diff --git a/packages/console-extension/src/index.ts b/packages/console-extension/src/index.ts
index 0e39c34e6..58d0d2053 100644
--- a/packages/console-extension/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/console-extension/src/index.ts
@@ -54,14 +54,15 @@ const redirect: JupyterFrontEndPlugin<void> = {
   autoStart: true,
   activate: (app: JupyterFrontEnd, tracker: IConsoleTracker) => {
     const baseUrl = PageConfig.getBaseUrl();
-    tracker.widgetAdded.connect((send, console) => {
+    tracker.widgetAdded.connect(async (send, console) => {
       const widget = find(app.shell.widgets('main'), w => w.id === console.id);
       if (widget) {
         // bail if the console is already added to the main area
         return;
       }
-      const name = console.sessionContext.name;
-      window.open(`${baseUrl}retro/consoles/${name}`, '_blank');
+      const { sessionContext } = console;
+      await sessionContext.ready;
+      window.open(`${baseUrl}retro/consoles/${sessionContext.name}`, '_blank');
     });
   }
 };
diff --git a/packages/tree-extension/src/index.ts b/packages/tree-extension/src/index.ts
index 5164d3bdf..6fd9f8c41 100644
--- a/packages/tree-extension/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/tree-extension/src/index.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import { IRunningSessionManagers, RunningSessions } from '@jupyterlab/running';
 import { ITranslator } from '@jupyterlab/translation';
 
 import {
+  consoleIcon,
   notebookIcon,
   runningIcon,
   terminalIcon
@@ -23,9 +24,9 @@ import { TabPanel } from '@lumino/widgets';
 
 /**
  * Plugin to add extra buttons to the file browser to create
- * new notebooks, files and terminals.
+ * new notebooks, consoles, files and terminals.
  */
-const newFiles: JupyterFrontEndPlugin<void> = {
+const newButtons: JupyterFrontEndPlugin<void> = {
   id: '@retrolab/tree-extension:buttons',
   requires: [IFileBrowserFactory],
   autoStart: true,
@@ -43,18 +44,33 @@ const newFiles: JupyterFrontEndPlugin<void> = {
       }
     });
 
+    const newConsoleCommand = 'tree:new-console';
+    commands.addCommand(newConsoleCommand, {
+      label: 'New Console',
+      icon: consoleIcon,
+      execute: () => {
+        return commands.execute('console:create');
+      }
+    });
+
     const newNotebook = new CommandToolbarButton({
       commands,
       id: newNotebookCommand
     });
 
+    const newConsole = new CommandToolbarButton({
+      commands,
+      id: newConsoleCommand
+    });
+
     const newFile = new CommandToolbarButton({
       commands,
       id: 'filebrowser:create-new-file'
     });
 
     browser.toolbar.insertItem(0, 'new-notebook', newNotebook);
-    browser.toolbar.insertItem(1, 'new-file', newFile);
+    browser.toolbar.insertItem(1, 'new-console', newConsole);
+    browser.toolbar.insertItem(2, 'new-file', newFile);
   }
 };
 
@@ -125,7 +141,7 @@ const browserWidget: JupyterFrontEndPlugin<void> = {
  * Export the plugins as default.
  */
 const plugins: JupyterFrontEndPlugin<any>[] = [
-  newFiles,
+  newButtons,
   newTerminal,
   browserWidget
 ];