diff --git a/src/Buffer.cpp b/src/Buffer.cpp
index 59733d852e..a13c8e5f9f 100644
--- a/src/Buffer.cpp
+++ b/src/Buffer.cpp
@@ -3922,7 +3922,7 @@ void Buffer::updateMacros() const
 		return;
 
 	// early exit if the buffer has not changed since last time
-	if (d->update_macros_id_ == d->id_)
+	if (d->gui_ && d->update_macros_id_ == d->id_)
 		return;
 	d->update_macros_id_ = d->id_;