diff --git a/code/core/src/preview-api/modules/preview-web/render/MdxDocsRender.test.ts b/code/core/src/preview-api/modules/preview-web/render/MdxDocsRender.test.ts
index 170483bd6512..d3d93775ba0a 100644
--- a/code/core/src/preview-api/modules/preview-web/render/MdxDocsRender.test.ts
+++ b/code/core/src/preview-api/modules/preview-web/render/MdxDocsRender.test.ts
@@ -115,6 +115,46 @@ describe('attaching', () => {
   });
 });
 
+describe('equality', () => {
+  it('treats changed referenced CSF files as a docs render change', async () => {
+    const mdxExports = { default: () => null };
+    const first = csfFileParts('meta--story', 'meta');
+    const second = csfFileParts('meta--story', 'meta');
+    const store = {
+      loadEntry: vi
+        .fn()
+        .mockResolvedValueOnce({
+          entryExports: mdxExports,
+          csfFiles: [first.csfFile],
+        })
+        .mockResolvedValueOnce({
+          entryExports: mdxExports,
+          csfFiles: [second.csfFile],
+        }),
+      storyFromCSFFile: ({ csfFile }: { csfFile: typeof first.csfFile }) =>
+        csfFile === first.csfFile ? first.story : second.story,
+    } as unknown as StoryStore<Renderer>;
+
+    const previousRender = new MdxDocsRender(
+      new Channel({}),
+      store,
+      attachedEntry,
+      {} as RenderContextCallbacks<Renderer>
+    );
+    await previousRender.prepare();
+
+    const nextRender = new MdxDocsRender(
+      new Channel({}),
+      store,
+      attachedEntry,
+      {} as RenderContextCallbacks<Renderer>
+    );
+    await nextRender.prepare();
+
+    expect(nextRender.isEqual(previousRender)).toBe(false);
+  });
+});
+
 describe('docs parameters', () => {
   it('uses the attached CSF story docs parameters for attached MDX docs', async () => {
     const renderPage = vi.fn();
diff --git a/code/core/src/preview-api/modules/preview-web/render/MdxDocsRender.ts b/code/core/src/preview-api/modules/preview-web/render/MdxDocsRender.ts
index 15023c923c17..691ffd8352cf 100644
--- a/code/core/src/preview-api/modules/preview-web/render/MdxDocsRender.ts
+++ b/code/core/src/preview-api/modules/preview-web/render/MdxDocsRender.ts
@@ -94,10 +94,16 @@ export class MdxDocsRender<TRenderer extends Renderer> implements Render<TRender
   }
 
   isEqual(other: Render<TRenderer>): boolean {
+    const otherRender = other as MdxDocsRender<TRenderer>;
+    const sameReferencedCsfFiles =
+      this.csfFiles?.length === otherRender.csfFiles?.length &&
+      this.csfFiles?.every((csfFile, index) => csfFile === otherRender.csfFiles?.[index]);
+
     return !!(
       this.id === other.id &&
       this.exports &&
-      this.exports === (other as MdxDocsRender<TRenderer>).exports
+      this.exports === otherRender.exports &&
+      sameReferencedCsfFiles
     );
   }