diff --git a/dashboard-widgets.el b/dashboard-widgets.el
index 68220313..a822dabe 100644
--- a/dashboard-widgets.el
+++ b/dashboard-widgets.el
@@ -480,6 +480,7 @@ WIDGET-PARAMS are passed to the \"widget-create\" function."
 (defun dashboard-insert-projects (list-size)
   "Add the list of LIST-SIZE items of projects."
   (require 'projectile)
+  (projectile-cleanup-known-projects)
   (projectile-load-known-projects)
   (dashboard-insert-section
    "Projects:"
@@ -588,6 +589,7 @@ date part is considered."
 (declare-function bookmark-all-names "ext:bookmark.el")
 (declare-function projectile-mode "ext:projectile.el")
 (declare-function projectile-load-known-projects "ext:projectile.el")
+(declare-function projectile-cleanup-known-projects "ext:projectile.el")
 (declare-function projectile-relevant-known-projects "ext:projectile.el")
 (declare-function org-agenda-format-item "ext:org-agenda.el")
 (declare-function org-compile-prefix-format "ext:org-agenda.el")