diff --git a/layers/+distribution/spacemacs-base/funcs.el b/layers/+distribution/spacemacs-base/funcs.el
index 8f42b08e5..430a82f8d 100644
--- a/layers/+distribution/spacemacs-base/funcs.el
+++ b/layers/+distribution/spacemacs-base/funcs.el
@@ -297,6 +297,9 @@ argument takes the kindows rotate backwards."
                (rename-buffer new-name)
                (set-visited-file-name new-name)
                (set-buffer-modified-p nil)
+               (when (fboundp 'recentf-add-file)
+                   (recentf-add-file new-name)
+                   (recentf-remove-if-non-kept filename))
                (message "File '%s' successfully renamed to '%s'" name (file-name-nondirectory new-name))))))))
 
 ;; from magnars