diff --git a/src/Buffer.cpp b/src/Buffer.cpp
index 8d8b019f22..4908518c74 100644
--- a/src/Buffer.cpp
+++ b/src/Buffer.cpp
@@ -2687,7 +2687,8 @@ MacroData const * Buffer::Impl::getBufferMacro(docstring const & name,
 			break;
 
 		// scope ends behind pos?
-		if (pos < it->second.first) {
+		if (pos < it->second.first
+		    && theBufferList().isLoaded(it->second.second)) {
 			// look for macro in external file
 			macro_lock = true;
 			MacroData const * data