diff --git a/src/buffer.c b/src/buffer.c
index 0849b70..5a4825f 100644
--- a/src/buffer.c
+++ b/src/buffer.c
@@ -1351,6 +1351,13 @@
     if ((flags & DOBUF_NOPOPUP) && bt_popup(buf) && !bt_terminal(buf))
 	return OK;
 #endif
+    if ((action == DOBUF_GOTO || action == DOBUF_SPLIT)
+						  && (buf->b_flags & BF_DUMMY))
+    {
+	// disallow navigating to the dummy buffer
+	semsg(_(e_buffer_nr_does_not_exist), count);
+	return FAIL;
+    }
 
 #ifdef FEAT_GUI
     need_mouse_correct = TRUE;