diff --git a/src/misc.c b/src/misc.c
index ad9d8335..3988aa5a 100644
--- a/src/misc.c
+++ b/src/misc.c
@@ -1377,14 +1377,19 @@ fdbase_opendir (char const *file_name, bool alternate, int child_oflags)
 		}
 	    }
 
+	  /* Remove any old directory info, and add new info if the new
+	     directory can be opened.  */
+	  if (0 < c->subdirlen && !chdirable (fd))
+	    close (fd);
+
 	  int newfd = open_subdir (chdir_fd, c->subdir, child_oflags);
 	  if (newfd < 0)
-	    fd = BADFD == -1 ? newfd : BADFD;
+	    {
+	      c->subdirlen = 0;
+	      fd = BADFD == -1 ? newfd : BADFD;
+	    }
 	  else
 	    {
-	      /* Remove any old directory info, and add new info.  */
-	      if (0 < c->subdirlen && !chdirable (fd))
-		close (fd);
 	      c->chdir_current = chdir_current;
 	      c->fd = fd = newfd;
 	      c->subdirlen = subdirlen;
diff --git a/tests/Makefile.am b/tests/Makefile.am
index 6583ba1b..b68fd83c 100644
--- a/tests/Makefile.am
+++ b/tests/Makefile.am
@@ -144,6 +144,7 @@ TESTSUITE_AT = \
  extrac32.at\
  extrac33.at\
  extrac34.at\
+ extrac35.at\
  filerem01.at\
  filerem02.at\
  filerem03.at\
diff --git a/tests/extrac35.at b/tests/extrac35.at
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2a536afe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/extrac35.at
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+# Check failed parent lookup does not corrupt the directory cache. -*- Autotest -*-
+
+# Copyright 2026 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+
+# This file is part of GNU tar.
+
+# GNU tar is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation; either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+
+# GNU tar is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+# along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+AT_SETUP([failed parent lookup and directory cache])
+AT_KEYWORDS([extract extrac35 chdir])
+
+AT_TAR_CHECK([
+mkdir -p src/a src/b dest
+printf 'one\n' > src/a/one
+printf 'two\n' > src/b/two
+
+tar -cf archive.tar -C src --no-recursion a/one b/two &&
+tar -xf archive.tar -C dest &&
+test -f dest/a/one &&
+test -f dest/b/two &&
+test ! -e dest/a/two &&
+cmp src/a/one dest/a/one &&
+cmp src/b/two dest/b/two
+])
+
+AT_CLEANUP
diff --git a/tests/testsuite.at b/tests/testsuite.at
index 9eb0d11c..29982cd1 100644
--- a/tests/testsuite.at
+++ b/tests/testsuite.at
@@ -361,6 +361,7 @@ m4_include([extrac31.at])
 m4_include([extrac32.at])
 m4_include([extrac33.at])
 m4_include([extrac34.at])
+m4_include([extrac35.at])
 
 m4_include([backup01.at])