diff --git a/src/nvim/buffer.c b/src/nvim/buffer.c
index 3211b83dc7..514be4c56b 100644
--- a/src/nvim/buffer.c
+++ b/src/nvim/buffer.c
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ int open_buffer(int read_stdin, exarg_T *eap, int flags_arg)
 
   // A buffer without an actual file should not use the buffer name to read a
   // file.
-  if (bt_quickfix(curbuf) || bt_nofilename(curbuf)) {
+  if (bt_nofileread(curbuf)) {
     flags |= READ_NOFILE;
   }
 
@@ -812,6 +812,18 @@ static void free_buffer(buf_T *buf)
   }
 }
 
+/// Free the b_wininfo list for buffer "buf".
+static void clear_wininfo(buf_T *buf)
+{
+  wininfo_T *wip;
+
+  while (buf->b_wininfo != NULL) {
+    wip = buf->b_wininfo;
+    buf->b_wininfo = wip->wi_next;
+    free_wininfo(wip, buf);
+  }
+}
+
 /// Free stuff in the buffer for ":bdel" and when wiping out the buffer.
 ///
 /// @param buf  Buffer pointer
@@ -846,18 +858,6 @@ static void free_buffer_stuff(buf_T *buf, int free_flags)
   buf_updates_unload(buf, false);
 }
 
-/// Free the b_wininfo list for buffer "buf".
-static void clear_wininfo(buf_T *buf)
-{
-  wininfo_T *wip;
-
-  while (buf->b_wininfo != NULL) {
-    wip = buf->b_wininfo;
-    buf->b_wininfo = wip->wi_next;
-    free_wininfo(wip, buf);
-  }
-}
-
 /// Go to another buffer.  Handles the result of the ATTENTION dialog.
 void goto_buffer(exarg_T *eap, int start, int dir, int count)
 {
@@ -3834,7 +3834,8 @@ bool bt_terminal(const buf_T *const buf)
 }
 
 /// @return  true if "buf" is a "nofile", "acwrite", "terminal" or "prompt"
-///          buffer.  This means the buffer name is not a file name.
+///          buffer.  This means the buffer name may not be a file name,
+///          at least not for writing the buffer.
 bool bt_nofilename(const buf_T *const buf)
   FUNC_ATTR_PURE FUNC_ATTR_WARN_UNUSED_RESULT
 {
@@ -3844,6 +3845,17 @@ bool bt_nofilename(const buf_T *const buf)
                          || buf->b_p_bt[0] == 'p');
 }
 
+/// @return  true if "buf" is a "nofile", "quickfix", "terminal" or "prompt"
+///          buffer.  This means the buffer is not to be read from a file.
+static bool bt_nofileread(const buf_T *const buf)
+  FUNC_ATTR_PURE FUNC_ATTR_WARN_UNUSED_RESULT
+{
+  return buf != NULL && ((buf->b_p_bt[0] == 'n' && buf->b_p_bt[2] == 'f')
+                         || buf->b_p_bt[0] == 't'
+                         || buf->b_p_bt[0] == 'q'
+                         || buf->b_p_bt[0] == 'p');
+}
+
 /// @return  true if "buf" has 'buftype' set to "nofile".
 bool bt_nofile(const buf_T *const buf)
   FUNC_ATTR_PURE FUNC_ATTR_WARN_UNUSED_RESULT
diff --git a/src/nvim/testdir/test_functions.vim b/src/nvim/testdir/test_functions.vim
index b1f617ceda..555c4f58b7 100644
--- a/src/nvim/testdir/test_functions.vim
+++ b/src/nvim/testdir/test_functions.vim
@@ -1887,6 +1887,13 @@ func Test_bufadd_bufload()
   call bufload(buf)
   call assert_equal([''], getbufline(buf, 1, '$'))
 
+  " when 'buftype' is "acwrite" then bufload() DOES read the file
+  bwipe! XotherName
+  let buf = bufadd('XotherName')
+  call setbufvar(buf, '&bt', 'acwrite')
+  call bufload(buf)
+  call assert_equal(['some', 'text'], getbufline(buf, 1, '$'))
+
   bwipe someName
   bwipe XotherName
   call assert_equal(0, bufexists('someName'))