diff --git a/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/core/gr-account-dropdown/gr-account-dropdown.js b/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/core/gr-account-dropdown/gr-account-dropdown.js
index c147456e67..e95bd416ca 100644
--- a/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/core/gr-account-dropdown/gr-account-dropdown.js
+++ b/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/core/gr-account-dropdown/gr-account-dropdown.js
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@
       if (switchAccountUrl) {
         const replacements = {path};
         const url = this._interpolateUrl(switchAccountUrl, replacements);
-        links.push({name: 'Switch account', url});
+        links.push({name: 'Switch account', url, external: true});
       }
       links.push({name: 'Sign out', url: '/logout'});
       return links;
diff --git a/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/core/gr-account-dropdown/gr-account-dropdown_test.html b/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/core/gr-account-dropdown/gr-account-dropdown_test.html
index 6017cb915b..1183d9c0d6 100644
--- a/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/core/gr-account-dropdown/gr-account-dropdown_test.html
+++ b/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/core/gr-account-dropdown/gr-account-dropdown_test.html
@@ -83,14 +83,20 @@ limitations under the License.
       // Unparameterized switch account link.
       let links = element._getLinks('/switch-account');
       assert.equal(links.length, 3);
-      assert.deepEqual(links[1],
-          {name: 'Switch account', url: '/switch-account'});
+      assert.deepEqual(links[1], {
+        name: 'Switch account',
+        url: '/switch-account',
+        external: true,
+      });
 
       // Parameterized switch account link.
       links = element._getLinks('/switch-account${path}', '/c/123');
       assert.equal(links.length, 3);
-      assert.deepEqual(links[1],
-          {name: 'Switch account', url: '/switch-account/c/123'});
+      assert.deepEqual(links[1], {
+        name: 'Switch account',
+        url: '/switch-account/c/123',
+        external: true,
+      });
     });
 
     test('_interpolateUrl', () => {
diff --git a/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/shared/gr-dropdown/gr-dropdown.js b/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/shared/gr-dropdown/gr-dropdown.js
index a66ab2ff27..b145e765e1 100644
--- a/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/shared/gr-dropdown/gr-dropdown.js
+++ b/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/shared/gr-dropdown/gr-dropdown.js
@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@
 (function() {
   'use strict';
 
+  const REL_NOOPENER = 'noopener';
+  const REL_EXTERNAL = 'external';
+
   Polymer({
     is: 'gr-dropdown',
 
@@ -168,7 +171,10 @@
     },
 
     _computeLinkRel(link) {
-      return link.target ? 'noopener' : null;
+      // Note: noopener takes precedence over external.
+      if (link.target) { return REL_NOOPENER; }
+      if (link.external) { return REL_EXTERNAL; }
+      return null;
     },
 
     _handleItemTap(e) {
diff --git a/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/shared/gr-dropdown/gr-dropdown_test.html b/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/shared/gr-dropdown/gr-dropdown_test.html
index 8654ac8ea0..ab31f7cb4c 100644
--- a/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/shared/gr-dropdown/gr-dropdown_test.html
+++ b/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/shared/gr-dropdown/gr-dropdown_test.html
@@ -72,10 +72,17 @@ limitations under the License.
     });
 
     test('link rel', () => {
-      assert.isNull(element._computeLinkRel({url: '/test'}));
-      assert.equal(
-          element._computeLinkRel({url: '/test', target: '_blank'}),
-          'noopener');
+      let link = {url: '/test'};
+      assert.isNull(element._computeLinkRel(link));
+
+      link = {url: '/test', target: '_blank'};
+      assert.equal(element._computeLinkRel(link), 'noopener');
+
+      link = {url: '/test', external: true};
+      assert.equal(element._computeLinkRel(link), 'external');
+
+      link = {url: '/test', target: '_blank', external: true};
+      assert.equal(element._computeLinkRel(link), 'noopener');
     });
 
     test('_getClassIfBold', () => {