diff --git a/layers/+misc/nlinum/funcs.el b/layers/+misc/nlinum/funcs.el
index 6df7e6ce8..3fc451cc0 100644
--- a/layers/+misc/nlinum/funcs.el
+++ b/layers/+misc/nlinum/funcs.el
@@ -12,3 +12,9 @@
 (defun spacemacs/nlinum-maybe-on ()
   (when (spacemacs/enable-line-numbers-p)
     (nlinum-mode)))
+
+(defun spacemacs/nlinum-relative-toggle ()
+  (interactive)
+  (if (not (bound-and-true-p nlinum-relative-mode))
+      (nlinum-mode))
+  (nlinum-relative-toggle))
diff --git a/layers/+misc/nlinum/packages.el b/layers/+misc/nlinum/packages.el
index b3cec209f..737b065c6 100644
--- a/layers/+misc/nlinum/packages.el
+++ b/layers/+misc/nlinum/packages.el
@@ -46,4 +46,4 @@
                 (eq dotspacemacs-line-numbers 'relative))
         (nlinum-relative-setup-evil)
         (add-hook 'nlinum-mode-hook 'nlinum-relative-on))
-      (spacemacs/set-leader-keys "tr" 'nlinum-relative-toggle))))
+      (spacemacs/set-leader-keys "tr" 'spacemacs/nlinum-relative-toggle))))