diff --git a/lib/file-list.js b/lib/file-list.js
index b512caf8b..8e280ac74 100644
--- a/lib/file-list.js
+++ b/lib/file-list.js
@@ -73,9 +73,15 @@ var List = function (patterns, excludes, emitter, preprocess, batchInterval) {
   // Emit the `file_list_modified` event.
   // This function is throttled to the value of `batchInterval`
   // to avoid spamming the listener.
-  this._emitModified = _.throttle(function () {
-    self._emitter.emit('file_list_modified', self.files)
-  }, this._batchInterval)
+  this._emitModified = function() {
+    // first time, it will emit immediately.
+    self._emitter.emit('file_list_modified', self.files);
+
+    // in future, it will only emit once in every _batchInterval
+    self._emitModified = _.throttle(function () {
+      self._emitter.emit('file_list_modified', self.files)
+    }, self._batchInterval, {leading: false});
+  }
 }
 
 // Private Interface