diff --git a/crates/forktty-core/src/model.rs b/crates/forktty-core/src/model.rs
index c86541a3..8b5761d9 100644
--- a/crates/forktty-core/src/model.rs
+++ b/crates/forktty-core/src/model.rs
@@ -906,7 +906,7 @@ impl WorkspaceModel {
             .workspaces
             .get_mut(&workspace_id)
             .expect("workspace verified above");
-        if !push_tab_to_leaf(&mut workspace.pane_tree, near_surface_id, new_id.clone()) {
+        if !push_tab_to_leaf(&mut workspace.pane_tree, near_surface_id, &new_id) {
             return None;
         }
         workspace.focused_surface_id = new_id.clone();
diff --git a/crates/forktty-core/src/model/pane_tree.rs b/crates/forktty-core/src/model/pane_tree.rs
index 2a3f7fc5..0c943e39 100644
--- a/crates/forktty-core/src/model/pane_tree.rs
+++ b/crates/forktty-core/src/model/pane_tree.rs
@@ -646,12 +646,12 @@ pub(super) fn set_leaf_active_for_surface(node: &mut PaneNode, surface_id: &str)
 pub(super) fn push_tab_to_leaf(
     node: &mut PaneNode,
     near_surface_id: &str,
-    new_tab_id: SurfaceId,
+    new_tab_id: &str,
 ) -> bool {
     match node {
         PaneNode::Leaf { tabs, active } => {
             if tabs.iter().any(|id| id == near_surface_id) {
-                tabs.push(new_tab_id);
+                tabs.push(new_tab_id.to_owned());
                 *active = tabs.len() - 1;
                 true
             } else {
@@ -660,6 +660,6 @@ pub(super) fn push_tab_to_leaf(
         }
         PaneNode::Split { children, .. } => children
             .iter_mut()
-            .any(|child| push_tab_to_leaf(child, near_surface_id, new_tab_id.clone())),
+            .any(|child| push_tab_to_leaf(child, near_surface_id, new_tab_id)),
     }
 }