diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 55362cdf..47897e26 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 <pre>
 2007-XX-XX:
 	* version 0.5.3
+	* b calls :buffer! now instead of :buffer
 	* [+], [-] and [+-] in the statusline, whether we can go back, forward, or both
 	* :set showtabline now finally works as expected for all values
 
diff --git a/content/mappings.js b/content/mappings.js
index 80c3100a..a09414f0 100644
--- a/content/mappings.js
+++ b/content/mappings.js
@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ function Mappings() //{{{
         }
     ));
     addDefaultMap(new Map(vimperator.modes.NORMAL, ["b"],
-        function() { vimperator.commandline.open(":", "buffer ", vimperator.modes.EX); },
+        function() { vimperator.commandline.open(":", "buffer! ", vimperator.modes.EX); },
         {
             short_help: "Open a prompt to switch buffers",
             help: "Typing the corresponding number switches to this buffer."