diff --git a/vfs/cache.go b/vfs/cache.go
index 55946c6dc..4e3e3eff6 100644
--- a/vfs/cache.go
+++ b/vfs/cache.go
@@ -145,16 +145,20 @@ func (c *cache) mkdir(name string) (string, error) {
 
 // _get gets name from the cache or creates a new one
 //
+// It returns the item and found as to whether this item was found in
+// the cache (or just created).
+//
 // name should be a remote path not an osPath
 //
 // must be called with itemMu held
-func (c *cache) _get(isFile bool, name string) *cacheItem {
-	item := c.item[name]
-	if item == nil {
+func (c *cache) _get(isFile bool, name string) (item *cacheItem, found bool) {
+	item = c.item[name]
+	found = item != nil
+	if !found {
 		item = newCacheItem(isFile)
 		c.item[name] = item
 	}
-	return item
+	return item, found
 }
 
 // get gets name from the cache or creates a new one
@@ -162,7 +166,7 @@ func (c *cache) _get(isFile bool, name string) *cacheItem {
 // name should be a remote path not an osPath
 func (c *cache) get(name string) *cacheItem {
 	c.itemMu.Lock()
-	item := c._get(true, name)
+	item, _ := c._get(true, name)
 	c.itemMu.Unlock()
 	return item
 }
@@ -173,8 +177,8 @@ func (c *cache) get(name string) *cacheItem {
 // name should be a remote path not an osPath
 func (c *cache) updateTime(name string, when time.Time) {
 	c.itemMu.Lock()
-	item := c._get(true, name)
-	if when.Sub(item.atime) > 0 {
+	item, found := c._get(true, name)
+	if !found || when.Sub(item.atime) > 0 {
 		fs.Debugf(name, "updateTime: setting atime to %v", when)
 		item.atime = when
 	}
@@ -186,7 +190,7 @@ func (c *cache) updateTime(name string, when time.Time) {
 // name should be a remote path not an osPath
 func (c *cache) _open(isFile bool, name string) {
 	for {
-		item := c._get(isFile, name)
+		item, _ := c._get(isFile, name)
 		item.opens++
 		item.atime = time.Now()
 		if name == "" {
@@ -228,7 +232,7 @@ func (c *cache) cacheDir(name string) {
 // _close marks name as closed - must be called with the lock held
 func (c *cache) _close(isFile bool, name string) {
 	for {
-		item := c._get(isFile, name)
+		item, _ := c._get(isFile, name)
 		item.opens--
 		item.atime = time.Now()
 		if item.opens < 0 {
diff --git a/vfs/cache_test.go b/vfs/cache_test.go
index f7eb62d90..6ef959862 100644
--- a/vfs/cache_test.go
+++ b/vfs/cache_test.go
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ package vfs
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"io/ioutil"
-	"log"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"sort"
@@ -123,7 +122,6 @@ name="potato" isFile=true opens=1`, itemAsString(c))
 	atime := times.Get(fi).AccessTime()
 
 	// updateAtimes
-	log.Printf("updateAtimes")
 	item = c.get("potato")
 	item.atime = time.Now().Add(-24 * time.Hour)
 	err = c.updateAtimes()
@@ -133,6 +131,17 @@ name="potato" isFile=true opens=1`, itemAsString(c))
 	item = c.get("potato")
 	assert.Equal(t, atime, item.atime)
 
+	// updateAtimes - not in the cache
+	oldItem := item
+	delete(c.item, "potato") // remove from cache
+	err = c.updateAtimes()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, `name="" isFile=false opens=1
+name="potato" isFile=true opens=0`, itemAsString(c))
+	item = c.get("potato")
+	assert.Equal(t, atime, item.atime)
+	c.item["potato"] = oldItem // restore to cache
+
 	// try purging with file open
 	c.purgeOld(10 * time.Second)
 	_, err = os.Stat(p)