doc/nvim-tree-lua.txt
index 7c29ef58c0c..d3deb629f93 100644
--- a/doc/nvim-tree-lua.txt
+++ b/doc/nvim-tree-lua.txt
@@ -1546,6 +1546,15 @@ node.open.horizontal()                  *nvim-tree-api.node.open.horizontal()*
 node.open.tab()                                *nvim-tree-api.node.open.tab()*
     |nvim-tree-api.node.edit()|, file will be opened in a new tab.
 
+                                          *nvim-tree-api.node.open.tab_drop()*
+node.open.tab_drop()
+    Switch to tab containing window with selected file if it exists.
+    Open file in new tab otherwise.
+
+    File:   open file using `tab :drop`
+    Folder: expand or collapse
+    Root:   change directory up
+
 node.open.preview()                        *nvim-tree-api.node.open.preview()*
     |nvim-tree-api.node.edit()|, file buffer will have |bufhidden| set to `delete`.
 
diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/actions/node/open-file.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/actions/node/open-file.lua
index 41302d92f54..00908576aca 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/actions/node/open-file.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/actions/node/open-file.lua
@@ -148,6 +148,13 @@ local function open_file_in_tab(filename)
   vim.cmd("tabe " .. vim.fn.fnameescape(filename))
 end
 
+local function tab_drop(filename)
+  if M.quit_on_open then
+    view.close()
+  end
+  vim.cmd("tab :drop " .. vim.fn.fnameescape(filename))
+end
+
 local function on_preview(buf_loaded)
   if not buf_loaded then
     vim.bo.bufhidden = "delete"
@@ -284,6 +291,10 @@ function M.fn(mode, filename)
     return open_file_in_tab(filename)
   end
 
+  if mode == "tab_drop" then
+    return tab_drop(filename)
+  end
+
   if mode == "edit_in_place" then
     return edit_in_current_buf(filename)
   end
diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/api.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/api.lua
index 49dc05c13cf..a4614eee5d0 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/api.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/api.lua
@@ -162,6 +162,7 @@ local function open_preview(node)
 end
 
 Api.node.open.edit = wrap_node(open_or_expand_or_dir_up "edit")
+Api.node.open.tab_drop = wrap_node(open_or_expand_or_dir_up "tab_drop")
 Api.node.open.replace_tree_buffer = wrap_node(open_or_expand_or_dir_up "edit_in_place")
 Api.node.open.no_window_picker = wrap_node(open_or_expand_or_dir_up "edit_no_picker")
 Api.node.open.vertical = wrap_node(open_or_expand_or_dir_up "vsplit")