diff --git a/lib/dns/cache.c b/lib/dns/cache.c
index 10fc1ae6bf..f7c3bbef99 100644
--- a/lib/dns/cache.c
+++ b/lib/dns/cache.c
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ cache_create_db(dns_cache_t *cache, dns_db_t **db) {
 			       dns_dbtype_cache, cache->rdclass, 1, argv, db);
 	if (result == ISC_R_SUCCESS) {
 		dns_db_setservestalettl(*db, cache->serve_stale_ttl);
+		dns_db_setservestalerefresh(*db, cache->serve_stale_refresh);
 	}
 	return (result);
 }