diff --git a/core/cfg/flags.go b/core/cfg/flags.go
index 944e227e..a861a5e3 100644
--- a/core/cfg/flags.go
+++ b/core/cfg/flags.go
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/urfave/cli"
 )
 
-const GEESEFS_VERSION = "0.43.8-dc.2"
+const GEESEFS_VERSION = "0.43.8-dc.3"
 
 var flagCategories map[string]string
 
diff --git a/core/dir.go b/core/dir.go
index 8df75705..ec541e78 100644
--- a/core/dir.go
+++ b/core/dir.go
@@ -1876,9 +1876,12 @@ func (parent *Inode) loadSymlinksCache() error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	// If data is nil, the file hasn't changed (304 Not Modified)
+	// If data is nil, the file hasn't changed (304 Not Modified). The cached copy
+	// is still current, so re-arm the TTL: without this the guard above never
+	// passes again and every later miss re-issues the conditional GET.
 	if data == nil {
 		s3Log.Debugf("loadSymlinksCache: file unchanged (304), dir=%v", parent.FullName())
+		parent.dir.symlinksCacheTime = time.Now()
 		return nil
 	}
 
diff --git a/core/symlinks_test.go b/core/symlinks_test.go
index 725dc578..e9080194 100644
--- a/core/symlinks_test.go
+++ b/core/symlinks_test.go
@@ -1297,3 +1297,38 @@ func (s *SymlinksTest) TestBatchRemoveOnlySymlink(t *C) {
 	parent.mu.Unlock()
 }
 
+func (s *SymlinksTest) TestCacheNotModifiedRearmsTTL(t *C) {
+	mock := newMockConditionalBackend()
+	_, parent := newTestDirInode(mock, 1*time.Hour)
+
+	// Give the directory a symlinks file so the reload can come back 304.
+	data := NewSymlinksFileData()
+	data.AddSymlink("link1", "../target1")
+	_, err := SaveSymlinksFile(mock, "", ".geesefs_symlinks", data, "")
+	t.Assert(err, IsNil)
+
+	gets := 0
+	mock.onGetBlob = func(param *GetBlobInput) { gets++ }
+
+	parent.mu.Lock()
+	defer parent.mu.Unlock()
+
+	// First load populates the cache and records the ETag.
+	err = parent.loadSymlinksCache()
+	t.Assert(err, IsNil)
+	t.Assert(gets, Equals, 1)
+	t.Assert(parent.dir.symlinksCache.HasSymlink("link1"), Equals, true)
+
+	// Expire the cache; the reload sends If-None-Match and gets a 304 back.
+	parent.dir.symlinksCacheTime = time.Time{}
+	err = parent.loadSymlinksCache()
+	t.Assert(err, IsNil)
+	t.Assert(gets, Equals, 2)
+
+	// The 304 confirmed the cache is current, so the next miss within the TTL
+	// must be served locally instead of re-issuing the conditional GET.
+	err = parent.loadSymlinksCache()
+	t.Assert(err, IsNil)
+	t.Assert(gets, Equals, 2)
+	t.Assert(parent.dir.symlinksCache.HasSymlink("link1"), Equals, true)
+}