diff --git a/lisp/tab-bar.el b/lisp/tab-bar.el
index d8f932e7a4..34a9188d85 100644
--- a/lisp/tab-bar.el
+++ b/lisp/tab-bar.el
@@ -940,7 +940,8 @@ tab-bar-close-tab
                 tab-bar-closed-tabs)
           (set-frame-parameter nil 'tabs (delq close-tab tabs)))
 
-        (when (and (not (zerop (frame-parameter nil 'tab-bar-lines)))
+        (when (and (not tab-bar-mode)
+                   (not (zerop (frame-parameter nil 'tab-bar-lines)))
                    (natnump tab-bar-show)
                    (<= (length (funcall tab-bar-tabs-function))
                        tab-bar-show))