diff --git a/core/prelude-editor.el b/core/prelude-editor.el
index 98ff496..92c12eb 100644
--- a/core/prelude-editor.el
+++ b/core/prelude-editor.el
@@ -130,6 +130,7 @@
             (mapcar 'file-truename (list prelude-savefile-dir package-user-dir)))))
 
 (add-to-list 'recentf-exclude 'prelude-recentf-exclude-p)
+(setq recentf-auto-cleanup 'never) ;; disable before we start recentf!
 (recentf-mode +1)
 
 ;; use shift + arrow keys to switch between visible buffers