diff --git a/lib/i18n/backend/cache.rb b/lib/i18n/backend/cache.rb
index 67573418..a0292b53 100644
--- a/lib/i18n/backend/cache.rb
+++ b/lib/i18n/backend/cache.rb
@@ -76,7 +76,8 @@ def fetch(cache_key, &block)
         end
 
         def _fetch(cache_key, &block)
-          result = I18n.cache_store.read(cache_key) and return result
+          result = I18n.cache_store.read(cache_key)
+          return result unless result.nil?
           result = catch(:exception, &block)
           I18n.cache_store.write(cache_key, result) unless result.is_a?(Proc)
           result
diff --git a/test/backend/cache_test.rb b/test/backend/cache_test.rb
index 39df10d4..de212aab 100644
--- a/test/backend/cache_test.rb
+++ b/test/backend/cache_test.rb
@@ -36,6 +36,12 @@ def teardown
     assert_equal 'Bar', I18n.t(:bar)
   end
 
+  test "translate returns a cached false response" do
+    I18n.backend.expects(:lookup).never
+    I18n.cache_store.expects(:read).returns(false)
+    assert_equal false, I18n.t(:foo)
+  end
+
   test "still raises MissingTranslationData but also caches it" do
     assert_raise(I18n::MissingTranslationData) { I18n.t(:missing, :raise => true) }
     assert_raise(I18n::MissingTranslationData) { I18n.t(:missing, :raise => true) }