diff --git a/thunar/thunar-tree-model.c b/thunar/thunar-tree-model.c
index abf85af8a2453231be88ef3d3de35c7014eeb5d8..b961eac25aab7e77fb93ee229baa30e1c2addc30 100644
--- a/thunar/thunar-tree-model.c
+++ b/thunar/thunar-tree-model.c
@@ -804,6 +804,10 @@ thunar_tree_model_ref_node (GtkTreeModel *tree_model,
     }
   else
     {
+      /* do not load `Recent` to avoid slowing down the view */
+      if (item->file != NULL && thunar_file_is_recent (item->file))
+        return;
+
       /* schedule a reload of the folder if it is cleaned earlier */
       if (G_UNLIKELY (item->ref_count == 0))
         thunar_tree_model_item_load_folder (item);