diff --git a/Lib/idlelib/EditorWindow.py b/Lib/idlelib/EditorWindow.py
index ac5e069ba12..52dfb3da13e 100644
--- a/Lib/idlelib/EditorWindow.py
+++ b/Lib/idlelib/EditorWindow.py
@@ -321,6 +321,8 @@ class EditorWindow(object):
                         per.insertfilter(color)
             else:
                 io.set_filename(filename)
+                self.good_load = True
+
         self.ResetColorizer()
         self.saved_change_hook()
         self.update_recent_files_list()
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index ab268c80bc1..70e8f2130a4 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -249,6 +249,8 @@ C-API
 IDLE
 ----
 
+- Issue #17798: Allow IDLE to edit new files when specified on command line.
+
 - Issue #14735: Update IDLE docs to omit "Control-z on Windows".