diff --git a/src/libsync/discovery.cpp b/src/libsync/discovery.cpp
index 26ba91adb7d72..d83220bfbbe0b 100644
--- a/src/libsync/discovery.cpp
+++ b/src/libsync/discovery.cpp
@@ -1683,8 +1683,9 @@ void ProcessDirectoryJob::processFileFinalize(
         }
     }
 
-    if (_discoveryData->_syncOptions._vfs &&
-        item->_type == CSyncEnums::ItemTypeFile &&
+    if (item->_instruction ==  CSyncEnums::CSYNC_INSTRUCTION_NONE &&
+        _discoveryData->_syncOptions._vfs &&
+        (item->_type == CSyncEnums::ItemTypeFile || item->_type == CSyncEnums::ItemTypeDirectory) &&
         !_discoveryData->_syncOptions._vfs->isPlaceHolderInSync(_discoveryData->_localDir + path._local)) {
         item->_instruction = CSyncEnums::CSYNC_INSTRUCTION_UPDATE_VFS_METADATA;
     }