diff --git a/core/prelude-packages.el b/core/prelude-packages.el
index e2e8078..f869863 100644
--- a/core/prelude-packages.el
+++ b/core/prelude-packages.el
@@ -76,6 +76,9 @@
     zenburn-theme)
   "A list of packages to ensure are installed at launch.")
 
+(when (version<= "24.4" emacs-version)
+  (add-to-list 'prelude-packages '(magit-filenotify)))
+
 (defun prelude-packages-installed-p ()
   "Check if all packages in `prelude-packages' are installed."
   (every #'package-installed-p prelude-packages))
diff --git a/modules/prelude-programming.el b/modules/prelude-programming.el
index 27b45a4..8e3472b 100644
--- a/modules/prelude-programming.el
+++ b/modules/prelude-programming.el
@@ -82,6 +82,9 @@ This functions should be added to the hooks of major modes for programming."
 (add-hook 'prog-mode-hook (lambda ()
                             (run-hooks 'prelude-prog-mode-hook)))
 
+(when (version<= "24.4" emacs-version)
+  (add-hook 'magit-status-mode-hook (lambda () (magit-filenotify-mode 1))))
+
 ;; enable on-the-fly syntax checking
 (if (fboundp 'global-flycheck-mode)
     (global-flycheck-mode +1)