diff --git a/spec/pane-view-spec.coffee b/spec/pane-view-spec.coffee
index 2df5aa68c..e8311b482 100644
--- a/spec/pane-view-spec.coffee
+++ b/spec/pane-view-spec.coffee
@@ -118,6 +118,27 @@ describe "PaneView", ->
         paneModel.activateItem(view2)
         expect(pane.itemViews.find('#view-2').length).toBe 1
 
+    describe "when the new activeItem implements ::getPath", ->
+      beforeEach ->
+        paneModel.activateItem(editor1)
+
+      it "adds its file path to the active pane", ->
+        expect(pane).toHaveAttr('data-active-item-path')
+
+      it "adds its file name to the active pane", ->
+        expect(pane).toHaveAttr('data-active-item-name')
+
+    describe "when the new activeItem does not implement ::getPath", ->
+      beforeEach ->
+        paneModel.activateItem(editor1)
+        paneModel.activateItem(document.createElement('div'))
+
+      it "removes its file path from the active pane", ->
+        expect(pane).not.toHaveAttr('data-active-item-path')
+
+      it "removes its file name from the active pane", ->
+        expect(pane).not.toHaveAttr('data-active-item-name')
+
   describe "when an item is destroyed", ->
     it "triggers the 'pane:item-removed' event with the item and its former index", ->
       itemRemovedHandler = jasmine.createSpy("itemRemovedHandler")
diff --git a/src/pane-element.coffee b/src/pane-element.coffee
index f5bfc18bd..2f0481829 100644
--- a/src/pane-element.coffee
+++ b/src/pane-element.coffee
@@ -71,6 +71,14 @@ class PaneElement extends HTMLElement
     hasFocus = @hasFocus()
     itemView = atom.views.getView(item)
 
+    if itemPath = item.getPath?()
+      path = require 'path'
+      @dataset.activeItemName = path.basename(itemPath)
+      @dataset.activeItemPath = itemPath
+    else
+      delete @dataset.activeItemName
+      delete @dataset.activeItemPath
+
     unless @itemViews.contains(itemView)
       @itemViews.appendChild(itemView)
       callAttachHooks(itemView)