diff --git a/lisp/speedbar.el b/lisp/speedbar.el
index 01704785c44..198a309065d 100644
--- a/lisp/speedbar.el
+++ b/lisp/speedbar.el
@@ -1083,6 +1083,7 @@ supported at a time.
 	    speedbar-last-selected-file nil)
 
       (set-buffer speedbar-buffer)
+      (speedbar-mode)
 
       ;; let's create the window
       (setq speedbar--window