diff --git a/src/rig.c b/src/rig.c
index 83ce41652..6a4de5822 100644
--- a/src/rig.c
+++ b/src/rig.c
@@ -2027,10 +2027,13 @@ int HAMLIB_API rig_set_vfo(RIG *rig, vfo_t vfo)
         rig_debug(RIG_DEBUG_TRACE, "%s: retcode from rig_get_freq = %s\n", __func__,
                   rigerror(retcode));
     }
+    else // don't expire cache if we just read it
+    {
+        elapsed_ms(&rig->state.cache.time_freq, HAMLIB_ELAPSED_INVALIDATE);
+    }
 
     // expire several cached items when we switch VFOs
     elapsed_ms(&rig->state.cache.time_vfo, HAMLIB_ELAPSED_INVALIDATE);
-    elapsed_ms(&rig->state.cache.time_freq, HAMLIB_ELAPSED_INVALIDATE);
     elapsed_ms(&rig->state.cache.time_mode, HAMLIB_ELAPSED_INVALIDATE);
 
     rig_debug(RIG_DEBUG_TRACE, "%s: return %d, vfo=%s\n", __func__, retcode,