diff --git a/recovery.cpp b/recovery.cpp
index a0d96d2a..da9334aa 100644
--- a/recovery.cpp
+++ b/recovery.cpp
@@ -678,6 +678,10 @@ prompt_and_wait(Device* device) {
                 break;
 
             case Device::APPLY_EXT:
+                // Some packages expect /cache to be mounted (eg,
+                // standard incremental packages expect to use /cache
+                // as scratch space).
+                ensure_path_mounted(CACHE_ROOT);
                 status = update_directory(SDCARD_ROOT, SDCARD_ROOT, &wipe_cache, device);
                 if (status == INSTALL_SUCCESS && wipe_cache) {
                     ui->Print("\n-- Wiping cache (at package request)...\n");