diff --git a/Command/Fsck.hs b/Command/Fsck.hs
index 9a81f986b5..1c9af0d345 100644
--- a/Command/Fsck.hs
+++ b/Command/Fsck.hs
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ perform key file backend numcopies = check
 	, verifyLocationLog key file
 	, verifyDirectMapping key file
 	, checkKeySize key
-	, checkBackend backend key
+	, checkBackend backend key (Just file)
 	, checkKeyNumCopies key file numcopies
 	]
 
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ performBare :: Key -> Backend -> Annex Bool
 performBare key backend = check
 	[ verifyLocationLog key (key2file key)
 	, checkKeySize key
-	, checkBackend backend key
+	, checkBackend backend key Nothing
 	]
 
 check :: [Annex Bool] -> Annex Bool
@@ -321,17 +321,19 @@ checkKeySizeOr bad key file = case Types.Key.keySize key of
  - because modification of direct mode files is allowed. It's still done
  - if the file does not appear modified, to catch disk corruption, etc.
  -}
-checkBackend :: Backend -> Key -> Annex Bool
-checkBackend backend key = do
-	file <- calcRepo $ gitAnnexLocation key
-	ifM isDirect
-		( ifM (goodContent key file)
-			( checkBackendOr' (badContentDirect file) backend key file
-				(goodContent key file)
-			, return True
-			)
-		, checkBackendOr badContent backend key file
+checkBackend :: Backend -> Key -> Maybe FilePath -> Annex Bool
+checkBackend backend key mfile = go =<< isDirect
+  where
+  	go False = do
+		content <- calcRepo $ gitAnnexLocation key
+		checkBackendOr badContent backend key content
+	go True = maybe nocheck checkdirect mfile
+	checkdirect file = ifM (goodContent key file)
+		( checkBackendOr' (badContentDirect file) backend key file
+			(goodContent key file)
+		, nocheck
 		)
+	nocheck = return True
 
 checkBackendRemote :: Backend -> Key -> Remote -> Maybe FilePath -> Annex Bool
 checkBackendRemote backend key remote = maybe (return True) go
diff --git a/Command/Migrate.hs b/Command/Migrate.hs
index e0ef650b08..d8bfd74f17 100644
--- a/Command/Migrate.hs
+++ b/Command/Migrate.hs
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ upgradableKey backend key = isNothing (Types.Key.keySize key) || backendupgradab
  - be other files still pointing at that key. -}
 perform :: FilePath -> Key -> Backend -> Backend -> CommandPerform
 perform file oldkey oldbackend newbackend = do
-	ifM (Command.Fsck.checkBackend oldbackend oldkey)
+	ifM (Command.Fsck.checkBackend oldbackend oldkey (Just file))
 		( maybe stop go =<< genkey
 		, stop
 		)
diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index 94bb249b9d..48a307a873 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@ git-annex (4.20130406) UNRELEASED; urgency=low
     ssh key name, so that a locked down ssh key for one repository is not
     re-used when setting up additional repositories on the same server.
   * Fall back to internal url downloader when built without curl.
+  * fsck: Check content of direct mode files (only when the inode cache
+    thinks they are unmodified).
 
  -- Joey Hess <joeyh@debian.org>  Sat, 06 Apr 2013 15:24:15 -0400
 
diff --git a/doc/bugs/git_annex_fsck_in_direct_mode_does_not_checksum_files.mdwn b/doc/bugs/git_annex_fsck_in_direct_mode_does_not_checksum_files.mdwn
index a52a3c4fdb..9563f06836 100644
--- a/doc/bugs/git_annex_fsck_in_direct_mode_does_not_checksum_files.mdwn
+++ b/doc/bugs/git_annex_fsck_in_direct_mode_does_not_checksum_files.mdwn
@@ -14,4 +14,5 @@ git-annex version: 4.20130405, Linux
 
 Please provide any additional information below.
 
-
+> I've fixed it, fsck is indeed checksumming direct mode files now, as long
+> as they're not known to be modified. [[done]] --[[Joey]]