diff --git a/src/message.c b/src/message.c
index 8909f08..b574df6 100644
--- a/src/message.c
+++ b/src/message.c
@@ -939,6 +939,12 @@
 #ifdef USE_ON_FLY_SCROLL
 	dont_scroll = TRUE;		/* disallow scrolling here */
 #endif
+	/* Avoid the sequence that the user types ":" at the hit-return prompt
+	 * to start an Ex command, but the file-changed dialog gets in the
+	 * way. */
+	if (need_check_timestamps)
+	    check_timestamps(FALSE);
+
 	hit_return_msg();
 
 	do