diff --git a/lua/snacks/picker/config/defaults.lua b/lua/snacks/picker/config/defaults.lua
index 77f9e3c9c..95dac64b4 100644
--- a/lua/snacks/picker/config/defaults.lua
+++ b/lua/snacks/picker/config/defaults.lua
@@ -198,6 +198,7 @@ local defaults = {
       max_size = 1024 * 1024, -- 1MB
       max_line_length = 500, -- max line length
       ft = nil, ---@type string? filetype for highlighting. Use `nil` for auto detect
+      use_real_buffer = true ---@type boolean use actual buffer as preview when the file is already loaded (default: true)
     },
     man_pager = nil, ---@type string? MANPAGER env to use for `man` preview
   },
diff --git a/lua/snacks/picker/preview.lua b/lua/snacks/picker/preview.lua
index 462b9aa03..4e465e431 100644
--- a/lua/snacks/picker/preview.lua
+++ b/lua/snacks/picker/preview.lua
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ function M.file(ctx)
     vim.fn.bufload(ctx.item.buf)
   end
 
-  if ctx.item.buf and vim.api.nvim_buf_is_loaded(ctx.item.buf) then
+  if ctx.item.buf and vim.api.nvim_buf_is_loaded(ctx.item.buf) and ctx.picker.opts.previewers.file.use_real_buffer then
     if not title then
       local name = vim.api.nvim_buf_get_name(ctx.item.buf)
       title = uv.fs_stat(name) and vim.fn.fnamemodify(name, ":t") or name