diff --git a/diff-lib.c b/diff-lib.c
index 1e22992cb1..2870de400e 100644
--- a/diff-lib.c
+++ b/diff-lib.c
@@ -103,7 +103,8 @@ int run_diff_files(struct rev_info *revs, unsigned int option)
 		unsigned dirty_submodule = 0;
 
 		if (DIFF_OPT_TST(&revs->diffopt, QUICK) &&
-			DIFF_OPT_TST(&revs->diffopt, HAS_CHANGES))
+		    !revs->diffopt.filter &&
+		    DIFF_OPT_TST(&revs->diffopt, HAS_CHANGES))
 			break;
 
 		if (!ce_path_match(ce, &revs->prune_data))
diff --git a/t/t4040-whitespace-status.sh b/t/t4040-whitespace-status.sh
index a30b03bcf2..abc49348b1 100755
--- a/t/t4040-whitespace-status.sh
+++ b/t/t4040-whitespace-status.sh
@@ -60,4 +60,11 @@ test_expect_success 'diff-files -b -p --exit-code' '
 	git diff-files -b -p --exit-code
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'diff-files --diff-filter --quiet' '
+	git reset --hard &&
+	rm a/d &&
+	echo x >>b/e &&
+	test_must_fail git diff-files --diff-filter=M --quiet
+'
+
 test_done