diff --git a/lisp/tab-bar.el b/lisp/tab-bar.el
index 1baa857e9e9..f040bc9786d 100644
--- a/lisp/tab-bar.el
+++ b/lisp/tab-bar.el
@@ -416,7 +416,7 @@ at the mouse-down event to the position at mouse-up event."
   "S-<wheel-right>" #'tab-bar-move-tab)
 
 (global-set-key [tab-bar]
-                `(menu-item ,(purecopy "tab bar") ignore
+                `(menu-item ,(purecopy "tab bar") ,(make-sparse-keymap)
                             :filter tab-bar-make-keymap))
 
 (defun tab-bar-make-keymap (&optional _ignore)