diff --git a/tests/test-filecache.py b/tests/test-filecache.py
--- a/tests/test-filecache.py
+++ b/tests/test-filecache.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ class fakerepo(object):
     @filecache('x')
     def cached(self):
         print 'creating'
+        return 'string from function'
 
     def invalidate(self):
         for k in self._filecache:
@@ -103,7 +104,7 @@ def test_filecache_synced():
 
 def setbeforeget(repo):
     os.remove('x')
-    repo.cached = 0
+    repo.cached = 'string set externally'
     repo.invalidate()
     print repo.cached
     repo.invalidate()
diff --git a/tests/test-filecache.py.out b/tests/test-filecache.py.out
--- a/tests/test-filecache.py.out
+++ b/tests/test-filecache.py.out
@@ -20,6 +20,6 @@ working directory now based on revision 
 
 setbeforeget:
 
-0
+string set externally
 creating
-None
+string from function