diff --git a/gui-lib/framework/private/handler.rkt b/gui-lib/framework/private/handler.rkt
index 62726dc8..2f3b3b42 100644
--- a/gui-lib/framework/private/handler.rkt
+++ b/gui-lib/framework/private/handler.rkt
@@ -173,10 +173,23 @@
 
 ;; install-recent-items : (is-a?/c menu%) -> void?
 (define (install-recent-items menu)
+  ;; sometimes, we get here via an on-demand callback
+  ;; and we run out of time during the callback and
+  ;; things go awry with the menu. So, to hack around
+  ;; that problem, lets try to do it twice; once here
+  ;; when we notice that things are wrong, and then once
+  ;; in a later event callback, when we know we won't run
+  ;; afoul of any time limits.
+  (do-install-recent-items menu)
+  (queue-callback (λ () (do-install-recent-items menu)) #f)
+  (void))
+
+(define (do-install-recent-items menu)
   (define recently-opened-files
     (preferences:get
      'framework:recently-opened-files/pos))
-  (define (update-menu-with-new-stuff)
+
+  (unless (menu-items-still-same? recently-opened-files menu)
     (for ([item (send menu get-items)]) (send item delete))
     
     (for ([recent-list-item recently-opened-files])
@@ -188,20 +201,7 @@
     (new menu-item%
          [parent menu]
          [label (string-constant show-recent-items-window-menu-item)]
-         [callback (λ (x y) (show-recent-items-window))]))
-  (unless (menu-items-still-same? recently-opened-files menu)
-
-    ;; sometimes, we get here via an on-demand callback
-    ;; and we run out of time during the callback and
-    ;; things go awry with the menu. So, to hack around
-    ;; that problem, lets try to do it twice; once here
-    ;; when we notice that things are wrong, and then once
-    ;; later, when we know we won't run afoul of any time
-    ;; limits.
-    
-    (queue-callback (λ () (update-menu-with-new-stuff)) #f)
-    (update-menu-with-new-stuff))
-  (void))
+         [callback (λ (x y) (show-recent-items-window))])))
 
 (define (recent-list-item->menu-label recent-list-item)
   (let ([filename (car recent-list-item)])