diff --git a/cmd-new-session.c b/cmd-new-session.c
index 666aeaac..033c707f 100644
--- a/cmd-new-session.c
+++ b/cmd-new-session.c
@@ -280,7 +280,8 @@ cmd_new_session_exec(struct cmd *self, struct cmdq_item *item)
 	memset(&sc, 0, sizeof sc);
 	sc.item = item;
 	sc.s = s;
-	sc.tc = c;
+	if (!detached)
+		sc.tc = c;
 
 	sc.name = args_get(args, 'n');
 	sc.argc = args->argc;