diff --git a/unpack-trees.c b/unpack-trees.c
index bae812156c..8a762aa077 100644
--- a/unpack-trees.c
+++ b/unpack-trees.c
@@ -2043,7 +2043,8 @@ int unpack_trees(unsigned len, struct tree_desc *t, struct unpack_trees_options
 		if (!ret) {
 			if (git_env_bool("GIT_TEST_CHECK_CACHE_TREE", 0))
 				cache_tree_verify(the_repository, &o->result);
-			if (!cache_tree_fully_valid(o->result.cache_tree))
+			if (!o->skip_cache_tree_update &&
+			    !cache_tree_fully_valid(o->result.cache_tree))
 				cache_tree_update(&o->result,
 						  WRITE_TREE_SILENT |
 						  WRITE_TREE_REPAIR);
diff --git a/unpack-trees.h b/unpack-trees.h
index efb9edfbb2..6ab0d74c84 100644
--- a/unpack-trees.h
+++ b/unpack-trees.h
@@ -71,7 +71,8 @@ struct unpack_trees_options {
 		     quiet,
 		     exiting_early,
 		     show_all_errors,
-		     dry_run;
+		     dry_run,
+		     skip_cache_tree_update;
 	enum unpack_trees_reset_type reset;
 	const char *prefix;
 	int cache_bottom;