diff --git a/runtime/doc/windows.txt b/runtime/doc/windows.txt
index d1561a0..3bc4749 100644
--- a/runtime/doc/windows.txt
+++ b/runtime/doc/windows.txt
@@ -132,13 +132,20 @@
 CTRL-W s						*CTRL-W_s*
 CTRL-W S						*CTRL-W_S*
 CTRL-W CTRL-S						*CTRL-W_CTRL-S*
-:[N]sp[lit] [++opt] [+cmd]				*:sp* *:split*
+:[N]sp[lit] [++opt] [+cmd] [file]			*:sp* *:split*
 		Split current window in two.  The result is two viewports on
-		the same file.  Make new window N high (default is to use half
-		the height of the current window).  Reduces the current window
-		height to create room (and others, if the 'equalalways' option
-		is set, 'eadirection' isn't "hor", and one of them is higher
-		than the current or the new window).
+		the same file.
+		
+		Make the new window N high (default is to use half the height
+		of the current window).  Reduces the current window height to
+		create room (and others, if the 'equalalways' option is set,
+		'eadirection' isn't "hor", and one of them is higher than the
+		current or the new window).
+
+		If [file] is given it will be edited in the new window.  If it
+		is not loaded in any buffer, it will be read.  Else the new
+		window will use the already loaded buffer.
+
 		Note: CTRL-S does not work on all terminals and might block
 		further input, use CTRL-Q to get going again.
 		Also see |++opt| and |+cmd|.
diff --git a/src/ex_docmd.c b/src/ex_docmd.c
index 95c699d..a63f8f6 100644
--- a/src/ex_docmd.c
+++ b/src/ex_docmd.c
@@ -7938,6 +7938,8 @@
 					       ? ECMD_ONE : eap->do_ecmd_lnum,
 		    (P_HID(curbuf) ? ECMD_HIDE : 0)
 		    + (eap->forceit ? ECMD_FORCEIT : 0)
+		      /* after a split we can use an existing buffer */
+		    + (old_curwin != NULL ? ECMD_OLDBUF : 0)
 #ifdef FEAT_LISTCMDS
 		    + (eap->cmdidx == CMD_badd ? ECMD_ADDBUF : 0 )
 #endif
diff --git a/src/version.c b/src/version.c
index 43b921a..bf33f2d 100644
--- a/src/version.c
+++ b/src/version.c
@@ -735,6 +735,8 @@
 static int included_patches[] =
 {   /* Add new patch number below this line */
 /**/
+    215,
+/**/
     214,
 /**/
     213,