diff --git a/fs/cache/cache.go b/fs/cache/cache.go
index 77d99fbec..f59561888 100644
--- a/fs/cache/cache.go
+++ b/fs/cache/cache.go
@@ -56,10 +56,10 @@ func addMapping(fsString, canonicalName string) {
 // it afresh with the create function
 func GetFn(ctx context.Context, fsString string, create func(ctx context.Context, fsString string) (fs.Fs, error)) (f fs.Fs, err error) {
 	createOnFirstUse()
-	fsString = Canonicalize(fsString)
+	canonicalFsString := Canonicalize(fsString)
 	created := false
-	value, err := c.Get(fsString, func(fsString string) (f interface{}, ok bool, err error) {
-		f, err = create(ctx, fsString)
+	value, err := c.Get(canonicalFsString, func(canonicalFsString string) (f interface{}, ok bool, err error) {
+		f, err = create(ctx, fsString) // always create the backend with the original non-canonicalised string
 		ok = err == nil || err == fs.ErrorIsFile
 		created = ok
 		return f, ok, err
@@ -71,19 +71,19 @@ func GetFn(ctx context.Context, fsString string, create func(ctx context.Context
 	// Check we stored the Fs at the canonical name
 	if created {
 		canonicalName := fs.ConfigString(f)
-		if canonicalName != fsString {
+		if canonicalName != canonicalFsString {
 			// Note that if err == fs.ErrorIsFile at this moment
 			// then we can't rename the remote as it will have the
 			// wrong error status, we need to add a new one.
 			if err == nil {
-				fs.Debugf(nil, "fs cache: renaming cache item %q to be canonical %q", fsString, canonicalName)
-				value, found := c.Rename(fsString, canonicalName)
+				fs.Debugf(nil, "fs cache: renaming cache item %q to be canonical %q", canonicalFsString, canonicalName)
+				value, found := c.Rename(canonicalFsString, canonicalName)
 				if found {
 					f = value.(fs.Fs)
 				}
-				addMapping(fsString, canonicalName)
+				addMapping(canonicalFsString, canonicalName)
 			} else {
-				fs.Debugf(nil, "fs cache: adding new entry for parent of %q, %q", fsString, canonicalName)
+				fs.Debugf(nil, "fs cache: adding new entry for parent of %q, %q", canonicalFsString, canonicalName)
 				Put(canonicalName, f)
 			}
 		}