diff --git a/darc/archive.py b/darc/archive.py
index a866a5bc1..9075df5db 100644
--- a/darc/archive.py
+++ b/darc/archive.py
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ class Archive(object):
         return 'Archive(%r)' % self.name
 
     def iter_items(self, filter=None):
-        unpacker = msgpack.Unpacker()
+        unpacker = msgpack.Unpacker(use_list=False)
         i = 0
         n = 20
         while True:
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ class Archive(object):
             self.cache.chunks[id] = count - 1, size, csize
         # This function is a bit evil since it abuses the cache to calculate
         # the stats. The cache transaction must be rolled back afterwards
-        unpacker = msgpack.Unpacker()
+        unpacker = msgpack.Unpacker(use_list=False)
         cache.begin_txn()
         stats = Statistics()
         add(self.id)
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ class Archive(object):
             result(item, True)
 
     def delete(self, cache):
-        unpacker = msgpack.Unpacker()
+        unpacker = msgpack.Unpacker(use_list=False)
         for id in self.metadata['items']:
             unpacker.feed(self.key.decrypt(id, self.store.get(id)))
             for item in unpacker:
diff --git a/darc/cache.py b/darc/cache.py
index b97160211..eeb214a17 100644
--- a/darc/cache.py
+++ b/darc/cache.py
@@ -63,15 +63,15 @@ class Cache(object):
         self.files = {}
         self._newest_mtime = 0
         with open(os.path.join(self.path, 'files'), 'rb') as fd:
-            u = msgpack.Unpacker()
+            u = msgpack.Unpacker(use_list=True)
             while True:
                 data = fd.read(64 * 1024)
                 if not data:
                     break
                 u.feed(data)
                 for hash, item in u:
-                    if item[0] < 10:
-                        self.files[hash] = (item[0] + 1,) + item[1:]
+                        item[0] += 1
+                        self.files[hash] = item
 
     def begin_txn(self):
         # Initialize transaction snapshot
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ class Cache(object):
                 for item in self.files.iteritems():
                     # Discard cached files with the newest mtime to avoid
                     # issues with filesystem snapshots and mtime precision
-                    if item[1][3] < self._newest_mtime:
+                    if item[1][0] < 10 and item[1][3] < self._newest_mtime:
                         msgpack.pack(item, fd)
         self.config.set('cache', 'manifest', self.manifest.id.encode('hex'))
         with open(os.path.join(self.path, 'config'), 'w') as fd:
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ class Cache(object):
         if (entry and entry[3] == st.st_mtime
             and entry[2] == st.st_size and entry[1] == st.st_ino):
             # reset entry age
-            self.files[path_hash] = (0,) + entry[1:]
+            self.files[path_hash][0] = 0
             return entry[4]
         else:
             return None
diff --git a/darc/remote.py b/darc/remote.py
index e2033fe05..396e3c93f 100644
--- a/darc/remote.py
+++ b/darc/remote.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ class StoreServer(object):
         # Make stdout blocking
         fl = fcntl.fcntl(sys.stdout.fileno(), fcntl.F_GETFL)
         fcntl.fcntl(sys.stdout.fileno(), fcntl.F_SETFL, fl & ~os.O_NONBLOCK)
-        unpacker = msgpack.Unpacker()
+        unpacker = msgpack.Unpacker(use_list=False)
         while True:
             r, w, es = select.select([sys.stdin], [], [], 10)
             if r:
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ class RemoteStore(object):
         self.to_send = ''
         self.extra = {}
         self.pending = {}
-        self.unpacker = msgpack.Unpacker()
+        self.unpacker = msgpack.Unpacker(use_list=False)
         self.msgid = 0
         self.received_msgid = 0
         args = ['ssh', '-p', str(location.port), '%s@%s' % (location.user or getpass.getuser(), location.host), 'darc', 'serve']