diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/actions/finders/find-file.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/actions/finders/find-file.lua
index 0a074ffbe21..600bdfc2cd4 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/actions/finders/find-file.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/actions/finders/find-file.lua
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ local view = require "nvim-tree.view"
 local utils = require "nvim-tree.utils"
 local renderer = require "nvim-tree.renderer"
 local core = require "nvim-tree.core"
-local reload = require "nvim-tree.explorer.reload"
 local Iterator = require "nvim-tree.iterators.node-iterator"
 
 local M = {}
@@ -30,10 +29,8 @@ function M.fn(path)
 
   local profile = log.profile_start("find file %s", path_real)
 
-  -- we cannot wait for watchers to populate a new node
-  if utils.get_node_from_path(path_real) == nil then
-    reload.refresh_nodes_for_path(vim.fn.fnamemodify(path_real, ":h"))
-  end
+  -- force a re-expand when the node is not in the tree
+  local node_present = utils.get_node_from_path(path_real) ~= nil
 
   local line = core.get_nodes_starting_line()
 
@@ -60,7 +57,7 @@ function M.fn(path)
         if not node.group_next then
           node.open = true
         end
-        if #node.nodes == 0 then
+        if #node.nodes == 0 or not node_present then
           core.get_explorer():expand(node)
         end
       end
diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/reload.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/reload.lua
index e6f9b813e79..500b72b2b8d 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/reload.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/explorer/reload.lua
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ local live_filter = require "nvim-tree.live-filter"
 local git = require "nvim-tree.git"
 local log = require "nvim-tree.log"
 
-local NodeIterator = require "nvim-tree.iterators.node-iterator"
 local Watcher = require "nvim-tree.watcher"
 
 local M = {}
@@ -178,44 +177,6 @@ function M.refresh_node(node, callback)
   end
 end
 
----Refresh contents and git status for all nodes to a path: actual directory and links
----@param path string absolute path
-function M.refresh_nodes_for_path(path)
-  local explorer = require("nvim-tree.core").get_explorer()
-  if not explorer then
-    return
-  end
-
-  local profile = log.profile_start("refresh_nodes_for_path %s", path)
-
-  -- avoids cycles
-  local absolute_paths_refreshed = {}
-
-  NodeIterator.builder({ explorer })
-    :hidden()
-    :recursor(function(node)
-      if node.group_next then
-        return { node.group_next }
-      end
-      if node.nodes then
-        return node.nodes
-      end
-    end)
-    :applier(function(node)
-      local abs_contains = node.absolute_path and path:find(node.absolute_path, 1, true) == 1
-      local link_contains = node.link_to and path:find(node.link_to, 1, true) == 1
-      if abs_contains or link_contains then
-        if not absolute_paths_refreshed[node.absolute_path] then
-          absolute_paths_refreshed[node.absolute_path] = true
-          M.refresh_node(node)
-        end
-      end
-    end)
-    :iterate()
-
-  log.profile_end(profile)
-end
-
 function M.setup(opts)
   M.config = opts.renderer
 end