diff --git a/share/functions/open.fish b/share/functions/open.fish
index e14bce183..565bd8496 100644
--- a/share/functions/open.fish
+++ b/share/functions/open.fish
@@ -24,7 +24,14 @@ if not command -sq open
             end
         else if type -q -f xdg-open
             for i in $argv
-                xdg-open $i
+                # In the "generic" path where it doesn't use a helper utility,
+                # xdg-open fails to fork off, so it blocks the terminal.
+                xdg-open $i &
+                # Note: We *need* to pass $last_pid, or it will disown the last *existing* job.
+                # In case xdg-open forks, that would be whatever else the user has backgrounded.
+                #
+                # Yes, this has a (hopefully theoretical) race of the PID being recycled.
+                disown $last_pid 2>/dev/null
             end
         else
             echo (_ 'No open utility found. Try installing "xdg-open" or "xdg-utils".')