diff --git a/autoload/airline/builder.vim b/autoload/airline/builder.vim
index a4ba474f..ad9029af 100644
--- a/autoload/airline/builder.vim
+++ b/autoload/airline/builder.vim
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ function! s:prototype.build()
     let contents = section[1]
     let pgroup = prev_group
     let prev_group = s:get_prev_group(self._sections, i)
-    if group ==# 'airline_c' && !self._context.active
+    if group ==# 'airline_c' && !self._context.active && has_key(self._context, 'bufnr')
       let group = 'airline_c'. self._context.bufnr
     endif
     if is_empty