diff --git a/cache.go b/cache.go
index 185177c..81cbfde 100644
--- a/cache.go
+++ b/cache.go
@@ -81,12 +81,12 @@ func (c *Cache) Replace(key string, value interface{}) bool {
 	return true
 }
 
-// Attempts to get the value from the cache and calles fetch on a miss.
-// If fetch returns an error, no value is cached and the error is returned back
-// to the caller.
+// Attempts to get the value from the cache and calles fetch on a miss (missing
+// or stale item). If fetch returns an error, no value is cached and the error
+// is returned back to the caller.
 func (c *Cache) Fetch(key string, duration time.Duration, fetch func() (interface{}, error)) (*Item, error) {
 	item := c.Get(key)
-	if item != nil {
+	if item != nil && !item.Expired() {
 		return item, nil
 	}
 	value, err := fetch()
diff --git a/cache_test.go b/cache_test.go
index 3e85b8b..39136d1 100644
--- a/cache_test.go
+++ b/cache_test.go
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 package ccache
 
 import (
-	. "github.com/karlseguin/expect"
 	"strconv"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
+
+	. "github.com/karlseguin/expect"
 )
 
 type CacheTests struct{}
@@ -22,6 +23,22 @@ func (_ CacheTests) DeletesAValue() {
 	Expect(cache.Get("worm").Value()).To.Equal("sand")
 }
 
+func (_ CacheTests) FetchesExpiredItems() {
+	cache := New(Configure())
+	fn := func() (interface{}, error) { return "moo-moo", nil }
+
+	cache.Set("beef", "moo", time.Second)
+	Expect(cache.Get("beef").Value()).To.Equal("moo")
+
+	out, _ := cache.Fetch("beef", time.Second, fn)
+	Expect(out.Value()).To.Equal("moo")
+
+	time.Sleep(2 * time.Second)
+
+	out2, _ := cache.Fetch("beef", time.Second, fn)
+	Expect(out2.Value()).To.Equal("moo-moo")
+}
+
 func (_ CacheTests) GCsTheOldestItems() {
 	cache := New(Configure().ItemsToPrune(10))
 	for i := 0; i < 500; i++ {