diff --git a/cache.h b/cache.h
index 295bf9da5b..70fd8ed462 100644
--- a/cache.h
+++ b/cache.h
@@ -488,6 +488,7 @@ extern int index_name_pos(const struct index_state *, const char *name, int name
 #define ADD_CACHE_SKIP_DFCHECK 4	/* Ok to skip DF conflict checks */
 #define ADD_CACHE_JUST_APPEND 8		/* Append only; tree.c::read_tree() */
 #define ADD_CACHE_NEW_ONLY 16		/* Do not replace existing ones */
+#define ADD_CACHE_KEEP_CACHE_TREE 32	/* Do not invalidate cache-tree */
 extern int add_index_entry(struct index_state *, struct cache_entry *ce, int option);
 extern void rename_index_entry_at(struct index_state *, int pos, const char *new_name);
 extern int remove_index_entry_at(struct index_state *, int pos);
diff --git a/read-cache.c b/read-cache.c
index 1a7ef7f783..d5f70a08b9 100644
--- a/read-cache.c
+++ b/read-cache.c
@@ -950,7 +950,8 @@ static int add_index_entry_with_check(struct index_state *istate, struct cache_e
 	int skip_df_check = option & ADD_CACHE_SKIP_DFCHECK;
 	int new_only = option & ADD_CACHE_NEW_ONLY;
 
-	cache_tree_invalidate_path(istate, ce->name);
+	if (!(option & ADD_CACHE_KEEP_CACHE_TREE))
+		cache_tree_invalidate_path(istate, ce->name);
 	pos = index_name_stage_pos(istate, ce->name, ce_namelen(ce), ce_stage(ce));
 
 	/* existing match? Just replace it. */
diff --git a/split-index.c b/split-index.c
index b03a250e7c..33c0c4b698 100644
--- a/split-index.c
+++ b/split-index.c
@@ -133,6 +133,7 @@ void merge_base_index(struct index_state *istate)
 	for (i = si->nr_replacements; i < si->saved_cache_nr; i++) {
 		add_index_entry(istate, si->saved_cache[i],
 				ADD_CACHE_OK_TO_ADD |
+				ADD_CACHE_KEEP_CACHE_TREE |
 				/*
 				 * we may have to replay what
 				 * merge-recursive.c:update_stages()