diff --git a/vfs/vfs.go b/vfs/vfs.go
index ad94ef4f8..58d725648 100644
--- a/vfs/vfs.go
+++ b/vfs/vfs.go
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ func (vfs *VFS) SetCacheMode(cacheMode vfscommon.CacheMode) {
 	vfs.cache = nil
 	if cacheMode > vfscommon.CacheModeOff {
 		ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
-		cache, err := vfscache.New(ctx, vfs.f, &vfs.Opt) // FIXME pass on context or get from Opt?
+		cache, err := vfscache.New(ctx, vfs.f, &vfs.Opt, vfs.AddVirtual) // FIXME pass on context or get from Opt?
 		if err != nil {
 			fs.Errorf(nil, "Failed to create vfs cache - disabling: %v", err)
 			vfs.Opt.CacheMode = vfscommon.CacheModeOff
@@ -652,3 +652,13 @@ func (vfs *VFS) ReadFile(filename string) (b []byte, err error) {
 	defer fs.CheckClose(f, &err)
 	return ioutil.ReadAll(f)
 }
+
+// AddVirtual adds the object (file or dir) to the directory cache
+func (vfs *VFS) AddVirtual(remote string, size int64, isDir bool) error {
+	dir, leaf, err := vfs.StatParent(remote)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	dir.AddVirtual(leaf, size, false)
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/vfs/vfscache/cache.go b/vfs/vfscache/cache.go
index a705a182d..e6f7454a6 100644
--- a/vfs/vfscache/cache.go
+++ b/vfs/vfscache/cache.go
@@ -45,17 +45,26 @@ type Cache struct {
 	hashType   hash.Type            // hash to use locally and remotely
 	hashOption *fs.HashesOption     // corresponding OpenOption
 	writeback  *writeback.WriteBack // holds Items for writeback
+	avFn       AddVirtualFn         // if set, can be called to add dir entries
 
 	mu   sync.Mutex       // protects the following variables
 	item map[string]*Item // files/directories in the cache
 	used int64            // total size of files in the cache
 }
 
+// AddVirtualFn if registered by the WithAddVirtual method, can be
+// called to register the object or directory at remote as a virtual
+// entry in directory listings.
+//
+// This is used when reloading the Cache and uploading items need to
+// go into the directory tree.
+type AddVirtualFn func(remote string, size int64, isDir bool) error
+
 // New creates a new cache heirachy for fremote
 //
 // This starts background goroutines which can be cancelled with the
 // context passed in.
-func New(ctx context.Context, fremote fs.Fs, opt *vfscommon.Options) (*Cache, error) {
+func New(ctx context.Context, fremote fs.Fs, opt *vfscommon.Options, avFn AddVirtualFn) (*Cache, error) {
 	fRoot := filepath.FromSlash(fremote.Root())
 	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
 		if strings.HasPrefix(fRoot, `\\?`) {
@@ -90,6 +99,7 @@ func New(ctx context.Context, fremote fs.Fs, opt *vfscommon.Options) (*Cache, er
 		hashType:   hashType,
 		hashOption: hashOption,
 		writeback:  writeback.New(ctx, opt),
+		avFn:       avFn,
 	}
 
 	// Make sure cache directories exist
@@ -567,3 +577,12 @@ func (c *Cache) Dump() string {
 	out.WriteString("}\n")
 	return out.String()
 }
+
+// AddVirtual adds a virtual directory entry by calling the addVirtual
+// callback if one has been registered.
+func (c *Cache) AddVirtual(remote string, size int64, isDir bool) error {
+	if c.avFn == nil {
+		return errors.New("no AddVirtual function registered")
+	}
+	return c.avFn(remote, size, isDir)
+}
diff --git a/vfs/vfscache/cache_test.go b/vfs/vfscache/cache_test.go
index 8a728b9db..4418b7993 100644
--- a/vfs/vfscache/cache_test.go
+++ b/vfs/vfscache/cache_test.go
@@ -51,12 +51,30 @@ func assertPathExist(t *testing.T, path string) os.FileInfo {
 	return fi
 }
 
+type avInfo struct {
+	Remote string
+	Size   int64
+	IsDir  bool
+}
+
+var avInfos []avInfo
+
+func addVirtual(remote string, size int64, isDir bool) error {
+	avInfos = append(avInfos, avInfo{
+		Remote: remote,
+		Size:   size,
+		IsDir:  isDir,
+	})
+	return nil
+}
+
 func newTestCacheOpt(t *testing.T, opt vfscommon.Options) (r *fstest.Run, c *Cache, cleanup func()) {
 	r = fstest.NewRun(t)
 
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
 
-	c, err := New(ctx, r.Fremote, &opt)
+	avInfos = nil
+	c, err := New(ctx, r.Fremote, &opt, addVirtual)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	cleanup = func() {
diff --git a/vfs/vfscache/item.go b/vfs/vfscache/item.go
index ca759ba67..9555a27ba 100644
--- a/vfs/vfscache/item.go
+++ b/vfs/vfscache/item.go
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ import (
 // - Cache.toOSPathMeta
 // - Cache.mkdir
 // - Cache.objectFingerprint
+// - Cache.AddVirtual
 
 // NB Item and downloader are tightly linked so it is necessary to
 // have a total lock ordering between them. downloader.mu must always
@@ -654,6 +655,15 @@ func (item *Item) reload(ctx context.Context) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+	// put the file into the directory listings
+	size, err := item._getSize()
+	if err != nil {
+		return errors.Wrap(err, "reload: failed to read size")
+	}
+	err = item.c.AddVirtual(item.name, size, false)
+	if err != nil {
+		return errors.Wrap(err, "reload: failed to add virtual dir entry")
+	}
 	return nil
 }
 
diff --git a/vfs/vfscache/item_test.go b/vfs/vfscache/item_test.go
index 91fdf2137..933911ace 100644
--- a/vfs/vfscache/item_test.go
+++ b/vfs/vfscache/item_test.go
@@ -343,6 +343,11 @@ func TestItemReload(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// And check the contents got written back to the remote
 	checkObject(t, r, "existing", contents[:95]+"THEENDMYFRIEND")
+
+	// And check that AddVirtual was called
+	assert.Equal(t, []avInfo{
+		{Remote: "existing", Size: 109, IsDir: false},
+	}, avInfos)
 }
 
 func TestItemReloadRemoteGone(t *testing.T) {