diff --git a/_layouts/default.html b/_layouts/default.html
index 20d3b589aa5359a8584b126aa3fb0fe8712b6185..9ca4550b0f5f0bb6611b9c337f499e43d12008ce 100644
--- a/_layouts/default.html
+++ b/_layouts/default.html
@@ -44,11 +44,11 @@ layout: table_wrappers
             <ul class="list-style-none text-small aux-nav">
               {% for link in site.aux_links %}
                 <li class="d-inline-block my-0{% unless forloop.last %} mr-2{% endunless %}">
-                  {% if site.aux_links_new_tab %}
-                  <a href="{{ link.last }}" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">
-                  {% else %}
-                  <a href="{{ link.last }}">
-                  {% endif %}
+                  <a href="{{ link.last }}"
+                    {% if site.aux_links_new_tab %} 
+                    target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"
+                    {% endif %}
+                  >
                     {{ link.first }}
                   </a>
                 </li>