diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/actions/fs/create-file.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/actions/fs/create-file.lua
index 552d1838a19..d93b9ecee31 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/actions/fs/create-file.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/actions/fs/create-file.lua
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ local utils = require "nvim-tree.utils"
 local events = require "nvim-tree.events"
 local lib = require "nvim-tree.lib"
 local core = require "nvim-tree.core"
+local watch = require "nvim-tree.explorer.watch"
 
 local M = {}
 
@@ -107,11 +108,11 @@ function M.fn(node)
     events._dispatch_folder_created(new_file_path)
     if M.enable_reload then
       require("nvim-tree.actions.reloaders.reloaders").reload_explorer()
+    else
+      -- synchronous call required so that we may focus the file now
+      watch.refresh_path(node.absolute_path)
     end
-    -- INFO: defer needed when reload is automatic (watchers)
-    vim.defer_fn(function()
-      utils.focus_file(utils.path_remove_trailing(new_file_path))
-    end, 150)
+    utils.focus_file(utils.path_remove_trailing(new_file_path))
   end)
 end
 
diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/watch.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/watch.lua
index 785a6e0c621..342b4c1f28b 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/watch.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/watch.lua
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ local function is_folder_ignored(path)
   return false
 end
 
-local function refresh_path(path)
+function M.refresh_path(path)
   log.line("watcher", "node event executing '%s'", path)
   local n = utils.get_node_from_path(path)
   if not n then
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ function M.create_watcher(absolute_path)
   local function callback(watcher)
     log.line("watcher", "node event scheduled %s", watcher.context)
     utils.debounce(watcher.context, M.debounce_delay, function()
-      refresh_path(watcher._path)
+      M.refresh_path(watcher._path)
     end)
   end