diff --git a/backend/cache/cache.go b/backend/cache/cache.go
index 8bf2a2187..81bd1d8bb 100644
--- a/backend/cache/cache.go
+++ b/backend/cache/cache.go
@@ -473,18 +473,20 @@ func (f *Fs) httpExpireRemote(in rc.Params) (out rc.Params, err error) {
 		withData = true
 	}
 
-	// if it's wrapped by crypt we need to check what format we got
-	if cryptFs, yes := f.isWrappedByCrypt(); yes {
-		_, err := cryptFs.DecryptFileName(remote)
-		// if it failed to decrypt then it is a decrypted format and we need to encrypt it
-		if err != nil {
-			remote = cryptFs.EncryptFileName(remote)
+	if cleanPath(remote) != "" {
+		// if it's wrapped by crypt we need to check what format we got
+		if cryptFs, yes := f.isWrappedByCrypt(); yes {
+			_, err := cryptFs.DecryptFileName(remote)
+			// if it failed to decrypt then it is a decrypted format and we need to encrypt it
+			if err != nil {
+				remote = cryptFs.EncryptFileName(remote)
+			}
+			// else it's an encrypted format and we can use it as it is
 		}
-		// else it's an encrypted format and we can use it as it is
-	}
 
-	if !f.cache.HasEntry(path.Join(f.Root(), remote)) {
-		return out, errors.Errorf("%s doesn't exist in cache", remote)
+		if !f.cache.HasEntry(path.Join(f.Root(), remote)) {
+			return out, errors.Errorf("%s doesn't exist in cache", remote)
+		}
 	}
 
 	co := NewObject(f, remote)
diff --git a/backend/cache/cache_internal_test.go b/backend/cache/cache_internal_test.go
index 9158f35df..59c969743 100644
--- a/backend/cache/cache_internal_test.go
+++ b/backend/cache/cache_internal_test.go
@@ -618,6 +618,9 @@ func TestInternalChangeSeenAfterRc(t *testing.T) {
 	if !runInstance.useMount {
 		t.Skipf("needs mount")
 	}
+	if !runInstance.wrappedIsExternal {
+		t.Skipf("needs drive")
+	}
 
 	cfs, err := runInstance.getCacheFs(rootFs)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -655,6 +658,31 @@ func TestInternalChangeSeenAfterRc(t *testing.T) {
 	co, err = rootFs.NewObject("data.bin")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	require.Equal(t, wrappedTime.Unix(), co.ModTime().Unix())
+	li1, err := runInstance.list(t, rootFs, "")
+
+	// create some rand test data
+	testData2 := randStringBytes(int(chunkSize))
+	runInstance.writeObjectBytes(t, cfs.UnWrap(), runInstance.encryptRemoteIfNeeded(t, "test2"), testData2)
+
+	// list should have 1 item only
+	li1, err = runInstance.list(t, rootFs, "")
+	require.Len(t, li1, 1)
+
+	m = make(map[string]string)
+	res2, err := http.Post("http://localhost:5572/cache/expire?remote=/", "application/json; charset=utf-8", strings.NewReader(""))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer func() {
+		_ = res2.Body.Close()
+	}()
+	_ = json.NewDecoder(res2.Body).Decode(&m)
+	require.Contains(t, m, "status")
+	require.Contains(t, m, "message")
+	require.Equal(t, "ok", m["status"])
+	require.Contains(t, m["message"], "cached directory cleared")
+
+	// list should have 2 items now
+	li2, err := runInstance.list(t, rootFs, "")
+	require.Len(t, li2, 2)
 }
 
 func TestInternalCacheWrites(t *testing.T) {