diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/widgets/link.js.es6 b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/widgets/link.js.es6
index 49ccb07a56..587964b23d 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/widgets/link.js.es6
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/widgets/link.js.es6
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ export default createWidget('link', {
   },
 
   click(e) {
+    if (e.isDefaultPrevented() || e.shiftKey || e.metaKey || e.ctrlKey) { return; }
     e.preventDefault();
 
     if (this.attrs.action) {
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/widgets/notification-item.js.es6 b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/widgets/notification-item.js.es6
index 108e757b88..a5563d81fe 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/widgets/notification-item.js.es6
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/widgets/notification-item.js.es6
@@ -96,7 +96,9 @@ createWidget('notification-item', {
   },
 
   click(e) {
+    if (e.isDefaultPrevented() || e.shiftKey || e.metaKey || e.ctrlKey) { return; }
     e.preventDefault();
+
     this.attrs.set('read', true);
     const id = this.attrs.id;
     Discourse.setTransientHeader("Discourse-Clear-Notifications", id);