diff --git a/plugin/syntastic.vim b/plugin/syntastic.vim
index 03a50ac8..a20728b8 100644
--- a/plugin/syntastic.vim
+++ b/plugin/syntastic.vim
@@ -304,6 +304,9 @@ function! s:Disable(...)
     if !empty(ft) && index(g:syntastic_disabled_filetypes, ft) == -1
         call add(g:syntastic_disabled_filetypes, ft)
     endif
+
+    "will cause existing errors to be cleared
+    call s:UpdateErrors()
 endfunction
 
 "enable syntax checking for the given filetype (defaulting to current ft)
@@ -314,6 +317,13 @@ function! s:Enable(...)
     if i != -1
         call remove(g:syntastic_disabled_filetypes, i)
     endif
+
+    if !&modified
+        call s:UpdateErrors()
+        redraw!
+    else
+        echom "Syntasic: enabled for the '" . ft . "' filetype. :write out to update errors"
+    endif
 endfunction
 
 " vim: set et sts=4 sw=4: