diff --git a/src/libsync/discovery.cpp b/src/libsync/discovery.cpp
index ccfb0c25f982e..2cd501a291aa3 100644
--- a/src/libsync/discovery.cpp
+++ b/src/libsync/discovery.cpp
@@ -1681,8 +1681,9 @@ void ProcessDirectoryJob::processFileFinalize(
     }
 
     if (_discoveryData->_syncOptions._vfs &&
-        item->_type == CSyncEnums::ItemTypeFile &&
-        !_discoveryData->_syncOptions._vfs->isPlaceHolderInSync(_discoveryData->_localDir + path._local)) {
+            (item->_type == CSyncEnums::ItemTypeFile || item->_type == CSyncEnums::ItemTypeDirectory) &&
+            item->_instruction == CSyncEnums::CSYNC_INSTRUCTION_NONE &&
+            !_discoveryData->_syncOptions._vfs->isPlaceHolderInSync(_discoveryData->_localDir + path._local)) {
         item->_instruction = CSyncEnums::CSYNC_INSTRUCTION_UPDATE_VFS_METADATA;
     }