diff --git a/modules/ui/doom-modeline/config.el b/modules/ui/doom-modeline/config.el
index 5c50226b2..681e158a1 100644
--- a/modules/ui/doom-modeline/config.el
+++ b/modules/ui/doom-modeline/config.el
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ directory, the file name, and its state (modified, read-only or non-existent)."
 ;;
 (def-modeline-segment! vcs
   "Displays the current branch, colored based on its state."
-  (when vc-mode
+  (when (and vc-mode buffer-file-name)
     (let ((backend (vc-backend buffer-file-name))
           (state   (vc-state buffer-file-name))
           (face    'mode-line-inactive)