diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 43b92fd8..de0d1004 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ CHANGELOG for FlatCAM beta
 - working in Milling Tool
 - updated the Calculators Tool such that now the Cut Z parameter for V-tip tool calculator can be calculated from the other parameters too
 - fixed a small issue in the Calculators Tool Cut Z default value; added a confirmation message for Electroplating calculator
+- fixed bug in opening PDF file from recent files list
 
 14.11.2020
 
diff --git a/appTools/ToolPDF.py b/appTools/ToolPDF.py
index ae613183..7be1e293 100644
--- a/appTools/ToolPDF.py
+++ b/appTools/ToolPDF.py
@@ -198,7 +198,8 @@ class ToolPDF(AppTool):
 
             self.pdf_parsed[short_name]['pdf'] = self.parser.parse_pdf(pdf_content=self.pdf_decompressed[short_name])
             # we used it, now we delete it
-            self.pdf_decompressed[short_name] = ''
+            if self.pdf_decompressed[short_name]:
+                self.pdf_decompressed[short_name] = None
 
         # removal from list is done in a multithreaded way therefore not always the removal can be done
         # try to remove until it's done
@@ -276,7 +277,7 @@ class ToolPDF(AppTool):
                 self.app.inform.emit('[ERROR_NOTCL] %s' % _('Open PDF file failed.'))
                 return
             # Register recent file
-            self.app.file_opened.emit("excellon", filename)
+            self.app.file_opened.emit("pdf", filename)
             # GUI feedback
             self.app.inform.emit('[success] %s: %s' % (_("Rendered"),  outname))
 
@@ -349,7 +350,7 @@ class ToolPDF(AppTool):
                 self.app.inform.emit('[ERROR_NOTCL] %s' % _('Open PDF file failed.'))
                 return
             # Register recent file
-            self.app.file_opened.emit('gerber', filename)
+            self.app.file_opened.emit('pdf', filename)
             # GUI feedback
             self.app.inform.emit('[success] %s: %s' % (_("Rendered"), outname))
 
diff --git a/app_Main.py b/app_Main.py
index 11d23efa..a9818c0e 100644
--- a/app_Main.py
+++ b/app_Main.py
@@ -7415,17 +7415,17 @@ class App(QtCore.QObject):
         :return:
         """
         icons = {
-            "gerber": self.resource_location + "/flatcam_icon16.png",
+            "gerber":   self.resource_location + "/flatcam_icon16.png",
             "excellon": self.resource_location + "/drill16.png",
             'geometry': self.resource_location + "/geometry16.png",
-            "cncjob": self.resource_location + "/cnc16.png",
-            "script": self.resource_location + "/script_new24.png",
+            "cncjob":   self.resource_location + "/cnc16.png",
+            "script":   self.resource_location + "/script_new24.png",
             "document": self.resource_location + "/notes16_1.png",
-            "project": self.resource_location + "/project16.png",
-            "svg": self.resource_location + "/geometry16.png",
-            "dxf": self.resource_location + "/dxf16.png",
-            "pdf": self.resource_location + "/pdf32.png",
-            "image": self.resource_location + "/image16.png"
+            "project":  self.resource_location + "/project16.png",
+            "svg":      self.resource_location + "/geometry16.png",
+            "dxf":      self.resource_location + "/dxf16.png",
+            "pdf":      self.resource_location + "/pdf32.png",
+            "image":    self.resource_location + "/image16.png"
 
         }
 
@@ -7445,7 +7445,7 @@ class App(QtCore.QObject):
             'svg': self.f_handlers.import_svg,
             'dxf': self.f_handlers.import_dxf,
             'image': image_opener,
-            'pdf': lambda fname: self.worker_task.emit({'fcn': self.pdf_tool.open_pdf, 'params': [fname]})
+            'pdf': self.f_handlers.import_pdf
         }
 
         # Open recent file for files
@@ -10210,6 +10210,10 @@ class MenuFileHandlers(QtCore.QObject):
             # Register recent file
             self.app.file_opened.emit("dxf", filename)
 
+    def import_pdf(self, filename):
+        self.app.pdf_tool.periodic_check(1000)
+        self.worker_task.emit({'fcn': self.app.pdf_tool.open_pdf, 'params': [filename]})
+
     def open_gerber(self, filename, outname=None, plot=True, from_tcl=False):
         """
         Opens a Gerber file, parses it and creates a new object for