diff --git a/src/window.c b/src/window.c
index 47da663..ad3222a 100644
--- a/src/window.c
+++ b/src/window.c
@@ -1924,7 +1924,11 @@
 	curbuf = curwin->w_buffer;
 	close_curwin = TRUE;
     }
-    if (p_ea)
+    if (p_ea
+#ifdef FEAT_VERTSPLIT
+	    && (*p_ead == 'b' || *p_ead == dir)
+#endif
+	    )
 	win_equal(curwin, TRUE,
 #ifdef FEAT_VERTSPLIT
 		dir