diff --git a/red/nodes/Flow.js b/red/nodes/Flow.js
index e53c9b3b3..8eea60831 100644
--- a/red/nodes/Flow.js
+++ b/red/nodes/Flow.js
@@ -504,7 +504,7 @@ Flow.prototype.diffFlow = function(config) {
     });
     
     this.config.forEach(function(node) {
-        if (!configNodes[node.id]) {
+        if (!configNodes[node.id] && node.type != "tab") {
             deletedNodes[node.id] = node;
         }
         buildNodeLinks(activeLinks,node,flow.allNodes);