diff --git a/drupalorg_drush.drush.inc b/drupalorg_drush.drush.inc
index 8314fd6..b0c4356 100644
--- a/drupalorg_drush.drush.inc
+++ b/drupalorg_drush.drush.inc
@@ -599,6 +599,10 @@ function drupalorg_drush_updatexml($project) {
   // Process the file download data, and record the item_nid for the package.
   $type = $project['type'] == 'core' ? 'core' : 'contrib';
   $request = make_prepare_request($project, $type);
+  // Set the cache option unless `--no-cache` is set.
+  if (!drush_get_option('no-cache', FALSE)) {
+    drush_set_option('cache', TRUE);
+  }
   if ($release = release_info_fetch($request)) {
     // Optionally log package contents to a file.
     if (drush_get_option('drupal-org-log-package-items-to-file')) {