diff --git a/Changelog.md b/Changelog.md
index 16210d556..5f0488943 100644
--- a/Changelog.md
+++ b/Changelog.md
@@ -7,6 +7,11 @@ Enhancements:
   allways print a line number rather than an example id when the line number is ambiguous.
   (Baden Ashford, #3085)
 
+Bug fixes:
+
+* `RSpec::Configuration#requires` will reflect files already required, whilst requiring
+  them. (Jon Rowe, #3117)
+
 ### 3.13.1 / 2024-09-02
 [Full Changelog](http://github.com/rspec/rspec-core/compare/v3.13.0...v3.13.1)
 
diff --git a/lib/rspec/core/configuration.rb b/lib/rspec/core/configuration.rb
index 641a1cc78..aa43eea43 100644
--- a/lib/rspec/core/configuration.rb
+++ b/lib/rspec/core/configuration.rb
@@ -1604,8 +1604,10 @@ def configure_example(example, example_hooks)
       def requires=(paths)
         directories = ['lib', default_path].select { |p| File.directory? p }
         RSpec::Core::RubyProject.add_to_load_path(*directories)
-        paths.each { |path| load_file_handling_errors(:require, path) }
-        @requires += paths
+        paths.each { |path|
+          load_file_handling_errors(:require, path)
+          @requires << path
+        }
       end
 
       # @private
diff --git a/spec/rspec/core/configuration_spec.rb b/spec/rspec/core/configuration_spec.rb
index 19512f166..3e787ef6d 100644
--- a/spec/rspec/core/configuration_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/rspec/core/configuration_spec.rb
@@ -237,6 +237,16 @@ def absolute_path_to(dir)
         expect(config.requires).to eq ['a/path']
       end
 
+      it 'stores required paths "per file"' do
+        allow(config).to receive(:require).with('a/path')
+        expect(config).to receive(:require).with('another/path') do
+          expect(config.requires).to eq ['a/path']
+        end
+
+        config.requires = ['a/path', 'another/path']
+        expect(config.requires).to eq ['a/path', 'another/path']
+      end
+
       context "when `default_path` refers to a file rather than a directory" do
         it 'does not add it to the load path' do
           config.default_path = 'Rakefile'