diff --git a/core/defuns/defuns-buffers.el b/core/defuns/defuns-buffers.el
index 9673e5ad5..21ad4ad3d 100644
--- a/core/defuns/defuns-buffers.el
+++ b/core/defuns/defuns-buffers.el
@@ -116,7 +116,8 @@ the buffer if it is being displayed in another window."
              (doom/previous-real-buffer)
              (when (eq buffer (current-buffer))
                (switch-to-buffer doom-buffer t t)
-               (doom|update-scratch-buffer old-project))
+               (when (featurep 'core-scratch)
+                 (doom|update-scratch-buffer old-project)))
              (when only-buffer-window-p
                (kill-buffer buffer))))))
   t)