diff --git a/cache/instructioncache/cache.go b/cache/instructioncache/cache.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f1180b6c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cache/instructioncache/cache.go
@@ -0,0 +1,112 @@
+package instructioncache
+
+import (
+	"github.com/boltdb/bolt"
+	"github.com/moby/buildkit/cache"
+	"github.com/moby/buildkit/cache/metadata"
+	"github.com/pkg/errors"
+	"golang.org/x/net/context"
+)
+
+const cacheKey = "buildkit.instructioncache"
+
+type cacheGroup struct {
+	Snapshots []string `json:"snapshots"`
+}
+
+type LocalStore struct {
+	MetadataStore *metadata.Store
+	Cache         cache.Accessor
+}
+
+func (ls *LocalStore) Set(key string, refsAny []interface{}) error {
+	refs, err := toReferenceArray(refsAny)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	cg := cacheGroup{}
+	for _, r := range refs {
+		cg.Snapshots = append(cg.Snapshots, r.ID())
+	}
+	v, err := metadata.NewValue(cg)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	v.Index = index(key)
+	for _, r := range refs {
+		si, _ := ls.MetadataStore.Get(r.ID())
+		if err := si.Update(func(b *bolt.Bucket) error { // TODO: should share transaction
+			return si.SetValue(b, index(key), *v)
+		}); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (ls *LocalStore) Lookup(ctx context.Context, key string) ([]interface{}, error) {
+	snaps, err := ls.MetadataStore.Search(index(key))
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	refs := make([]cache.ImmutableRef, 0)
+	var retErr error
+loop0:
+	for _, s := range snaps {
+		retErr = nil
+		for _, r := range refs {
+			r.Release(context.TODO())
+		}
+		refs = nil
+
+		v := s.Get(index(key))
+		if v != nil {
+			var cg cacheGroup
+			if err = v.Unmarshal(&cg); err != nil {
+				retErr = err
+				continue
+			}
+			for _, id := range cg.Snapshots {
+				r, err := ls.Cache.Get(ctx, id)
+				if err != nil {
+					retErr = err
+					continue loop0
+				}
+				refs = append(refs, r)
+			}
+			retErr = nil
+			break
+		}
+	}
+	if retErr != nil {
+		for _, r := range refs {
+			r.Release(context.TODO())
+		}
+		refs = nil
+	}
+	return toAny(refs), retErr
+}
+
+func index(k string) string {
+	return cacheKey + "::" + k
+}
+
+func toReferenceArray(in []interface{}) ([]cache.ImmutableRef, error) {
+	out := make([]cache.ImmutableRef, 0, len(in))
+	for _, i := range in {
+		r, ok := i.(cache.ImmutableRef)
+		if !ok {
+			return nil, errors.Errorf("invalid reference")
+		}
+		out = append(out, r)
+	}
+	return out, nil
+}
+
+func toAny(in []cache.ImmutableRef) []interface{} {
+	out := make([]interface{}, 0, len(in))
+	for _, i := range in {
+		out = append(out, i)
+	}
+	return out
+}
diff --git a/cache/metadata/metadata.go b/cache/metadata/metadata.go
index 7be93477..5035b7b2 100644
--- a/cache/metadata/metadata.go
+++ b/cache/metadata/metadata.go
@@ -210,6 +210,14 @@ func (s *StorageItem) Update(fn func(b *bolt.Bucket) error) error {
 	return s.storage.Update(s.id, fn)
 }
 
+func (s *StorageItem) Keys() []string {
+	keys := make([]string, 0, len(s.values))
+	for k := range s.values {
+		keys = append(keys, k)
+	}
+	return keys
+}
+
 func (s *StorageItem) Get(k string) *Value {
 	return s.values[k]
 }
diff --git a/client/solve.go b/client/solve.go
index c901a142..ddfb82fe 100644
--- a/client/solve.go
+++ b/client/solve.go
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ func (c *Client) Solve(ctx context.Context, r io.Reader, statusChan chan *SolveS
 					Started:   v.Started,
 					Completed: v.Completed,
 					Error:     v.Error,
+					Cached:    v.Cached,
 				})
 			}
 			for _, v := range resp.Statuses {
diff --git a/control/control.go b/control/control.go
index dcde822d..5832f20e 100644
--- a/control/control.go
+++ b/control/control.go
@@ -15,10 +15,11 @@ import (
 )
 
 type Opt struct {
-	Snapshotter   snapshot.Snapshotter
-	CacheManager  cache.Manager
-	Worker        worker.Worker
-	SourceManager *source.Manager
+	Snapshotter      snapshot.Snapshotter
+	CacheManager     cache.Manager
+	Worker           worker.Worker
+	SourceManager    *source.Manager
+	InstructionCache solver.InstructionCache
 }
 
 type Controller struct { // TODO: ControlService
@@ -30,9 +31,10 @@ func NewController(opt Opt) (*Controller, error) {
 	c := &Controller{
 		opt: opt,
 		solver: solver.NewLLBSolver(solver.LLBOpt{
-			SourceManager: opt.SourceManager,
-			CacheManager:  opt.CacheManager,
-			Worker:        opt.Worker,
+			SourceManager:    opt.SourceManager,
+			CacheManager:     opt.CacheManager,
+			Worker:           opt.Worker,
+			InstructionCache: opt.InstructionCache,
 		}),
 	}
 	return c, nil
@@ -98,6 +100,7 @@ func (c *Controller) Status(req *controlapi.StatusRequest, stream controlapi.Con
 						Started:   v.Started,
 						Completed: v.Completed,
 						Error:     v.Error,
+						Cached:    v.Cached,
 					})
 				}
 				for _, v := range ss.Statuses {
diff --git a/control/control_default.go b/control/control_default.go
index b9dd0ff8..7aa8d28e 100644
--- a/control/control_default.go
+++ b/control/control_default.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/containerd/containerd/rootfs"
 	ctdsnapshot "github.com/containerd/containerd/snapshot"
 	"github.com/moby/buildkit/cache"
+	"github.com/moby/buildkit/cache/instructioncache"
 	"github.com/moby/buildkit/cache/metadata"
 	"github.com/moby/buildkit/snapshot/blobmapping"
 	"github.com/moby/buildkit/source"
@@ -44,6 +45,11 @@ func defaultControllerOpts(root string, pd pullDeps) (*Opt, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
+	ic := &instructioncache.LocalStore{
+		MetadataStore: md,
+		Cache:         cm,
+	}
+
 	sm, err := source.NewManager()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -62,8 +68,9 @@ func defaultControllerOpts(root string, pd pullDeps) (*Opt, error) {
 	sm.Register(is)
 
 	return &Opt{
-		Snapshotter:   snapshotter,
-		CacheManager:  cm,
-		SourceManager: sm,
+		Snapshotter:      snapshotter,
+		CacheManager:     cm,
+		SourceManager:    sm,
+		InstructionCache: ic,
 	}, nil
 }
diff --git a/control/control_standalone_test.go b/control/control_standalone_test.go
index 2989200a..c68466b2 100644
--- a/control/control_standalone_test.go
+++ b/control/control_standalone_test.go
@@ -65,7 +65,10 @@ func TestControl(t *testing.T) {
 	img, err := source.NewImageIdentifier("docker.io/library/busybox:latest")
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 
-	snap, err := sm.Pull(ctx, img)
+	src, err := sm.Resolve(ctx, img)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+	snap, err := src.Snapshot(ctx)
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 
 	mounts, err := snap.Mount(ctx)
diff --git a/solver/exec.go b/solver/exec.go
index d45bf43b..eee09159 100644
--- a/solver/exec.go
+++ b/solver/exec.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package solver
 
 import (
+	"encoding/json"
 	"io"
 	"os"
 
@@ -10,24 +11,39 @@ import (
 	"github.com/moby/buildkit/solver/pb"
 	"github.com/moby/buildkit/util/progress"
 	"github.com/moby/buildkit/worker"
+	digest "github.com/opencontainers/go-digest"
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 	"golang.org/x/net/context"
 )
 
 type execOp struct {
-	op *pb.Op_Exec
+	op *pb.ExecOp
 	cm cache.Manager
 	w  worker.Worker
 }
 
 func newExecOp(op *pb.Op_Exec, cm cache.Manager, w worker.Worker) (Op, error) {
 	return &execOp{
-		op: op,
+		op: op.Exec,
 		cm: cm,
 		w:  w,
 	}, nil
 }
 
+func (e *execOp) CacheKey(ctx context.Context, inputs []string) (string, error) {
+	dt, err := json.Marshal(struct {
+		Inputs []string
+		Exec   *pb.ExecOp
+	}{
+		Inputs: inputs,
+		Exec:   e.op,
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	return digest.FromBytes(dt).String(), nil
+}
+
 func (e *execOp) Run(ctx context.Context, inputs []Reference) ([]Reference, error) {
 	mounts := make(map[string]cache.Mountable)
 
@@ -44,7 +60,7 @@ func (e *execOp) Run(ctx context.Context, inputs []Reference) ([]Reference, erro
 		}
 	}()
 
-	for _, m := range e.op.Exec.Mounts {
+	for _, m := range e.op.Mounts {
 		var mountable cache.Mountable
 		if int(m.Input) > len(inputs) {
 			return nil, errors.Errorf("missing input %d", m.Input)
@@ -72,9 +88,9 @@ func (e *execOp) Run(ctx context.Context, inputs []Reference) ([]Reference, erro
 	}
 
 	meta := worker.Meta{
-		Args: e.op.Exec.Meta.Args,
-		Env:  e.op.Exec.Meta.Env,
-		Cwd:  e.op.Exec.Meta.Cwd,
+		Args: e.op.Meta.Args,
+		Env:  e.op.Meta.Env,
+		Cwd:  e.op.Meta.Cwd,
 	}
 
 	stdout := newStreamWriter(ctx, 1)
diff --git a/solver/refcache.go b/solver/refcache.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 50411f6c..00000000
--- a/solver/refcache.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,159 +0,0 @@
-package solver
-
-import (
-	"sync"
-
-	"github.com/moby/buildkit/util/flightcontrol"
-	"github.com/moby/buildkit/util/progress"
-	digest "github.com/opencontainers/go-digest"
-	"github.com/pkg/errors"
-	"golang.org/x/net/context"
-)
-
-// refCache holds the references to snapshots what are currently activve
-// and allows sharing them between jobs
-
-type refCache struct {
-	mu    sync.Mutex
-	cache map[digest.Digest]*cachedReq
-	flightcontrol.Group
-}
-
-type cachedReq struct {
-	jobs        map[*job]struct{}
-	value       []*sharedRef
-	progressCtx context.Context
-}
-
-func (c *refCache) probe(j *job, key digest.Digest) bool {
-	c.mu.Lock()
-	if c.cache == nil {
-		c.cache = make(map[digest.Digest]*cachedReq)
-	}
-	cr, ok := c.cache[key]
-	if !ok {
-		cr = &cachedReq{jobs: make(map[*job]struct{})}
-		c.cache[key] = cr
-	}
-	cr.jobs[j] = struct{}{}
-	if ok && cr.value != nil {
-		c.mu.Unlock()
-		return true
-	}
-	c.mu.Unlock()
-	return false
-}
-func (c *refCache) get(key digest.Digest) ([]Reference, error) {
-	c.mu.Lock()
-	defer c.mu.Unlock()
-	v, ok := c.cache[key]
-	// these errors should not be reached
-	if !ok {
-		return nil, errors.Errorf("no ref cache found")
-	}
-	if v.value == nil {
-		return nil, errors.Errorf("no ref cache value set")
-	}
-	refs := make([]Reference, 0, len(v.value))
-	for _, r := range v.value {
-		refs = append(refs, r.Clone())
-	}
-	return refs, nil
-}
-func (c *refCache) set(ctx context.Context, key digest.Digest, refs []Reference) {
-	c.mu.Lock()
-	sharedRefs := make([]*sharedRef, 0, len(refs))
-	for _, r := range refs {
-		sharedRefs = append(sharedRefs, newSharedRef(r))
-	}
-	c.cache[key].value = sharedRefs
-	c.cache[key].progressCtx = ctx
-	c.mu.Unlock()
-}
-func (c *refCache) cancel(j *job) {
-	c.mu.Lock()
-	for k, r := range c.cache {
-		if _, ok := r.jobs[j]; ok {
-			delete(r.jobs, j)
-		}
-		if len(r.jobs) == 0 {
-			for _, r := range r.value {
-				go r.Release(context.TODO())
-			}
-			delete(c.cache, k)
-		}
-	}
-	c.mu.Unlock()
-}
-
-func (c *refCache) writeProgressSnapshot(ctx context.Context, key digest.Digest) error {
-	pw, ok, _ := progress.FromContext(ctx)
-	if ok {
-		c.mu.Lock()
-		v, ok := c.cache[key]
-		if !ok {
-			c.mu.Unlock()
-			return errors.Errorf("no ref cache found")
-		}
-		pctx := v.progressCtx
-		c.mu.Unlock()
-		if pctx != nil {
-			return flightcontrol.WriteProgress(pctx, pw)
-		}
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-// sharedRef is a wrapper around releasable that allows you to make new
-// releasable child objects
-type sharedRef struct {
-	mu   sync.Mutex
-	refs map[*sharedRefInstance]struct{}
-	main Reference
-	Reference
-}
-
-func newSharedRef(main Reference) *sharedRef {
-	mr := &sharedRef{
-		refs:      make(map[*sharedRefInstance]struct{}),
-		Reference: main,
-	}
-	mr.main = mr.Clone()
-	return mr
-}
-
-func (mr *sharedRef) Clone() Reference {
-	mr.mu.Lock()
-	r := &sharedRefInstance{sharedRef: mr}
-	mr.refs[r] = struct{}{}
-	mr.mu.Unlock()
-	return r
-}
-
-func (mr *sharedRef) Release(ctx context.Context) error {
-	return mr.main.Release(ctx)
-}
-
-func (mr *sharedRef) Sys() Reference {
-	sys := mr.Reference
-	if s, ok := sys.(interface {
-		Sys() Reference
-	}); ok {
-		return s.Sys()
-	}
-	return sys
-}
-
-type sharedRefInstance struct {
-	*sharedRef
-}
-
-func (r *sharedRefInstance) Release(ctx context.Context) error {
-	r.sharedRef.mu.Lock()
-	defer r.sharedRef.mu.Unlock()
-	delete(r.sharedRef.refs, r)
-	if len(r.sharedRef.refs) == 0 {
-		return r.sharedRef.Reference.Release(ctx)
-	}
-	return nil
-}
diff --git a/solver/solver.go b/solver/solver.go
index ebfb774b..f2bddc1a 100644
--- a/solver/solver.go
+++ b/solver/solver.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package solver
 
 import (
+	"github.com/Sirupsen/logrus"
 	"github.com/moby/buildkit/cache"
 	"github.com/moby/buildkit/client"
 	"github.com/moby/buildkit/solver/pb"
@@ -13,9 +14,10 @@ import (
 )
 
 type LLBOpt struct {
-	SourceManager *source.Manager
-	CacheManager  cache.Manager // TODO: this shouldn't be needed before instruction cache
-	Worker        worker.Worker
+	SourceManager    *source.Manager
+	CacheManager     cache.Manager // TODO: this shouldn't be needed before instruction cache
+	Worker           worker.Worker
+	InstructionCache InstructionCache
 }
 
 func NewLLBSolver(opt LLBOpt) *Solver {
@@ -28,7 +30,7 @@ func NewLLBSolver(opt LLBOpt) *Solver {
 		default:
 			return nil, errors.Errorf("invalid op type %T", op)
 		}
-	})
+	}, opt.InstructionCache)
 }
 
 // ResolveOpFunc finds an Op implementation for a vertex
@@ -41,22 +43,24 @@ type Reference interface {
 
 // Op is an implementation for running a vertex
 type Op interface {
-	// CacheKeys(context.Context, [][]string) ([]string, error)
+	CacheKey(context.Context, []string) (string, error)
 	Run(ctx context.Context, inputs []Reference) (outputs []Reference, err error)
 }
 
-// type Cache interface {
-// 	Lookup(context.Context, string) ([]Reference, error)
-// }
-
-type Solver struct {
-	resolve ResolveOpFunc
-	jobs    *jobList
-	active  refCache
+type InstructionCache interface {
+	Lookup(ctx context.Context, key string) ([]interface{}, error) // TODO: regular ref
+	Set(key string, refs []interface{}) error
 }
 
-func New(resolve ResolveOpFunc) *Solver {
-	return &Solver{resolve: resolve, jobs: newJobList()}
+type Solver struct {
+	resolve     ResolveOpFunc
+	jobs        *jobList
+	activeState activeState
+	cache       InstructionCache
+}
+
+func New(resolve ResolveOpFunc, cache InstructionCache) *Solver {
+	return &Solver{resolve: resolve, jobs: newJobList(), cache: cache}
 }
 
 func (s *Solver) Solve(ctx context.Context, id string, v Vertex) error {
@@ -78,7 +82,7 @@ func (s *Solver) Solve(ctx context.Context, id string, v Vertex) error {
 
 	refs, err := s.getRefs(ctx, j, j.g)
 	closeProgressWriter()
-	s.active.cancel(j)
+	s.activeState.cancel(j)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -99,9 +103,77 @@ func (s *Solver) Status(ctx context.Context, id string, statusChan chan *client.
 	return j.pipe(ctx, statusChan)
 }
 
-func (s *Solver) getRefs(ctx context.Context, j *job, g *vertex) (retRef []Reference, retErr error) {
+func (s *Solver) getCacheKey(ctx context.Context, j *job, g *vertex) (cacheKey string, retErr error) {
+	state, err := s.activeState.vertexState(j, g.digest, func() (Op, error) {
+		return s.resolve(g)
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
 
-	s.active.probe(j, g.digest) // this registers the key with the job
+	inputs := make([]string, len(g.inputs))
+	if len(g.inputs) > 0 {
+		eg, ctx := errgroup.WithContext(ctx)
+		for i, in := range g.inputs {
+			func(i int, in *vertex) {
+				eg.Go(func() error {
+					k, err := s.getCacheKey(ctx, j, in)
+					if err != nil {
+						return err
+					}
+					inputs[i] = k
+					return nil
+				})
+			}(i, in.vertex)
+		}
+		if err := eg.Wait(); err != nil {
+			return "", err
+		}
+	}
+
+	pw, _, ctx := progress.FromContext(ctx, progress.WithMetadata("vertex", g.Digest()))
+	defer pw.Close()
+
+	if len(g.inputs) == 0 {
+		g.notifyStarted(ctx)
+		defer func() {
+			g.notifyCompleted(ctx, false, retErr)
+		}()
+	}
+
+	return state.GetCacheKey(ctx, func(ctx context.Context, op Op) (string, error) {
+		return op.CacheKey(ctx, inputs)
+	})
+}
+
+func (s *Solver) getRefs(ctx context.Context, j *job, g *vertex) (retRef []Reference, retErr error) {
+	state, err := s.activeState.vertexState(j, g.digest, func() (Op, error) {
+		return s.resolve(g)
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	var cacheKey string
+	if s.cache != nil {
+		var err error
+		cacheKey, err = s.getCacheKey(ctx, j, g)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		cacheRefsAny, err := s.cache.Lookup(ctx, cacheKey)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		if len(cacheRefsAny) > 0 {
+			cacheRefs, err := toReferenceArray(cacheRefsAny)
+			if err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
+			g.recursiveMarkCached(ctx)
+			return cacheRefs, nil
+		}
+	}
 
 	// refs contains all outputs for all input vertexes
 	refs := make([][]*sharedRef, len(g.inputs))
@@ -156,29 +228,39 @@ func (s *Solver) getRefs(ctx context.Context, j *job, g *vertex) (retRef []Refer
 
 	g.notifyStarted(ctx)
 	defer func() {
-		g.notifyCompleted(ctx, retErr)
+		g.notifyCompleted(ctx, false, retErr)
 	}()
 
-	_, err := s.active.Do(ctx, g.digest.String(), func(doctx context.Context) (interface{}, error) {
-		if hit := s.active.probe(j, g.digest); hit {
-			if err := s.active.writeProgressSnapshot(ctx, g.digest); err != nil {
-				return nil, err
+	return state.GetRefs(ctx, func(ctx context.Context, op Op) ([]Reference, error) {
+		refs, err := op.Run(ctx, inputRefs)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		if s.cache != nil {
+			if err := s.cache.Set(cacheKey, toAny(refs)); err != nil {
+				logrus.Errorf("failed to save cache for %s: %v", cacheKey, err)
 			}
-			return nil, nil
 		}
-		op, err := s.resolve(g)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-		refs, err := op.Run(doctx, inputRefs)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-		s.active.set(doctx, g.digest, refs)
-		return nil, nil
+		return refs, nil
 	})
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	return s.active.get(g.digest)
+}
+
+func toReferenceArray(in []interface{}) ([]Reference, error) {
+	out := make([]Reference, 0, len(in))
+	for _, i := range in {
+		r, ok := i.(Reference)
+		if !ok {
+			return nil, errors.Errorf("invalid reference")
+		}
+		out = append(out, r)
+	}
+	return out, nil
+}
+
+func toAny(in []Reference) []interface{} {
+	out := make([]interface{}, 0, len(in))
+	for _, i := range in {
+		out = append(out, i)
+	}
+	return out
 }
diff --git a/solver/source.go b/solver/source.go
index df8348c9..ffd506b7 100644
--- a/solver/source.go
+++ b/solver/source.go
@@ -1,14 +1,18 @@
 package solver
 
 import (
+	"sync"
+
 	"github.com/moby/buildkit/solver/pb"
 	"github.com/moby/buildkit/source"
 	"golang.org/x/net/context"
 )
 
 type sourceOp struct {
-	op *pb.Op_Source
-	sm *source.Manager
+	mu  sync.Mutex
+	op  *pb.Op_Source
+	sm  *source.Manager
+	src source.SourceInstance
 }
 
 func newSourceOp(op *pb.Op_Source, sm *source.Manager) (Op, error) {
@@ -18,7 +22,11 @@ func newSourceOp(op *pb.Op_Source, sm *source.Manager) (Op, error) {
 	}, nil
 }
 
-func (s *sourceOp) Run(ctx context.Context, _ []Reference) ([]Reference, error) {
+func (s *sourceOp) instance(ctx context.Context) (source.SourceInstance, error) {
+	s.mu.Lock()
+	if s.src != nil {
+		return s.src, nil
+	}
 	id, err := source.FromString(s.op.Source.Identifier)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -27,6 +35,24 @@ func (s *sourceOp) Run(ctx context.Context, _ []Reference) ([]Reference, error)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+	s.src = src
+	s.mu.Unlock()
+	return s.src, nil
+}
+
+func (s *sourceOp) CacheKey(ctx context.Context, _ []string) (string, error) {
+	src, err := s.instance(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	return src.CacheKey(ctx)
+}
+
+func (s *sourceOp) Run(ctx context.Context, _ []Reference) ([]Reference, error) {
+	src, err := s.instance(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
 	ref, err := src.Snapshot(ctx)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
diff --git a/solver/state.go b/solver/state.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5273569d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/solver/state.go
@@ -0,0 +1,183 @@
+package solver
+
+import (
+	"sync"
+
+	"github.com/moby/buildkit/util/flightcontrol"
+	"github.com/moby/buildkit/util/progress"
+	digest "github.com/opencontainers/go-digest"
+	"golang.org/x/net/context"
+)
+
+// activeState holds the references to snapshots what are currently activve
+// and allows sharing them between jobs
+
+type activeState struct {
+	mu     sync.Mutex
+	states map[digest.Digest]*state
+	flightcontrol.Group
+}
+
+type state struct {
+	*activeState
+	key         digest.Digest
+	jobs        map[*job]struct{}
+	refs        []*sharedRef
+	cacheKey    string
+	op          Op
+	progressCtx context.Context
+	cacheCtx    context.Context
+}
+
+func (s *activeState) vertexState(j *job, key digest.Digest, cb func() (Op, error)) (*state, error) {
+	s.mu.Lock()
+	defer s.mu.Unlock()
+
+	if s.states == nil {
+		s.states = map[digest.Digest]*state{}
+	}
+
+	st, ok := s.states[key]
+	if !ok {
+		op, err := cb()
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		st = &state{key: key, jobs: map[*job]struct{}{}, op: op, activeState: s}
+		s.states[key] = st
+	}
+	st.jobs[j] = struct{}{}
+	return st, nil
+}
+
+func (s *activeState) cancel(j *job) {
+	s.mu.Lock()
+	defer s.mu.Unlock()
+	for k, st := range s.states {
+		if _, ok := st.jobs[j]; ok {
+			delete(st.jobs, j)
+		}
+		if len(st.jobs) == 0 {
+			for _, r := range st.refs {
+				go r.Release(context.TODO())
+			}
+			delete(s.states, k)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func (s *state) GetRefs(ctx context.Context, cb func(context.Context, Op) ([]Reference, error)) ([]Reference, error) {
+	_, err := s.Do(ctx, s.key.String(), func(doctx context.Context) (interface{}, error) {
+		if s.refs != nil {
+			if err := writeProgressSnapshot(s.progressCtx, ctx); err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
+			return nil, nil
+		}
+		refs, err := cb(doctx, s.op)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		sharedRefs := make([]*sharedRef, 0, len(refs))
+		for _, r := range refs {
+			sharedRefs = append(sharedRefs, newSharedRef(r))
+		}
+		s.refs = sharedRefs
+		s.progressCtx = doctx
+		return nil, nil
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	refs := make([]Reference, 0, len(s.refs))
+	for _, r := range s.refs {
+		refs = append(refs, r.Clone())
+	}
+	return refs, nil
+}
+
+func (s *state) GetCacheKey(ctx context.Context, cb func(context.Context, Op) (string, error)) (string, error) {
+	_, err := s.Do(ctx, "cache:"+s.key.String(), func(doctx context.Context) (interface{}, error) {
+		if s.cacheKey != "" {
+			if err := writeProgressSnapshot(s.cacheCtx, ctx); err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
+			return nil, nil
+		}
+		cacheKey, err := cb(doctx, s.op)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		s.cacheKey = cacheKey
+		s.cacheCtx = doctx
+		return nil, nil
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	return s.cacheKey, nil
+}
+
+func writeProgressSnapshot(srcCtx, destCtx context.Context) error {
+	pw, ok, _ := progress.FromContext(destCtx)
+	if ok {
+		if srcCtx != nil {
+			return flightcontrol.WriteProgress(srcCtx, pw)
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// sharedRef is a wrapper around releasable that allows you to make new
+// releasable child objects
+type sharedRef struct {
+	mu   sync.Mutex
+	refs map[*sharedRefInstance]struct{}
+	main Reference
+	Reference
+}
+
+func newSharedRef(main Reference) *sharedRef {
+	mr := &sharedRef{
+		refs:      make(map[*sharedRefInstance]struct{}),
+		Reference: main,
+	}
+	mr.main = mr.Clone()
+	return mr
+}
+
+func (mr *sharedRef) Clone() Reference {
+	mr.mu.Lock()
+	r := &sharedRefInstance{sharedRef: mr}
+	mr.refs[r] = struct{}{}
+	mr.mu.Unlock()
+	return r
+}
+
+func (mr *sharedRef) Release(ctx context.Context) error {
+	return mr.main.Release(ctx)
+}
+
+func (mr *sharedRef) Sys() Reference {
+	sys := mr.Reference
+	if s, ok := sys.(interface {
+		Sys() Reference
+	}); ok {
+		return s.Sys()
+	}
+	return sys
+}
+
+type sharedRefInstance struct {
+	*sharedRef
+}
+
+func (r *sharedRefInstance) Release(ctx context.Context) error {
+	r.sharedRef.mu.Lock()
+	defer r.sharedRef.mu.Unlock()
+	delete(r.sharedRef.refs, r)
+	if len(r.sharedRef.refs) == 0 {
+		return r.sharedRef.Reference.Release(ctx)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/solver/vertex.go b/solver/vertex.go
index 1f0eed0c..b30b2436 100644
--- a/solver/vertex.go
+++ b/solver/vertex.go
@@ -86,13 +86,26 @@ func (v *vertex) notifyStarted(ctx context.Context) {
 	pw.Write(v.Digest().String(), v.clientVertex)
 }
 
-func (v *vertex) notifyCompleted(ctx context.Context, err error) {
+func (v *vertex) notifyCompleted(ctx context.Context, cached bool, err error) {
 	pw, _, _ := progress.FromContext(ctx)
 	defer pw.Close()
 	now := time.Now()
+	if v.clientVertex.Started == nil {
+		v.clientVertex.Started = &now
+	}
 	v.clientVertex.Completed = &now
+	v.clientVertex.Cached = cached
 	if err != nil {
 		v.clientVertex.Error = err.Error()
 	}
 	pw.Write(v.Digest().String(), v.clientVertex)
 }
+
+func (v *vertex) recursiveMarkCached(ctx context.Context) {
+	for _, inp := range v.inputs {
+		inp.vertex.recursiveMarkCached(ctx)
+	}
+	if v.clientVertex.Started == nil {
+		v.notifyCompleted(ctx, true, nil)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/source/containerimage/pull.go b/source/containerimage/pull.go
index a13744f9..9baa4c53 100644
--- a/source/containerimage/pull.go
+++ b/source/containerimage/pull.go
@@ -100,11 +100,11 @@ func (p *puller) resolve(ctx context.Context) error {
 	return p.resolveErr
 }
 
-func (p *puller) CacheKey(ctx context.Context) ([]string, error) {
+func (p *puller) CacheKey(ctx context.Context) (string, error) {
 	if err := p.resolve(ctx); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+		return "", err
 	}
-	return []string{p.desc.Digest.String()}, nil
+	return p.desc.Digest.String(), nil
 }
 
 func (p *puller) Snapshot(ctx context.Context) (cache.ImmutableRef, error) {
diff --git a/source/manager.go b/source/manager.go
index 6f41afa8..90290577 100644
--- a/source/manager.go
+++ b/source/manager.go
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ type Source interface {
 }
 
 type SourceInstance interface {
-	CacheKey(ctx context.Context) ([]string, error)
+	CacheKey(ctx context.Context) (string, error)
 	Snapshot(ctx context.Context) (cache.ImmutableRef, error)
 }
 
diff --git a/util/progress/progressui/display.go b/util/progress/progressui/display.go
index 4910fd7f..19dad48b 100644
--- a/util/progress/progressui/display.go
+++ b/util/progress/progressui/display.go
@@ -176,6 +176,9 @@ func (t *trace) displayInfo() (d displayInfo) {
 				j.name = "ERROR " + j.name
 			}
 		}
+		if v.Cached {
+			j.name = "CACHED " + j.name
+		}
 		d.jobs = append(d.jobs, j)
 		for _, s := range v.statuses {
 			j := job{