diff --git a/lisp/recentf.el b/lisp/recentf.el
index e8686801d56..16411d48784 100644
--- a/lisp/recentf.el
+++ b/lisp/recentf.el
@@ -132,11 +132,13 @@ This predicate function is meant to be added to the list in `recentf-exclude'.
 It returns non-nil if FILE-NAME's extension is in the list that is
 the value of `recentf-exclude-ignored-extensions'; if that variable
 is nil, this function consults `completion-ignored-extensions' instead."
-  (and-let* ((extension (file-name-extension file-name)))
+  (when-let* ((extension (file-name-extension file-name)))
     (string-match-p
-     (regexp-opt (or recentf-exclude-ignored-extensions
-                     completion-ignored-extensions))
-     (concat "\\." (regexp-quote extension) "\\'"))))
+     (concat
+      (regexp-opt (or recentf-exclude-ignored-extensions
+                      completion-ignored-extensions))
+      "\\'")
+     (concat "." extension))))
 
 (defun recentf-access-file (filename)
   "Check whether FILENAME is accessible."