Back in 2016, North End were successful on an early season trip to Loftus Road, picking up the win against Queens Park Rangers to record their first Championship victory of the season.
The visitors went ahead when Paul Gallagher shot on goal and Jermaine Beckford was on hand to poke it home.
The Lilywhites doubled their lead when Nedum Onuoha put the ball into his own net, under pressure from Callum Robinson, while Anders Lindegaard blocked Conor Washington's shot at the other end.
Massimo Luongo fired just wide late on for the hosts as PNE held on for their first points of 2016/17.
The defeat, QPR's first at home this season, was the first time they had lost against North End since May 2009.
The Lilywhites, who had lost their opening three league games for the first time since 1989/90, controlled much of the opening 60 minutes to seal their first points.
QPR head coach Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink said afterwards: "We looked second best and couldn't get going. You have to give Preston credit. They did well, put us on the back foot and we looked flat.
"As a group, we expected more and wanted more, but couldn't deliver. We didn't look like us. Individual errors cost us."
Whilst then PNE manager Simon Grayson commented: "We've answered one or two critics from during the last few weeks. That will keep a few people quiet for a while.
"People do tend to get a bit jittery when you lose the first three games. The critics have been answered. I said before that I didn't think we were a million miles away. We were off the pace in the last three games but that was more like us."
QPR line-up: Smithies, Perch, Onuoha, Caulker, Bidwell, Henry (Washington, 55), Luongo, Cousins, Chery, N'Gbakoto (El Khayati, 69), Polter. Subs not used: Ingram, Shodipo, Kakay, Grego-Cox, Paul.
PNE line-up: Lindegaard, Humphrey (Huntington, 87), Clarke, Wright, Cunningham, Spurr, Gallagher (Browne, 74), Welsh, Johnson, Robinson, Beckford (Hugill, 73). Subs not used: Makienok, Doyle, Pringle, Maxwell.
Referee: Mr Andy Madley
Attendance: 13,307