diff --git a/bitbake/lib/bb/parse/__init__.py b/bitbake/lib/bb/parse/__init__.py
index 1becaa4f02..67ec71f866 100644
--- a/bitbake/lib/bb/parse/__init__.py
+++ b/bitbake/lib/bb/parse/__init__.py
@@ -71,7 +71,12 @@ def cached_mtime_noerror(f):
     return __mtime_cache[f]
 
 def update_mtime(f):
-    __mtime_cache[f] = os.stat(f)[stat.ST_MTIME]
+    try:
+        __mtime_cache[f] = os.stat(f)[stat.ST_MTIME]
+    except OSError:
+        if f in __mtime_cache:
+            del __mtime_cache[f]
+        return 0
     return __mtime_cache[f]
 
 def update_cache(f):