diff --git a/doom-modeline.el b/doom-modeline.el
index 1e601f8..bb31233 100644
--- a/doom-modeline.el
+++ b/doom-modeline.el
@@ -843,16 +843,21 @@ directory, the file name, and its state (modified, read-only or non-existent)."
   (concat
    ;; major mode icon
    (if (and doom-modeline-icon doom-modeline-major-mode-icon)
-       (or doom-modeline--buffer-file-icon (doom-modeline-update-buffer-file-icon)))
+       (or doom-modeline--buffer-file-icon
+           (doom-modeline-update-buffer-file-icon)))
 
    ;; state icon
    (if (doom-modeline--active)
-       (or doom-modeline--buffer-file-state-icon (doom-modeline-update-buffer-file-state-icon)))
+       (or doom-modeline--buffer-file-state-icon
+           (doom-modeline-update-buffer-file-state-icon)))
 
    ;; buffer file name
    (if (doom-modeline--active)
-       (or doom-modeline--buffer-file-name (doom-modeline-update-buffer-file-name))
-     "%b")))
+       (or doom-modeline--buffer-file-name
+           (doom-modeline-update-buffer-file-name))
+     (propertize
+      (or doom-modeline--buffer-file-name "%b")
+      'face 'mode-line-inactive))))
 
 (doom-modeline-def-segment buffer-info-simple
   "Display only the current buffer's name, but with fontification."