diff --git a/lua/oil/init.lua b/lua/oil/init.lua
index 72d5538a..83e172ab 100644
--- a/lua/oil/init.lua
+++ b/lua/oil/init.lua
@@ -718,7 +718,6 @@ M.select = function(opts, callback)
         vertical = opts.vertical,
         horizontal = opts.horizontal,
         split = opts.split,
-        keepalt = true,
       }
       local filebufnr = vim.fn.bufadd(normalized_url)
       local entry_is_file = not vim.endswith(normalized_url, "/")
diff --git a/tests/altbuf_spec.lua b/tests/altbuf_spec.lua
index 4b516045..c7d3b582 100644
--- a/tests/altbuf_spec.lua
+++ b/tests/altbuf_spec.lua
@@ -141,5 +141,17 @@ a.describe("Alternate buffer", function()
       oil.close()
       assert.equals("foo", vim.fn.expand("#"))
     end)
+
+    a.it("preserves alternate when traversing to a new file", function()
+      vim.cmd.edit({ args = { "foo" } })
+      oil.open_float()
+      test_util.wait_for_autocmd({ "User", pattern = "OilEnter" })
+      assert.equals("foo", vim.fn.expand("#"))
+      local last_item = vim.fn.line("$")
+      vim.api.nvim_win_set_cursor(0, { last_item, 5 })
+      oil.select()
+      test_util.wait_for_autocmd("BufEnter")
+      assert.equals("foo", vim.fn.expand("#"))
+    end)
   end)
 end)