diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 52098ea..0d506e9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -92,6 +92,7 @@ For those familiar with setting up backup scripts, here is a fast track to get y
 - `sudo ./restic-backup.sh --background-restore <snapshot> <dest>` — Non-blocking background restore (logs to /tmp).
 - `sudo ./restic-backup.sh --exact-ownership --restore` — To use with any of the restore flags to perserve files ownership.
 - `sudo ./restic-backup.sh --sync-restore <snapshot> <dest>` — Blocking restore suitable for cron/automation.
+- `sudo ./restic-backup.sh --cache-cleanup` — Remove old/orphaned cache directories.
 - `sudo ./restic-backup.sh --forget` — Apply retention policy (optionally prunes).
 - `sudo ./restic-backup.sh --diff` — Summary of changes between the last two snapshots.
 - `sudo ./restic-backup.sh --stats` — Repository stats (logical/physical sizes).
diff --git a/restic-backup.sh b/restic-backup.sh
index 72253dd..d765688 100644
--- a/restic-backup.sh
+++ b/restic-backup.sh
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 
 # =================================================================
-#           Restic Backup Script v0.44 - 2026.03.27
+#           Restic Backup Script v0.45 - 2026.05.09
 # =================================================================
 
 export PATH=/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin:$PATH
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ set -euo pipefail
 umask 077
 
 # --- Script Constants ---
-SCRIPT_VERSION="0.44"
+SCRIPT_VERSION="0.45"
 SCRIPT_DIR=$(cd -- "$(dirname -- "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" &>/dev/null && pwd)
 PROG_NAME=$(basename "$0"); readonly PROG_NAME
 CONFIG_FILE="${SCRIPT_DIR}/restic-backup.conf"
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ display_help() {
     printf "  ${C_GREEN}%-20s${C_RESET} %s\n" "--stats" "Display repository size and file counts."
     printf "  ${C_GREEN}%-20s${C_RESET} %s\n" "--check" "Verify repository integrity (subset)."
     printf "  ${C_GREEN}%-20s${C_RESET} %s\n" "--check-full" "Verify all repository data (slow)."
+    printf "  ${C_GREEN}%-20s${C_RESET} %s\n" "--cache-cleanup" "Remove old/orphaned cache directories."
     printf "  ${C_GREEN}%-20s${C_RESET} %s\n" "--forget" "Apply retention policy; optionally prune."
     printf "  ${C_GREEN}%-20s${C_RESET} %s\n" "--unlock" "Remove stale repository locks."
     printf "  ${C_GREEN}%-20s${C_RESET} %s\n" "--dump <id> <path>" "Dump a single file from a snapshot to stdout."
@@ -1421,6 +1422,19 @@ run_forget() {
     fi
 }
 
+run_cache_cleanup() {
+    echo -e "${C_BOLD}--- Cleaning Restic Cache ---${C_RESET}"
+    log_message "Running restic cache --cleanup"
+    if restic cache --cleanup; then
+        echo -e "${C_GREEN}✅ Cache cleanup completed successfully.${C_RESET}"
+        log_message "Cache cleanup successful."
+    else
+        echo -e "${C_RED}❌ Cache cleanup failed.${C_RESET}" >&2
+        log_message "ERROR: Cache cleanup failed."
+        return 1
+    fi
+}
+
 run_check() {
     echo -e "${C_BOLD}--- Checking Repository Integrity ---${C_RESET}"
     log_message "Running integrity check"
@@ -1934,6 +1948,10 @@ case "${1:-}" in
         run_preflight_checks "backup" "quiet"
         run_forget
         ;;
+    --cache-cleanup)
+        run_preflight_checks "cache" "quiet"
+        run_cache_cleanup
+        ;;
     --diff)
         run_preflight_checks "diff" "quiet"
         run_diff
diff --git a/restic-backup.sh.sha256 b/restic-backup.sh.sha256
index fa879e3..bbd72a3 100644
--- a/restic-backup.sh.sha256
+++ b/restic-backup.sh.sha256
@@ -1 +1 @@
-d545db8df2f0f3d59b4e59d4cc5f59a2e44adc74f64e188c88540b683811ef57  restic-backup.sh
+52a1734972189b3e0509055659678722d58b72eb9baa5a22dbc1b1d207e7c262  restic-backup.sh