diff --git a/autoload/ale/engine.vim b/autoload/ale/engine.vim
index 59ba0fc..828f846 100644
--- a/autoload/ale/engine.vim
+++ b/autoload/ale/engine.vim
@@ -50,7 +50,11 @@ function! ale#engine#InitBufferInfo(buffer) abort
         \   'temporary_directory_list': [],
         \   'history': [],
         \}
+
+        return 1
     endif
+
+    return 0
 endfunction
 
 " Return 1 if ALE is busy checking a given buffer
@@ -408,8 +412,9 @@ function! ale#engine#FixLocList(buffer, linter_name, loclist) abort
         if l:item.lnum < 1
             " When errors appear before line 1, put them at line 1.
             let l:item.lnum = 1
-        elseif l:item.lnum > l:last_line_number
+        elseif l:item.bufnr == a:buffer && l:item.lnum > l:last_line_number
             " When errors go beyond the end of the file, put them at the end.
+            " This is only done for the current buffer.
             let l:item.lnum = l:last_line_number
         endif
 
@@ -701,6 +706,35 @@ function! s:RemoveProblemsForDisabledLinters(buffer, linters) abort
     \)
 endfunction
 
+function! s:AddProblemsFromOtherBuffers(buffer, linters) abort
+    let l:filename = expand('#' . a:buffer . ':p')
+    let l:loclist = []
+    let l:name_map = {}
+
+    " Build a map of the active linters.
+    for l:linter in a:linters
+        let l:name_map[l:linter.name] = 1
+    endfor
+
+    " Find the items from other buffers, for the linters that are enabled.
+    for l:info in values(g:ale_buffer_info)
+        for l:item in l:info.loclist
+            if has_key(l:item, 'filename')
+            \&& l:item.filename is# l:filename
+            \&& has_key(l:name_map, l:item.linter_name)
+                call add(l:loclist, l:item)
+            endif
+        endfor
+    endfor
+
+    if !empty(l:loclist)
+        call sort(l:loclist, function('ale#util#LocItemCompareWithText'))
+        call uniq(l:loclist, function('ale#util#LocItemCompareWithText'))
+
+        call ale#engine#SetResults(a:buffer, l:loclist)
+    endif
+endfunction
+
 " Run a linter for a buffer.
 "
 " Returns 1 if the linter was successfully run.
@@ -720,7 +754,7 @@ endfunction
 
 function! ale#engine#RunLinters(buffer, linters, should_lint_file) abort
     " Initialise the buffer information if needed.
-    call ale#engine#InitBufferInfo(a:buffer)
+    let l:new_buffer = ale#engine#InitBufferInfo(a:buffer)
     call s:StopCurrentJobs(a:buffer, a:should_lint_file)
     call s:RemoveProblemsForDisabledLinters(a:buffer, a:linters)
 
@@ -745,6 +779,8 @@ function! ale#engine#RunLinters(buffer, linters, should_lint_file) abort
     " disabled, or ALE itself is disabled.
     if l:can_clear_results
         call ale#engine#SetResults(a:buffer, [])
+    elseif l:new_buffer
+        call s:AddProblemsFromOtherBuffers(a:buffer, a:linters)
     endif
 endfunction
 
diff --git a/autoload/ale/list.vim b/autoload/ale/list.vim
index 6fe17d3..25920ce 100644
--- a/autoload/ale/list.vim
+++ b/autoload/ale/list.vim
@@ -20,25 +20,6 @@ function! s:ShouldOpen(buffer) abort
     return l:val is 1 || (l:val is# 'on_save' && l:saved)
 endfunction
 
-" A comparison function for de-duplicating loclist items for quickfix.
-function! ale#list#TextLocItemCompare(left, right) abort
-    let l:cmp_val = ale#util#LocItemCompare(a:left, a:right)
-
-    if l:cmp_val
-        return l:cmp_val
-    endif
-
-    if a:left.text < a:right.text
-        return -1
-    endif
-
-    if a:left.text > a:right.text
-        return 1
-    endif
-
-    return 0
-endfunction
-
 function! ale#list#GetCombinedList() abort
     let l:list = []
 
@@ -46,8 +27,8 @@ function! ale#list#GetCombinedList() abort
         call extend(l:list, l:info.loclist)
     endfor
 
-    call sort(l:list, function('ale#list#TextLocItemCompare'))
-    call uniq(l:list, function('ale#list#TextLocItemCompare'))
+    call sort(l:list, function('ale#util#LocItemCompareWithText'))
+    call uniq(l:list, function('ale#util#LocItemCompareWithText'))
 
     return l:list
 endfunction
diff --git a/autoload/ale/util.vim b/autoload/ale/util.vim
index 969a19d..fd53842 100644
--- a/autoload/ale/util.vim
+++ b/autoload/ale/util.vim
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ function! ale#util#GetFunction(string_or_ref) abort
     return a:string_or_ref
 endfunction
 
+" Compare two loclist items for ALE, sorted by their buffers, filenames, and
+" line numbers and column numbers.
 function! ale#util#LocItemCompare(left, right) abort
     if a:left.bufnr < a:right.bufnr
         return -1
@@ -59,6 +61,27 @@ function! ale#util#LocItemCompare(left, right) abort
     return 0
 endfunction
 
+" Compare two loclist items, including the text for the items.
+"
+" This function can be used for de-duplicating lists.
+function! ale#util#LocItemCompareWithText(left, right) abort
+    let l:cmp_value = ale#util#LocItemCompare(a:left, a:right)
+
+    if l:cmp_value
+        return l:cmp_value
+    endif
+
+    if a:left.text < a:right.text
+        return -1
+    endif
+
+    if a:left.text > a:right.text
+        return 1
+    endif
+
+    return 0
+endfunction
+
 " This function will perform a binary search and a small sequential search
 " on the list to find the last problem in the buffer and line which is
 " on or before the column. The index of the problem will be returned.
diff --git a/test/test_setting_problems_found_in_previous_buffers.vader b/test/test_setting_problems_found_in_previous_buffers.vader
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..262b9d1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/test_setting_problems_found_in_previous_buffers.vader
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+Before:
+  Save g:ale_buffer_info
+  Save &filetype
+
+  " Set up items in other buffers which should set in this one.
+  let g:ale_buffer_info = {}
+  call ale#engine#InitBufferInfo(bufnr('') + 1)
+  let g:ale_buffer_info[bufnr('') + 1].loclist =
+  \ ale#engine#FixLocList(bufnr('') + 1, 'linter_one', [
+  \   {'lnum': 1, 'filename': expand('%:p'), 'text': 'foo'},
+  \   {'lnum': 2, 'filename': expand('%:p'), 'text': 'bar'},
+  \   {'lnum': 2, 'text': 'ignore this one'},
+  \ ])
+  call ale#engine#InitBufferInfo(bufnr('') + 2)
+  let g:ale_buffer_info[bufnr('') + 2].loclist =
+  \ ale#engine#FixLocList(bufnr('') + 2, 'linter_two', [
+  \   {'lnum': 1, 'filename': expand('%:p'), 'text': 'foo'},
+  \   {'lnum': 3, 'filename': expand('%:p'), 'text': 'baz'},
+  \   {'lnum': 5, 'text': 'ignore this one'},
+  \ ])
+
+  call ale#linter#Define('foobar', {
+  \ 'name': 'linter_one',
+  \ 'callback': 'WhoCares',
+  \ 'executable': 'echo',
+  \ 'command': 'echo',
+  \ 'lint_file': 1,
+  \})
+  call ale#linter#Define('foobar', {
+  \ 'name': 'linter_two',
+  \ 'callback': 'WhoCares',
+  \ 'executable': 'echo',
+  \ 'command': 'echo',
+  \})
+
+After:
+  call ale#engine#Cleanup(bufnr(''))
+  Restore
+  call ale#linter#Reset()
+
+  " Items and markers, etc.
+  call setloclist(0, [])
+  call clearmatches()
+  sign unplace *
+
+Given foobar(A file with some lines):
+  foo
+  bar
+  baz
+
+Execute(Problems found from previously opened buffers should be set when linting for the first time):
+  call ale#engine#RunLinters(bufnr(''), ale#linter#Get(&filetype), 0)
+
+  AssertEqual
+  \ [
+  \   {'lnum': 1, 'bufnr': bufnr(''), 'col': 0, 'valid': 1, 'vcol': 0, 'nr': -1, 'type': 'E', 'pattern': '', 'text': 'foo'},
+  \   {'lnum': 2, 'bufnr': bufnr(''), 'col': 0, 'valid': 1, 'vcol': 0, 'nr': -1, 'type': 'E', 'pattern': '', 'text': 'bar'},
+  \   {'lnum': 3, 'bufnr': bufnr(''), 'col': 0, 'valid': 1, 'vcol': 0, 'nr': -1, 'type': 'E', 'pattern': '', 'text': 'baz'},
+  \ ],
+  \ getloclist(0)