diff --git a/bitbake/lib/bb/data_smart.py b/bitbake/lib/bb/data_smart.py
index 742c7fb64a..e4bdb2fdd9 100644
--- a/bitbake/lib/bb/data_smart.py
+++ b/bitbake/lib/bb/data_smart.py
@@ -614,6 +614,10 @@ class DataSmart(MutableMapping):
             filtered = filter(lambda v: v not in local_var["_removeactive"],
                               value.split(" "))
             value = " ".join(filtered)
+            if expand:
+                 # We need to ensure the expand cache has the correct value
+                 # flag == "_content" here
+                self.expand_cache[var].value = value
         return value
 
     def delVarFlag(self, var, flag, **loginfo):