diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index cefeede..065cc31 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ Each type's paths, Terraform examples and local/virtual behaviour are in `docs/<
 - `deb`: [remote](docs/deb/remote.md), [remote-github](docs/deb/remote-github.md)
 - `docker`: [remote](docs/docker/remote.md), [local](docs/docker/local.md)
 - `generic`: [remote](docs/generic/remote.md)
+- `gems`: [remote](docs/gems/remote.md)
 - `goproxy`: [remote](docs/goproxy/remote.md)
 - `helm`: [remote](docs/helm/remote.md), [local](docs/helm/local.md), [virtual](docs/helm/virtual.md)
 - `npm`: [remote](docs/npm/remote.md), [local](docs/npm/local.md), [virtual](docs/npm/virtual.md)
diff --git a/docs/common/caching.md b/docs/common/caching.md
index 40d70e3..20fd733 100644
--- a/docs/common/caching.md
+++ b/docs/common/caching.md
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ Every proxied request on a remote is classified as **denied**, **immutable** or
 | `immutable_patterns` | Regexes forcing a path immutable. |
 | `mutable_patterns` | Regexes forcing a path mutable. |
 | `immutable_ttl` | Seconds an immutable path stays fresh. `0` = forever. |
-| `mutable_ttl` | Seconds a mutable path stays fresh. `0` also means never expires, and the API stores `0` when the field is omitted. |
-| `check_mutable` | Stores the upstream ETag and tries a conditional `HEAD` (`If-None-Match`) when a mutable path is fetched. The ETag expires with the `mutable_ttl` freshness key, so an expired mutable path is refetched in full, not revalidated. |
+| `mutable_ttl` | Seconds a mutable path stays fresh. `0` also means never expires. Omitted on create, it defaults to `3600`; omitted on update, the stored value is kept. |
+| `check_mutable` | When a mutable path's `mutable_ttl` expires, sends a conditional `HEAD` (`If-None-Match`) with the stored upstream ETag. A `304` re-arms the TTL and serves the stored copy; anything else refetches in full. The ETag is kept for `max(10 × mutable_ttl, 7 days)`, re-armed on each `304`, so idle paths age out. It is only stored when `check_mutable` is set and `mutable_ttl` is non-zero, and never for immutable paths. |
 | `stale_on_error` | On an upstream network error, serve the stored copy instead of failing. |
 | `quarantine_enabled` / `quarantine_days` | Stored on the remote but not enforced by the proxy yet. |
 | `mirrorlist` / `mirror_strategy` | rpm/deb/alpine only. Upstream pool is `[base_url] + mirrorlist`; `round_robin` (default) rotates the starting mirror, `least_conn` starts at the one with the fewest in-flight requests. Network errors and 5xx fail over to the next mirror; other statuses return as-is. |
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ So `blocklist` beats the allowlist, and `immutable_patterns` beats
 |---|---|---|
 | Stored as | content-addressed blob (sha256), streamed | per-path index object, buffered and rewritten by the provider |
 | Fresh for | `immutable_ttl` (`0` = forever) | `mutable_ttl` |
-| After expiry | refetched from upstream | refetched from upstream (the ETag expires with the TTL, so `check_mutable` does not revalidate it) |
+| After expiry | refetched from upstream | revalidated with `If-None-Match` when `check_mutable` is set and an ETag is stored, else refetched |
 | Upstream down | `stale_on_error` serves the stored copy and re-arms the TTL; an open circuit breaker always serves stale if a copy exists, else 503 | same |
 
 Concurrent misses on one path share a fetch lock. Waiters poll the store for
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ curl -X DELETE https://artifactapi.example.com/api/v2/remotes/<name>/objects/<di
 ```
 
 - Evict drops the artifact row, the index object and the Redis TTL and ETag keys, so the next request goes upstream whatever the class or TTL.
+- Deleting a remote drops its Redis TTL and ETag keys, so a re-created remote of the same name starts cold.
 - A single-path evict takes the fetch lock first, so an in-flight fetch can't re-cache the path. It returns 503 if the lock stays busy.
 - A wildcard must end in `<dir>/*` and takes no lock.
 - Returns 204, or 404 for an unknown remote.
@@ -94,7 +95,7 @@ Force a moving path mutable, e.g. branch tarballs on `generic`:
 Each type's page lists its auto-detected mutable and immutable paths:
 [alpine](../alpine/remote.md), [alpine github](../alpine/remote-github.md),
 [cargo](../cargo/remote.md), [deb](../deb/remote.md), [deb github](../deb/remote-github.md),
-[docker](../docker/remote.md), [generic](../generic/remote.md), [goproxy](../goproxy/remote.md),
+[docker](../docker/remote.md), [generic](../generic/remote.md), [gems](../gems/remote.md), [goproxy](../goproxy/remote.md),
 [helm](../helm/remote.md), [npm](../npm/remote.md), [nuget](../nuget/remote.md),
 [puppet](../puppet/remote.md), [pypi](../pypi/remote.md), [rpm](../rpm/remote.md),
 [rpm github](../rpm/remote-github.md), [terraform](../terraform/remote.md).
diff --git a/docs/gems/remote.md b/docs/gems/remote.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9f4707b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/gems/remote.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+# `gems` remote
+
+Shared classification, TTL and eviction rules: [caching](../common/caching.md).
+
+| Type | Mutable (auto-detected) | Immutable (auto-detected) |
+|---|---|---|
+| `gems` | compact index (`versions`, `info/*`, `names`), `*specs.4.8.gz` | `gems/*.gem`, `quick/Marshal.4.8/*.gemspec.rz` |
diff --git a/docs/nuget/remote.md b/docs/nuget/remote.md
index ba0109a..7e6ed99 100644
--- a/docs/nuget/remote.md
+++ b/docs/nuget/remote.md
@@ -4,4 +4,4 @@ Shared classification, TTL and eviction rules: [caching](../common/caching.md).
 
 | Type | Mutable (auto-detected) | Immutable (auto-detected) |
 |---|---|---|
-| `nuget` | `index.json` (service index), registration and flat container indexes | `.nupkg`, `.nuspec` |
+| `nuget` | `index.json` (service index), registration and flat container indexes | `.nupkg`, `.snupkg`, `.nuspec`, `readme`, `icon` |
diff --git a/e2e-docker/caching_gems_test.go b/e2e-docker/caching_gems_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9ef2c8b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/e2e-docker/caching_gems_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+//go:build dockere2e
+
+package e2edocker
+
+func init() {
+	cachingCases = append(cachingCases, cachingCase{"gems", "gems/mygem-1.0.0.gem", "gems/mygem-1.0.0.gem"})
+}
diff --git a/e2e-docker/fixtures/gems/mygem-1.0.0.gem b/e2e-docker/fixtures/gems/mygem-1.0.0.gem
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..666781d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/e2e-docker/fixtures/gems/mygem-1.0.0.gem
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+mygem-1.0.0 e2e fixture
diff --git a/e2e/head_test.go b/e2e/head_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e222551
--- /dev/null
+++ b/e2e/head_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,182 @@
+//go:build e2e
+
+package e2e
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"io"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"git.unkin.net/unkin/artifactapi/internal/testsupport"
+)
+
+// assertHeadMatchesGet checks HEAD returns GET's status, type and length with no body.
+func assertHeadMatchesGet(t *testing.T, url string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	get, err := http.Get(url)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("GET: %v", err)
+	}
+	body, _ := io.ReadAll(get.Body)
+	get.Body.Close()
+	if get.StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
+		t.Fatalf("GET %s: %d %s", url, get.StatusCode, body)
+	}
+
+	head, err := http.Head(url)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("HEAD: %v", err)
+	}
+	hb, _ := io.ReadAll(head.Body)
+	head.Body.Close()
+	if head.StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
+		t.Fatalf("HEAD %s: got %d, want 200", url, head.StatusCode)
+	}
+	if len(hb) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("HEAD returned a %d-byte body", len(hb))
+	}
+	for _, h := range []string{"Content-Type", "Cache-Control", "Vary"} {
+		if head.Header.Get(h) != get.Header.Get(h) {
+			t.Errorf("HEAD %s %q, GET %q", h, head.Header.Get(h), get.Header.Get(h))
+		}
+	}
+	if head.ContentLength != int64(len(body)) {
+		t.Errorf("HEAD Content-Length %d, GET body %d bytes", head.ContentLength, len(body))
+	}
+}
+
+func TestProxyHeadNuGetRewritten(t *testing.T) {
+	var upstream *httptest.Server
+	upstream = httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+		json.NewEncoder(w).Encode(map[string]any{"version": "3.0.0", "resources": []map[string]string{
+			{"@id": upstream.URL + "/v3-flatcontainer/", "@type": "PackageBaseAddress/3.0.0"},
+		}})
+	}))
+	defer upstream.Close()
+
+	createRemote(t, mustFormat(`{"name": "head-nuget", "package_type": "nuget", "base_url": %q}`, upstream.URL+"/v3/index.json"))
+	defer deleteRemote(t, "head-nuget")
+
+	url := apiURL("/api/v1/remote/head-nuget/index.json")
+	assertHeadMatchesGet(t, url)
+
+	req, _ := http.NewRequest(http.MethodHead, url, nil)
+	req.Host = "evil.example:"
+	resp, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	resp.Body.Close()
+	if resp.StatusCode != http.StatusBadRequest {
+		t.Errorf("HEAD with invalid Host: got %d, want 400", resp.StatusCode)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestProxyHeadGitHubRPMRepodata(t *testing.T) {
+	rpm := testsupport.MinimalRPM("demo", "1.2", "3", "x86_64")
+	var gh *httptest.Server
+	mux := http.NewServeMux()
+	mux.HandleFunc("/repos/acme/tools/releases", func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		if p := r.URL.Query().Get("page"); p != "" && p != "1" {
+			w.Write([]byte("[]"))
+			return
+		}
+		json.NewEncoder(w).Encode([]map[string]any{{"tag_name": "v1.2-3", "assets": []map[string]any{{
+			"name":                 "demo-1.2-3.x86_64.rpm",
+			"size":                 len(rpm),
+			"browser_download_url": gh.URL + "/acme/tools/releases/download/v1.2-3/demo-1.2-3.x86_64.rpm",
+		}}}})
+	})
+	mux.HandleFunc("/acme/tools/releases/download/", func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		w.Header().Set("Content-Length", strconv.Itoa(len(rpm)))
+		w.Write(rpm)
+	})
+	gh = httptest.NewServer(mux)
+	defer gh.Close()
+
+	createRemote(t, mustFormat(`{"name": "head-ghrpm", "package_type": "github_rpm", "base_url": %q, "releases_remote": "github"}`, gh.URL+"/repos/acme/tools"))
+	defer deleteRemote(t, "head-ghrpm")
+
+	url := apiURL("/api/v1/remote/head-ghrpm/repodata/repomd.xml")
+	deadline := time.Now().Add(30 * time.Second)
+	for {
+		if _, status := getBody(t, url); status == http.StatusOK || time.Now().After(deadline) {
+			break
+		}
+		time.Sleep(500 * time.Millisecond)
+	}
+	assertHeadMatchesGet(t, url)
+}
+
+func TestProxyHeadNpmUncachedPackument(t *testing.T) {
+	const abbreviated = "application/vnd.npm.install-v1+json"
+	upstream := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+		doc := map[string]any{"name": "left-pad", "versions": map[string]any{"1.3.0": map[string]any{}}}
+		if r.Header.Get("Accept") != abbreviated {
+			doc["readme"] = strings.Repeat("full packument ", 200)
+		}
+		json.NewEncoder(w).Encode(doc)
+	}))
+	defer upstream.Close()
+
+	createRemote(t, mustFormat(`{"name": "head-npm", "package_type": "npm", "base_url": %q}`, upstream.URL))
+	defer deleteRemote(t, "head-npm")
+
+	url := apiURL("/api/v1/remote/head-npm/left-pad")
+	do := func(method string) (*http.Response, []byte) {
+		req, _ := http.NewRequest(method, url, nil)
+		req.Header.Set("Accept", abbreviated)
+		resp, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("%s: %v", method, err)
+		}
+		defer resp.Body.Close()
+		b, _ := io.ReadAll(resp.Body)
+		return resp, b
+	}
+	head, _ := do(http.MethodHead)
+	get, body := do(http.MethodGet)
+	if head.StatusCode != http.StatusOK || get.StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
+		t.Fatalf("HEAD %d, GET %d", head.StatusCode, get.StatusCode)
+	}
+	if head.ContentLength != int64(len(body)) {
+		t.Errorf("uncached HEAD Content-Length %d, GET body %d bytes", head.ContentLength, len(body))
+	}
+}
+
+func TestProxyHeadNonRewritingUsesUpstreamHead(t *testing.T) {
+	methods := make(chan string, 4)
+	upstream := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		methods <- r.Method
+		w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "text/xml")
+		w.Write([]byte("<repomd/>"))
+	}))
+	defer upstream.Close()
+
+	createRemote(t, mustFormat(`{"name": "head-rpm", "package_type": "rpm", "base_url": %q}`, upstream.URL))
+	defer deleteRemote(t, "head-rpm")
+
+	resp, err := http.Head(apiURL("/api/v1/remote/head-rpm/repodata/repomd.xml"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("HEAD: %v", err)
+	}
+	resp.Body.Close()
+	if resp.StatusCode != http.StatusOK || resp.Header.Get("X-Artifact-Source") != "remote" {
+		t.Fatalf("HEAD %d source %q", resp.StatusCode, resp.Header.Get("X-Artifact-Source"))
+	}
+	close(methods)
+	var seen []string
+	for m := range methods {
+		seen = append(seen, m)
+	}
+	if len(seen) != 1 || seen[0] != http.MethodHead {
+		t.Errorf("upstream saw %v, want a single HEAD", seen)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/e2e/scheme_test.go b/e2e/scheme_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4ab636f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/e2e/scheme_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+//go:build e2e
+
+package e2e
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"net/http"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func getForwardedHTTPS(t *testing.T, url string) *http.Response {
+	t.Helper()
+	req, _ := http.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, url, nil)
+	req.Header.Set("X-Forwarded-Proto", "https")
+	client := &http.Client{CheckRedirect: func(*http.Request, []*http.Request) error { return http.ErrUseLastResponse }}
+	resp, err := client.Do(req)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("GET %s: %v", url, err)
+	}
+	return resp
+}
+
+func TestForwardedProtoCargoConfig(t *testing.T) {
+	createRemote(t, `{"name": "scheme-cargo", "package_type": "cargo", "base_url": "https://index.crates.io"}`)
+	defer deleteRemote(t, "scheme-cargo")
+
+	resp := getForwardedHTTPS(t, apiURL("/api/v1/remote/scheme-cargo/config.json"))
+	defer resp.Body.Close()
+	var cfg map[string]string
+	if err := json.NewDecoder(resp.Body).Decode(&cfg); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if want := "https://" + strings.TrimPrefix(baseURL, "http://") + "/api/v1/remote/scheme-cargo/"; !strings.HasPrefix(cfg["dl"], want) {
+		t.Errorf("dl = %q, want prefix %q", cfg["dl"], want)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestForwardedProtoVirtualRedirect(t *testing.T) {
+	createRemote(t, `{"name": "scheme-rpm", "package_type": "rpm", "base_url": "https://rpm.example.com"}`)
+	defer deleteRemote(t, "scheme-rpm")
+	resp, err := http.Post(apiURL("/api/v2/virtuals"), "application/json",
+		strings.NewReader(`{"name": "scheme-virt", "package_type": "rpm", "members": ["scheme-rpm"]}`))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	resp.Body.Close()
+	if resp.StatusCode != http.StatusCreated {
+		t.Fatalf("create virtual: status %d", resp.StatusCode)
+	}
+	defer deleteRequest(t, apiURL("/api/v2/virtuals/scheme-virt"))
+
+	resp = getForwardedHTTPS(t, apiURL("/api/v1/virtual/scheme-virt/scheme-rpm/Packages/a.rpm"))
+	resp.Body.Close()
+	loc := resp.Header.Get("Location")
+	if want := "https://" + strings.TrimPrefix(baseURL, "http://") + "/api/v1/remote/scheme-rpm/Packages/a.rpm"; resp.StatusCode != http.StatusFound || loc != want {
+		t.Errorf("redirect = %d %q, want 302 %q", resp.StatusCode, loc, want)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/api/terraform/registry.go b/internal/api/terraform/registry.go
index 7aee9de..cd69aca 100644
--- a/internal/api/terraform/registry.go
+++ b/internal/api/terraform/registry.go
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/go-chi/chi/v5"
 
+	v1 "git.unkin.net/unkin/artifactapi/internal/api/v1"
 	"git.unkin.net/unkin/artifactapi/internal/database"
 	tfprov "git.unkin.net/unkin/artifactapi/internal/provider/terraform"
 	"git.unkin.net/unkin/artifactapi/internal/tfsign"
@@ -290,12 +291,5 @@ func writeJSON(w http.ResponseWriter, v any) {
 }
 
 func baseURL(r *http.Request) string {
-	scheme := "http"
-	if r.TLS != nil {
-		scheme = "https"
-	}
-	if fwd := r.Header.Get("X-Forwarded-Proto"); fwd != "" {
-		scheme = fwd
-	}
-	return scheme + "://" + r.Host
+	return v1.Scheme(r) + "://" + r.Host
 }
diff --git a/internal/api/v1/npm.go b/internal/api/v1/npm.go
index 18604cf..e5caf25 100644
--- a/internal/api/v1/npm.go
+++ b/internal/api/v1/npm.go
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@ func (h *ProxyHandler) serveNPMPackument(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request,
 		return
 	}
 	read := func(hash string) ([]byte, error) { return h.readLocalBlob(r.Context(), hash) }
-	tarballBase := fmt.Sprintf("%s://%s/api/v1/local/%s/", scheme(r), r.Host, remote.Name)
+	tarballBase := fmt.Sprintf("%s://%s/api/v1/local/%s/", Scheme(r), r.Host, remote.Name)
 	doc, err := buildNPMPackument(pkg, files, read, tarballBase)
 	if err != nil {
 		npmError(w, http.StatusInternalServerError, err.Error())
diff --git a/internal/api/v1/proxy.go b/internal/api/v1/proxy.go
index 2ff961b..2d6f3b7 100644
--- a/internal/api/v1/proxy.go
+++ b/internal/api/v1/proxy.go
@@ -6,7 +6,9 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"log/slog"
+	"net"
 	"net/http"
+	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/go-chi/chi/v5"
@@ -43,6 +45,7 @@ func NewProxyHandler(engine *proxy.Engine, virtualEngine *virtual.Engine, db *da
 func (h *ProxyHandler) Routes() chi.Router {
 	r := chi.NewRouter()
 	r.Get("/remote/{remoteName}/*", h.handleProxy)
+	r.Head("/remote/{remoteName}/*", h.handleProxyHead)
 	r.Get("/local/{localName}/*", h.handleLocal)
 	r.Put("/local/{localName}/*", h.handleLocalPut)
 	r.Get("/virtual/{virtualName}/*", h.handleVirtual)
@@ -71,31 +74,43 @@ func (h *ProxyHandler) handleDockerPing(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request)
 	w.WriteHeader(http.StatusOK)
 }
 
-func (h *ProxyHandler) handleProxy(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+// remoteFor resolves the remote and provider named in the request, writing the
+// error response itself when either is missing.
+func (h *ProxyHandler) remoteFor(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) (*models.Remote, provider.Provider, bool) {
 	remoteName := chi.URLParam(r, "remoteName")
-	path := chi.URLParam(r, "*")
-
 	remote, err := h.db.GetRemote(r.Context(), remoteName)
 	if err != nil {
 		http.Error(w, fmt.Sprintf("remote %q not found", remoteName), http.StatusNotFound)
-		return
+		return nil, nil, false
 	}
-
 	prov, err := provider.Get(remote.PackageType)
 	if err != nil {
 		http.Error(w, fmt.Sprintf("no provider for %q", remote.PackageType), http.StatusInternalServerError)
+		return nil, nil, false
+	}
+	return remote, prov, true
+}
+
+// serveRemote lets metadata-only remotes (e.g. github_rpm) synthesize their own
+// responses and redirect package downloads instead of proxying bytes.
+func (h *ProxyHandler) serveRemote(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, remote *models.Remote, prov provider.Provider, path string) bool {
+	rs, ok := prov.(provider.RemoteServer)
+	return ok && rs.ServeRemote(w, r, *remote, path, fmt.Sprintf("%s://%s", Scheme(r), r.Host), h.db)
+}
+
+func (h *ProxyHandler) handleProxy(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	remote, prov, ok := h.remoteFor(w, r)
+	if !ok {
 		return
 	}
-
-	// Metadata-only remotes (e.g. github_rpm) synthesize their own responses and
-	// redirect package downloads to a backend remote instead of proxying bytes.
-	if rs, ok := prov.(provider.RemoteServer); ok {
-		proxyBaseURL := fmt.Sprintf("%s://%s", scheme(r), r.Host)
-		if rs.ServeRemote(w, r, *remote, path, proxyBaseURL, h.db) {
-			return
-		}
+	path := chi.URLParam(r, "*")
+	if h.serveRemote(w, r, remote, prov, path) {
+		return
 	}
+	h.serveFetch(w, r, remote, prov, path)
+}
 
+func (h *ProxyHandler) serveFetch(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, remote *models.Remote, prov provider.Provider, path string) {
 	result, err := h.engine.Fetch(r.Context(), *remote, path, prov, r.Header)
 	if err != nil {
 		var proxyErr *proxy.ProxyError
@@ -103,7 +118,7 @@ func (h *ProxyHandler) handleProxy(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 			http.Error(w, proxyErr.Message, proxyErr.Status)
 			return
 		}
-		slog.Error("proxy fetch failed", "remote", remoteName, "path", path, "error", err)
+		slog.Error("proxy fetch failed", "remote", remote.Name, "path", path, "error", err)
 		http.Error(w, "bad gateway", http.StatusBadGateway)
 		return
 	}
@@ -111,37 +126,43 @@ func (h *ProxyHandler) handleProxy(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 
 	var body io.Reader = result.Reader
 	if sr, ok := prov.(provider.ServeRewriter); ok && prov.Classify(path) == provider.Mutable {
-		raw, err := io.ReadAll(result.Reader)
-		if err != nil {
-			http.Error(w, "bad gateway", http.StatusBadGateway)
+		raw, ok := rewriteServed(w, r, sr, *remote, result.Reader)
+		if !ok {
 			return
 		}
-		raw = sr.RewriteServed(raw, *remote, fmt.Sprintf("%s://%s", scheme(r), r.Host))
 		body, result.Size = bytes.NewReader(raw), int64(len(raw))
 	}
 
 	w.Header().Set("Content-Type", result.ContentType)
 	w.Header().Set("X-Artifact-Source", result.Source)
 	if result.Size > 0 {
+		w.Header().Set("Content-Length", fmt.Sprintf("%d", result.Size))
 		w.Header().Set("X-Artifact-Size", fmt.Sprintf("%d", result.Size))
 	}
 	w.WriteHeader(http.StatusOK)
 	io.Copy(w, body)
 }
 
-func (h *ProxyHandler) handleProxyHead(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
-	remoteName := chi.URLParam(r, "remoteName")
-	path := chi.URLParam(r, "*")
+func rewritesMutable(prov provider.Provider, path string) bool {
+	_, sr := prov.(provider.ServeRewriter)
+	_, rr := prov.(provider.ResponseRewriter)
+	return (sr || rr) && prov.Classify(path) == provider.Mutable
+}
 
-	remote, err := h.db.GetRemote(r.Context(), remoteName)
-	if err != nil {
-		http.Error(w, fmt.Sprintf("remote %q not found", remoteName), http.StatusNotFound)
+// handleProxyHead answers HEAD like GET without a body. Responses a provider
+// synthesizes or rewrites per request go through the GET path so their headers
+// match; everything else is answered from store metadata or an upstream HEAD.
+func (h *ProxyHandler) handleProxyHead(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	remote, prov, ok := h.remoteFor(w, r)
+	if !ok {
 		return
 	}
-
-	prov, err := provider.Get(remote.PackageType)
-	if err != nil {
-		http.Error(w, fmt.Sprintf("no provider for %q", remote.PackageType), http.StatusInternalServerError)
+	path := chi.URLParam(r, "*")
+	if h.serveRemote(w, r, remote, prov, path) {
+		return
+	}
+	if rewritesMutable(prov, path) {
+		h.serveFetch(w, r, remote, prov, path)
 		return
 	}
 
@@ -152,7 +173,7 @@ func (h *ProxyHandler) handleProxyHead(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 			http.Error(w, proxyErr.Message, proxyErr.Status)
 			return
 		}
-		slog.Error("proxy head failed", "remote", remoteName, "path", path, "error", err)
+		slog.Error("proxy head failed", "remote", remote.Name, "path", path, "error", err)
 		http.Error(w, "bad gateway", http.StatusBadGateway)
 		return
 	}
@@ -175,7 +196,7 @@ func (h *ProxyHandler) handleVirtual(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	proxyBaseURL := fmt.Sprintf("%s://%s", scheme(r), r.Host)
+	proxyBaseURL := fmt.Sprintf("%s://%s", Scheme(r), r.Host)
 
 	loc, ok, err := h.virtualEngine.MemberRedirect(r.Context(), *virt, path, r.URL.RawQuery, proxyBaseURL)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -266,12 +287,68 @@ func (h *ProxyHandler) serveLocalFile(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, re
 	io.Copy(w, reader)
 }
 
-func scheme(r *http.Request) string {
+// Scheme returns the client-facing scheme: TLS, else the first
+// X-Forwarded-Proto value when it is http or https, else http.
+func Scheme(r *http.Request) string {
 	if r.TLS != nil {
 		return "https"
 	}
-	if fwd := r.Header.Get("X-Forwarded-Proto"); fwd != "" {
+	fwd, _, _ := strings.Cut(r.Header.Get("X-Forwarded-Proto"), ",")
+	if fwd = strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(fwd)); fwd == "https" {
 		return fwd
 	}
 	return "http"
 }
+
+// rewriteServed rewrites a cached body for the requesting host and marks the
+// response uncacheable by shared caches, since it varies per Host.
+func rewriteServed(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, sr provider.ServeRewriter, remote models.Remote, src io.Reader) ([]byte, bool) {
+	if !validHost(r.Host) {
+		http.Error(w, "invalid host header", http.StatusBadRequest)
+		return nil, false
+	}
+	raw, err := io.ReadAll(src)
+	if err != nil {
+		http.Error(w, "bad gateway", http.StatusBadGateway)
+		return nil, false
+	}
+	raw = sr.RewriteServed(raw, remote, fmt.Sprintf("%s://%s", Scheme(r), r.Host))
+	w.Header().Set("Cache-Control", "no-store")
+	w.Header().Set("Vary", "Host, X-Forwarded-Proto")
+	w.Header().Set("Content-Length", strconv.Itoa(len(raw)))
+	return raw, true
+}
+
+// validHost accepts host[:port] where host is a DNS name or IP literal.
+func validHost(hostport string) bool {
+	host, port := hostport, ""
+	if h, p, err := net.SplitHostPort(hostport); err == nil {
+		if p == "" {
+			return false
+		}
+		host, port = h, p
+	} else if strings.HasPrefix(hostport, "[") {
+		return strings.HasSuffix(hostport, "]") && net.ParseIP(hostport[1:len(hostport)-1]) != nil
+	}
+	if port != "" {
+		if n, err := strconv.Atoi(port); err != nil || n < 1 || n > 65535 {
+			return false
+		}
+	}
+	if net.ParseIP(host) != nil {
+		return true
+	}
+	if strings.HasPrefix(hostport, "[") {
+		return false
+	}
+	if host == "" || len(host) > 253 {
+		return false
+	}
+	for _, label := range strings.Split(strings.TrimSuffix(host, "."), ".") {
+		if label == "" || len(label) > 63 || label[0] == '-' || label[len(label)-1] == '-' ||
+			strings.Trim(strings.ToLower(label), "abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz0123456789-_") != "" {
+			return false
+		}
+	}
+	return true
+}
diff --git a/internal/api/v1/rewrite_test.go b/internal/api/v1/rewrite_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..24fd732
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/api/v1/rewrite_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+package v1
+
+import (
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"git.unkin.net/unkin/artifactapi/internal/provider/nuget"
+	"git.unkin.net/unkin/artifactapi/pkg/models"
+)
+
+func TestValidHost(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, h := range []string{"aa.example", "aa.example:8443", "artifactapi.k8s.syd1.au.unkin.net", "10.0.0.1:80", "[::1]:8080", "[::1]", "::1", "localhost", "my_host.local"} {
+		if !validHost(h) {
+			t.Errorf("validHost(%q) = false, want true", h)
+		}
+	}
+	for _, h := range []string{"", "evil\".example", "a b", "aa.example:0", "aa.example:99999", "aa.example:x", "aa.example:", ":8080", "-bad.example", "a..b", "[::1", "[nope]:80", "a/b", "a<script>", strings.Repeat("a", 64) + ".example"} {
+		if validHost(h) {
+			t.Errorf("validHost(%q) = true, want false", h)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+var nugetOrg = models.Remote{Name: "nuget-org", BaseURL: "https://api.nuget.org/v3/index.json"}
+
+const serviceIndex = `{"resources":[{"@id":"https://api.nuget.org/v3-flatcontainer/"}]}`
+
+func rewrite(t *testing.T, host, proto string) (*httptest.ResponseRecorder, string, bool) {
+	t.Helper()
+	r := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, "/api/v1/remote/nuget-org/index.json", nil)
+	r.Host = host
+	if proto != "" {
+		r.Header.Set("X-Forwarded-Proto", proto)
+	}
+	w := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	raw, ok := rewriteServed(w, r, &nuget.Provider{}, nugetOrg, strings.NewReader(serviceIndex))
+	return w, string(raw), ok
+}
+
+func TestRewriteServedHeaders(t *testing.T) {
+	w, body, ok := rewrite(t, "aa.example:8443", "https")
+	if !ok {
+		t.Fatal("valid request rejected")
+	}
+	if want := `{"resources":[{"@id":"https://aa.example:8443/api/v1/remote/nuget-org/v3-flatcontainer/"}]}`; body != want {
+		t.Errorf("body = %s, want %s", body, want)
+	}
+	if got := w.Header().Get("Cache-Control"); got != "no-store" {
+		t.Errorf("Cache-Control = %q, want no-store", got)
+	}
+	if got := w.Header().Get("Vary"); got != "Host, X-Forwarded-Proto" {
+		t.Errorf("Vary = %q", got)
+	}
+	if got := w.Header().Get("Content-Length"); got != "91" || len(body) != 91 {
+		t.Errorf("Content-Length = %q, body len %d", got, len(body))
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRewriteServedIgnoresBogusProto(t *testing.T) {
+	_, plain, _ := rewrite(t, "aa.example", "")
+	_, bogus, _ := rewrite(t, "aa.example", "javascript")
+	if bogus != plain || !strings.Contains(bogus, `"http://aa.example/`) {
+		t.Errorf("bogus X-Forwarded-Proto changed the body: %s", bogus)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRewriteServedRejectsInvalidHost(t *testing.T) {
+	w, _, ok := rewrite(t, `evil"},{"x":"`, "")
+	if ok || w.Code != http.StatusBadRequest {
+		t.Errorf("invalid host: ok=%v code=%d, want rejected with 400", ok, w.Code)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/api/v1/routes_test.go b/internal/api/v1/routes_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e29d8cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/api/v1/routes_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+package v1
+
+import (
+	"net/http"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/go-chi/chi/v5"
+
+	"git.unkin.net/unkin/artifactapi/internal/provider"
+	"git.unkin.net/unkin/artifactapi/internal/provider/npm"
+	"git.unkin.net/unkin/artifactapi/internal/provider/nuget"
+	"git.unkin.net/unkin/artifactapi/internal/provider/rpm"
+)
+
+func TestRoutesRemoteHead(t *testing.T) {
+	r := (&ProxyHandler{}).Routes()
+	for _, m := range []string{http.MethodGet, http.MethodHead} {
+		if !r.Match(chi.NewRouteContext(), m, "/remote/myremote/some/path") {
+			t.Errorf("%s /remote/myremote/some/path not routed", m)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRewritesMutable(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name string
+		prov provider.Provider
+		path string
+		want bool
+	}{
+		{"npm packument", &npm.Provider{}, "left-pad", true},
+		{"npm tarball", &npm.Provider{}, "left-pad/-/left-pad-1.3.0.tgz", false},
+		{"nuget index", &nuget.Provider{}, "index.json", true},
+		{"rpm repodata", &rpm.Provider{}, "repodata/repomd.xml", false},
+	}
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		if got := rewritesMutable(tc.prov, tc.path); got != tc.want {
+			t.Errorf("%s: rewritesMutable = %v, want %v", tc.name, got, tc.want)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/api/v1/scheme_test.go b/internal/api/v1/scheme_test.go
index e74ce67..6b451c8 100644
--- a/internal/api/v1/scheme_test.go
+++ b/internal/api/v1/scheme_test.go
@@ -7,14 +7,28 @@ import (
 )
 
 func TestScheme(t *testing.T) {
-	if got := scheme(&http.Request{TLS: &tls.ConnectionState{}}); got != "https" {
+	if got := Scheme(&http.Request{TLS: &tls.ConnectionState{}}); got != "https" {
 		t.Errorf("TLS request scheme = %q, want https", got)
 	}
 	r := &http.Request{Header: http.Header{"X-Forwarded-Proto": {"https"}}}
-	if got := scheme(r); got != "https" {
+	if got := Scheme(r); got != "https" {
 		t.Errorf("X-Forwarded-Proto scheme = %q, want https", got)
 	}
-	if got := scheme(&http.Request{Header: http.Header{}}); got != "http" {
+	for fwd, want := range map[string]string{
+		"https, http": "https",
+		"http, https": "http",
+		"HTTPS":       "https",
+		" https ":     "https",
+		"javascript":  "http",
+		"ftp":         "http",
+		"https;evil":  "http",
+	} {
+		r := &http.Request{Header: http.Header{"X-Forwarded-Proto": {fwd}}}
+		if got := Scheme(r); got != want {
+			t.Errorf("X-Forwarded-Proto %q scheme = %q, want %s", fwd, got, want)
+		}
+	}
+	if got := Scheme(&http.Request{Header: http.Header{}}); got != "http" {
 		t.Errorf("default scheme = %q, want http", got)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/internal/api/v2/remotes.go b/internal/api/v2/remotes.go
index a8f679e..b5c3a82 100644
--- a/internal/api/v2/remotes.go
+++ b/internal/api/v2/remotes.go
@@ -67,8 +67,12 @@ func (h *RemotesHandler) get(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, remote)
 }
 
+// defaultMutableTTL matches the remotes.mutable_ttl column default; a create
+// that omits mutable_ttl gets it, an explicit 0 still means never expire.
+const defaultMutableTTL = 3600
+
 func (h *RemotesHandler) create(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
-	var remote models.Remote
+	remote := models.Remote{MutableTTL: defaultMutableTTL}
 	if err := json.NewDecoder(r.Body).Decode(&remote); err != nil {
 		http.Error(w, "invalid json", http.StatusBadRequest)
 		return
@@ -114,7 +118,15 @@ func (h *RemotesHandler) create(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 
 func (h *RemotesHandler) update(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	name := chi.URLParam(r, "name")
+	// Capture the current backend before the update so we can tell whether the
+	// remote's base_url (its upstream) changed. A read failure just means we
+	// skip the freshness flush; it must not block the update.
+	existing, err := h.db.GetRemote(r.Context(), name)
+	oldKnown := err == nil
 	var remote models.Remote
+	if oldKnown {
+		remote.MutableTTL = existing.MutableTTL
+	}
 	if err := json.NewDecoder(r.Body).Decode(&remote); err != nil {
 		http.Error(w, "invalid json", http.StatusBadRequest)
 		return
@@ -132,13 +144,6 @@ func (h *RemotesHandler) update(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		http.Error(w, err.Error(), http.StatusBadRequest)
 		return
 	}
-	// Capture the current backend before the update so we can tell whether the
-	// remote's base_url (its upstream) changed. A read failure just means we
-	// skip the freshness flush; it must not block the update.
-	oldBaseURL, oldKnown := "", false
-	if existing, err := h.db.GetRemote(r.Context(), name); err == nil {
-		oldBaseURL, oldKnown = existing.BaseURL, true
-	}
 	if err := h.db.UpdateRemote(r.Context(), &remote); err != nil {
 		http.Error(w, err.Error(), http.StatusInternalServerError)
 		return
@@ -147,13 +152,13 @@ func (h *RemotesHandler) update(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	// Release / APKINDEX): purge it so the next request re-fetches from the new
 	// upstream instead of serving stale data until TTL expiry. A flush failure
 	// is logged but does not fail the request — the DB update already landed.
-	if oldKnown && oldBaseURL != remote.BaseURL && h.cache != nil {
+	if oldKnown && existing.BaseURL != remote.BaseURL && h.cache != nil {
 		if err := h.cache.FlushRemote(r.Context(), name); err != nil {
 			slog.Warn("flush cached metadata after base_url change failed",
 				"remote", name, "error", err)
 		} else {
 			slog.Info("flushed cached metadata after base_url change",
-				"remote", name, "old_base_url", oldBaseURL, "new_base_url", remote.BaseURL)
+				"remote", name, "old_base_url", existing.BaseURL, "new_base_url", remote.BaseURL)
 		}
 	}
 	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, remote)
@@ -165,6 +170,11 @@ func (h *RemotesHandler) del(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		http.Error(w, err.Error(), http.StatusInternalServerError)
 		return
 	}
+	if h.cache != nil {
+		if err := h.cache.FlushRemote(r.Context(), name); err != nil {
+			slog.Warn("flush cached metadata after delete failed", "remote", name, "error", err)
+		}
+	}
 	w.WriteHeader(http.StatusNoContent)
 }
 
diff --git a/internal/api/v2/remotes_flush_test.go b/internal/api/v2/remotes_flush_test.go
index 09a25b5..4f8036a 100644
--- a/internal/api/v2/remotes_flush_test.go
+++ b/internal/api/v2/remotes_flush_test.go
@@ -94,3 +94,28 @@ func TestUpdateFlushFailureStillSucceeds(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("flush calls = %v, want exactly one attempted flush", ff.calls)
 	}
 }
+
+// Deleting a remote flushes its cached state so a re-created remote of the
+// same name starts cold; a flush error does not fail the delete.
+func TestDeleteFlushesCache(t *testing.T) {
+	if testDSN == "" {
+		t.Skip("Docker unavailable")
+	}
+	db, err := database.New(testDSN)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	defer db.Close()
+
+	for _, ff := range []*fakeFlusher{{}, {err: errors.New("redis down")}} {
+		const name = "rpm-flush-delete"
+		seedRemote(t, db, name, "https://example.com/repo")
+		h := NewRemotesHandler(db, ff, nil).Routes()
+		if c := do(t, h, "DELETE", "/"+name, ""); c != 204 {
+			t.Fatalf("delete = %d, want 204", c)
+		}
+		if len(ff.calls) != 1 || ff.calls[0] != name {
+			t.Fatalf("flush calls = %v, want exactly one flush of %q", ff.calls, name)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/api/v2/remotes_ttl_test.go b/internal/api/v2/remotes_ttl_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7beb859
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/api/v2/remotes_ttl_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+package v2
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"testing"
+
+	"git.unkin.net/unkin/artifactapi/internal/database"
+)
+
+// An omitted mutable_ttl defaults to 3600 on create and keeps the stored value
+// on update; an explicit 0 is stored as 0 in both.
+func TestMutableTTLOmittedVsZero(t *testing.T) {
+	if testDSN == "" {
+		t.Skip("Docker unavailable")
+	}
+	db, err := database.New(testDSN)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	defer db.Close()
+	h := NewRemotesHandler(db, nil, nil).Routes()
+	ttl := func(name string) int {
+		t.Helper()
+		r, err := db.GetRemote(context.Background(), name)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("get %s: %v", name, err)
+		}
+		return r.MutableTTL
+	}
+	const body = `"package_type":"rpm","base_url":"https://example.com/repo"`
+
+	steps := []struct {
+		method, path, json string
+		want               int
+	}{
+		{"POST", "/", `{"name":"ttl-omit",` + body + `}`, 3600},
+		{"PUT", "/ttl-omit", `{` + body + `,"mutable_ttl":120}`, 120},
+		{"PUT", "/ttl-omit", `{` + body + `}`, 120},
+		{"PUT", "/ttl-omit", `{` + body + `,"mutable_ttl":0}`, 0},
+		{"PUT", "/ttl-omit", `{` + body + `}`, 0},
+	}
+	for i, s := range steps {
+		if c := do(t, h, s.method, s.path, s.json); c/100 != 2 {
+			t.Fatalf("step %d %s %s = %d", i, s.method, s.path, c)
+		}
+		if got := ttl("ttl-omit"); got != s.want {
+			t.Errorf("step %d: mutable_ttl = %d, want %d", i, got, s.want)
+		}
+	}
+
+	if c := do(t, h, "POST", "/", `{"name":"ttl-zero",`+body+`,"mutable_ttl":0}`); c != 201 {
+		t.Fatalf("create explicit 0 = %d", c)
+	}
+	if got := ttl("ttl-zero"); got != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("explicit 0 stored as %d", got)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/cache/cache_test.go b/internal/cache/cache_test.go
index 4093a60..8bcb380 100644
--- a/internal/cache/cache_test.go
+++ b/internal/cache/cache_test.go
@@ -86,6 +86,12 @@ func TestETagAndToken(t *testing.T) {
 	if v, _ := testRedis.GetETag(ctx, "r", "p"); v != `"abc"` {
 		t.Errorf("etag = %q", v)
 	}
+	if err := testRedis.SetETag(ctx, "r", "p", "", 0); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if v, _ := testRedis.GetETag(ctx, "r", "p"); v != "" {
+		t.Errorf("empty etag should drop the stored one, got %q", v)
+	}
 
 	if v, _ := testRedis.GetToken(ctx, "missing"); v != "" {
 		t.Error("missing token should be empty")
diff --git a/internal/cache/redis.go b/internal/cache/redis.go
index b33e0cc..eeca6c5 100644
--- a/internal/cache/redis.go
+++ b/internal/cache/redis.go
@@ -57,8 +57,12 @@ func (r *Redis) ReleaseLock(ctx context.Context, remote, path string) error {
 	return r.client.Del(ctx, key).Err()
 }
 
+// SetETag stores etag for path, or drops the stored one when etag is empty.
 func (r *Redis) SetETag(ctx context.Context, remote, path, etag string, ttl time.Duration) error {
 	key := fmt.Sprintf("etag:%s:%s", remote, path)
+	if etag == "" {
+		return r.client.Del(ctx, key).Err()
+	}
 	return r.client.Set(ctx, key, etag, ttl).Err()
 }
 
diff --git a/internal/provider/all/gems.go b/internal/provider/all/gems.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ebd6ccf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/provider/all/gems.go
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+package all
+
+import _ "git.unkin.net/unkin/artifactapi/internal/provider/gems"
diff --git a/internal/provider/cap_response_rewriter.go b/internal/provider/cap_response_rewriter.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2c45d41
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/provider/cap_response_rewriter.go
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+package provider
+
+// ResponseRewriter marks providers whose RewriteResponse changes mutable
+// bodies, so the served length is only known after a fetch.
+type ResponseRewriter interface {
+	RewritesResponse()
+}
diff --git a/internal/provider/gems/gems.go b/internal/provider/gems/gems.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..39d324e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/provider/gems/gems.go
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+// Package gems proxies a RubyGems source: mutable compact index (versions,
+// info/*, names) and legacy specs indexes, plus immutable .gem and
+// quick/Marshal.4.8 gemspec downloads.
+package gems
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"net/http"
+	"strings"
+
+	"git.unkin.net/unkin/artifactapi/internal/auth"
+	"git.unkin.net/unkin/artifactapi/internal/provider"
+	"git.unkin.net/unkin/artifactapi/pkg/models"
+)
+
+func init() {
+	provider.Register(&Provider{})
+}
+
+type Provider struct{}
+
+func (p *Provider) Type() models.PackageType { return models.PackageGems }
+
+func (p *Provider) Classify(path string) provider.Mutability {
+	if isGem(path) || isQuickSpec(path) {
+		return provider.Immutable
+	}
+	return provider.Mutable
+}
+
+func (p *Provider) ContentType(path string) string {
+	path = strings.TrimLeft(path, "/")
+	if path == "versions" || path == "names" || strings.HasPrefix(path, "info/") {
+		return "text/plain; charset=utf-8"
+	}
+	if strings.HasPrefix(path, "api/v1/") && strings.HasSuffix(path, ".json") {
+		return "application/json"
+	}
+	return "application/octet-stream"
+}
+
+func (p *Provider) UpstreamURL(remote models.Remote, path string) string {
+	return strings.TrimRight(remote.BaseURL, "/") + "/" + strings.TrimLeft(path, "/")
+}
+
+func (p *Provider) RewriteResponse(_ []byte, _ models.Remote, _ string) ([]byte, error) {
+	return nil, nil
+}
+
+func (p *Provider) AuthHeaders(_ context.Context, remote models.Remote) (http.Header, error) {
+	return auth.BasicHeaders(remote), nil
+}
+
+func isGem(path string) bool {
+	path = strings.TrimLeft(path, "/")
+	return strings.HasPrefix(path, "gems/") && strings.HasSuffix(path, ".gem")
+}
+
+func isQuickSpec(path string) bool {
+	path = strings.TrimLeft(path, "/")
+	return strings.HasPrefix(path, "quick/Marshal.4.8/") && strings.HasSuffix(path, ".gemspec.rz")
+}
diff --git a/internal/provider/gems/gems_test.go b/internal/provider/gems/gems_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9707bb3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/provider/gems/gems_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+package gems
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"git.unkin.net/unkin/artifactapi/internal/provider"
+	"git.unkin.net/unkin/artifactapi/pkg/models"
+)
+
+func TestClassify(t *testing.T) {
+	p := &Provider{}
+	tests := []struct {
+		path string
+		want provider.Mutability
+	}{
+		{"gems/rack-3.1.8.gem", provider.Immutable},
+		{"/gems/nokogiri-1.16.7-x86_64-linux.gem", provider.Immutable},
+		{"quick/Marshal.4.8/rack-3.1.8.gemspec.rz", provider.Immutable},
+		{"versions", provider.Mutable},
+		{"names", provider.Mutable},
+		{"info/rack", provider.Mutable},
+		{"info/gems", provider.Mutable},
+		{"specs.4.8.gz", provider.Mutable},
+		{"latest_specs.4.8.gz", provider.Mutable},
+		{"prerelease_specs.4.8.gz", provider.Mutable},
+		{"api/v1/dependencies", provider.Mutable},
+		{"quick/Marshal.4.8/", provider.Mutable},
+	}
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		if got := p.Classify(tt.path); got != tt.want {
+			t.Errorf("Classify(%q) = %v, want %v", tt.path, got, tt.want)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestContentType(t *testing.T) {
+	p := &Provider{}
+	tests := map[string]string{
+		"versions":                 "text/plain; charset=utf-8",
+		"info/rack":                "text/plain; charset=utf-8",
+		"names":                    "text/plain; charset=utf-8",
+		"gems/rack-3.1.8.gem":      "application/octet-stream",
+		"specs.4.8.gz":             "application/octet-stream",
+		"api/v1/gems/rack.json":    "application/json",
+		"api/v1/dependencies.json": "application/json",
+		"api/v1/dependencies":      "application/octet-stream",
+	}
+	for path, want := range tests {
+		if got := p.ContentType(path); got != want {
+			t.Errorf("ContentType(%q) = %q, want %q", path, got, want)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestUpstreamURL(t *testing.T) {
+	p := &Provider{}
+	r := models.Remote{BaseURL: "https://rubygems.org/"}
+	if got := p.UpstreamURL(r, "/info/rack"); got != "https://rubygems.org/info/rack" {
+		t.Errorf("UpstreamURL = %q", got)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/provider/helm/helm.go b/internal/provider/helm/helm.go
index 4904ff6..d421753 100644
--- a/internal/provider/helm/helm.go
+++ b/internal/provider/helm/helm.go
@@ -51,6 +51,8 @@ func (p *Provider) UpstreamURL(remote models.Remote, path string) string {
 	return strings.TrimRight(remote.BaseURL, "/") + "/" + strings.TrimLeft(path, "/")
 }
 
+func (p *Provider) RewritesResponse() {}
+
 func (p *Provider) RewriteResponse(body []byte, remote models.Remote, proxyBaseURL string) ([]byte, error) {
 	if proxyBaseURL == "" {
 		return nil, nil
diff --git a/internal/provider/npm/npm.go b/internal/provider/npm/npm.go
index 38cf32d..8bc098d 100644
--- a/internal/provider/npm/npm.go
+++ b/internal/provider/npm/npm.go
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@ func (p *Provider) UpstreamURL(remote models.Remote, path string) string {
 	return strings.TrimRight(remote.BaseURL, "/") + "/" + strings.TrimLeft(path, "/")
 }
 
+func (p *Provider) RewritesResponse() {}
+
 func (p *Provider) RewriteResponse(body []byte, remote models.Remote, proxyBaseURL string) ([]byte, error) {
 	if proxyBaseURL == "" || !json.Valid(body) {
 		return nil, nil
diff --git a/internal/provider/nuget/nuget.go b/internal/provider/nuget/nuget.go
index 4857173..7685d4f 100644
--- a/internal/provider/nuget/nuget.go
+++ b/internal/provider/nuget/nuget.go
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 // Package nuget proxies a NuGet v3 feed: the service index, registration pages
-// and flat container indexes are mutable, .nupkg/.nuspec downloads immutable.
+// and flat container indexes are mutable; package, symbol, nuspec, readme and
+// icon blobs are immutable.
 package nuget
 
 import (
@@ -7,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"net/http"
 	"net/url"
+	pathpkg "path"
 	"strings"
 
 	"git.unkin.net/unkin/artifactapi/internal/auth"
@@ -34,10 +36,12 @@ func (p *Provider) Classify(path string) provider.Mutability {
 
 func (p *Provider) ContentType(path string) string {
 	switch {
-	case strings.HasSuffix(path, ".nupkg"):
+	case strings.HasSuffix(path, ".nupkg"), strings.HasSuffix(path, ".snupkg"), pathpkg.Base(path) == "icon":
 		return "application/octet-stream"
 	case strings.HasSuffix(path, ".nuspec"):
 		return "application/xml"
+	case pathpkg.Base(path) == "readme":
+		return "text/markdown"
 	}
 	return "application/json"
 }
@@ -64,8 +68,8 @@ func (p *Provider) RewriteServed(body []byte, remote models.Remote, proxyBaseURL
 	if from == "" || !json.Valid(body) {
 		return body
 	}
-	to := strings.TrimRight(proxyBaseURL, "/") + "/api/v1/remote/" + remote.Name
-	return []byte(strings.ReplaceAll(string(body), from, to))
+	to, _ := json.Marshal(strings.TrimRight(proxyBaseURL, "/") + "/api/v1/remote/" + remote.Name)
+	return []byte(strings.ReplaceAll(string(body), from, string(to[1:len(to)-1])))
 }
 
 func (p *Provider) AuthHeaders(_ context.Context, remote models.Remote) (http.Header, error) {
@@ -80,6 +84,14 @@ func origin(baseURL string) string {
 	return u.Scheme + "://" + u.Host
 }
 
+// isPackage matches flat container blobs: {id}.{ver}.(s)nupkg, {id}.nuspec and
+// the {id}/{ver}/readme and {id}/{ver}/icon files.
 func isPackage(path string) bool {
-	return strings.HasSuffix(path, ".nupkg") || strings.HasSuffix(path, ".nuspec")
+	for _, ext := range []string{".nupkg", ".snupkg", ".nuspec"} {
+		if strings.HasSuffix(path, ext) {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	base := pathpkg.Base(path)
+	return (base == "readme" || base == "icon") && strings.Count(strings.Trim(path, "/"), "/") >= 2
 }
diff --git a/internal/provider/nuget/nuget_test.go b/internal/provider/nuget/nuget_test.go
index 688ca06..5aab56b 100644
--- a/internal/provider/nuget/nuget_test.go
+++ b/internal/provider/nuget/nuget_test.go
@@ -19,7 +19,11 @@ func TestClassify(t *testing.T) {
 	}{
 		{"v3-flatcontainer/newtonsoft.json/13.0.3/newtonsoft.json.13.0.3.nupkg", provider.Immutable},
 		{"v3-flatcontainer/newtonsoft.json/13.0.3/newtonsoft.json.nuspec", provider.Immutable},
+		{"v3-flatcontainer/newtonsoft.json/13.0.3/newtonsoft.json.13.0.3.snupkg", provider.Immutable},
+		{"v3-flatcontainer/newtonsoft.json/13.0.3/readme", provider.Immutable},
+		{"v3-flatcontainer/newtonsoft.json/13.0.3/icon", provider.Immutable},
 		{"v3-flatcontainer/newtonsoft.json/index.json", provider.Mutable},
+		{"readme", provider.Mutable},
 		{"v3/registration5-gz-semver2/newtonsoft.json/index.json", provider.Mutable},
 		{"index.json", provider.Mutable},
 	}
@@ -30,6 +34,28 @@ func TestClassify(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestContentType(t *testing.T) {
+	p := &Provider{}
+	for path, want := range map[string]string{
+		"v3-flatcontainer/a/1.0.0/a.1.0.0.snupkg": "application/octet-stream",
+		"v3-flatcontainer/a/1.0.0/icon":           "application/octet-stream",
+		"v3-flatcontainer/a/1.0.0/readme":         "text/markdown",
+		"v3-flatcontainer/a/index.json":           "application/json",
+	} {
+		if got := p.ContentType(path); got != want {
+			t.Errorf("ContentType(%q) = %q, want %q", path, got, want)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRewriteServedEscapesJSON(t *testing.T) {
+	body := `{"@id":"https://api.nuget.org/v3-flatcontainer/"}`
+	got := (&Provider{}).RewriteServed([]byte(body), nugetOrg, `http://evil"<x>`)
+	if want := `{"@id":"http://evil\"\u003cx\u003e/api/v1/remote/nuget-org/v3-flatcontainer/"}`; string(got) != want {
+		t.Errorf("RewriteServed = %s, want %s", got, want)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestUpstreamURL(t *testing.T) {
 	p := &Provider{}
 	tests := []struct {
diff --git a/internal/provider/puppet/puppet.go b/internal/provider/puppet/puppet.go
index 142a431..03bf1d8 100644
--- a/internal/provider/puppet/puppet.go
+++ b/internal/provider/puppet/puppet.go
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ func (p *Provider) UpstreamURL(remote models.Remote, path string) string {
 	return strings.TrimRight(remote.BaseURL, "/") + "/" + strings.TrimLeft(path, "/")
 }
 
+func (p *Provider) RewritesResponse() {}
+
 func (p *Provider) RewriteResponse(body []byte, remote models.Remote, proxyBaseURL string) ([]byte, error) {
 	if proxyBaseURL == "" {
 		return nil, nil
diff --git a/internal/provider/pypi/pypi.go b/internal/provider/pypi/pypi.go
index e87e9c1..373e584 100644
--- a/internal/provider/pypi/pypi.go
+++ b/internal/provider/pypi/pypi.go
@@ -52,6 +52,8 @@ func (p *Provider) UpstreamURL(remote models.Remote, path string) string {
 	return strings.TrimRight(remote.BaseURL, "/") + "/" + strings.TrimLeft(path, "/")
 }
 
+func (p *Provider) RewritesResponse() {}
+
 func (p *Provider) RewriteResponse(body []byte, remote models.Remote, proxyBaseURL string) ([]byte, error) {
 	if proxyBaseURL == "" {
 		return nil, nil
diff --git a/internal/provider/terraform/terraform.go b/internal/provider/terraform/terraform.go
index f29c33d..022d094 100644
--- a/internal/provider/terraform/terraform.go
+++ b/internal/provider/terraform/terraform.go
@@ -73,6 +73,8 @@ func (p *Provider) UpstreamURL(remote models.Remote, path string) string {
 	return strings.TrimRight(remote.BaseURL, "/") + "/v1/providers/" + strings.TrimLeft(path, "/")
 }
 
+func (p *Provider) RewritesResponse() {}
+
 func (p *Provider) RewriteResponse(body []byte, remote models.Remote, proxyBaseURL string) ([]byte, error) {
 	if remote.ReleasesRemote == "" {
 		return nil, nil
diff --git a/internal/proxy/engine.go b/internal/proxy/engine.go
index 45a1b87..1a6ca2f 100644
--- a/internal/proxy/engine.go
+++ b/internal/proxy/engine.go
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ func (e *Engine) Fetch(ctx context.Context, remote models.Remote, path string, p
 			notModified, err := e.checkUpstream(ctx, remote, path, etag, prov)
 			if err == nil && notModified {
 				_ = e.cache.SetTTL(ctx, remote.Name, path, ttl)
-				_ = e.cache.SetETag(ctx, remote.Name, path, etag, ttl)
+				_ = e.cache.SetETag(ctx, remote.Name, path, etag, etagTTL(ttl))
 				result, err := e.serveFromStore(ctx, remote, path)
 				if err == nil {
 					result.Source = "cache"
@@ -353,7 +353,7 @@ func (e *Engine) headUpstreamOnce(ctx context.Context, remote models.Remote, pat
 				req.Header.Set(k, v)
 			}
 		}
-		return http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
+		return clientForRemote(remote).Do(req)
 	}
 
 	resp, err := doHead(nil)
@@ -491,8 +491,9 @@ func (e *Engine) fetchFromUpstreamOnce(ctx context.Context, remote models.Remote
 		}
 
 		_ = e.cache.SetTTL(ctx, remote.Name, path, ttl)
-		if etag := resp.Header.Get("ETag"); etag != "" {
-			_ = e.cache.SetETag(ctx, remote.Name, path, etag, ttl)
+		// A zero TTL never expires, so it never needs revalidating.
+		if remote.CheckMutable && ttl > 0 {
+			_ = e.cache.SetETag(ctx, remote.Name, path, resp.Header.Get("ETag"), etagTTL(ttl))
 		}
 
 		return &FetchResult{
@@ -520,9 +521,6 @@ func (e *Engine) fetchFromUpstreamOnce(ctx context.Context, remote models.Remote
 	}
 
 	_ = e.cache.SetTTL(ctx, remote.Name, path, ttl)
-	if etag := resp.Header.Get("ETag"); etag != "" {
-		_ = e.cache.SetETag(ctx, remote.Name, path, etag, ttl)
-	}
 
 	reader, info, err := e.store.Download(ctx, casResult.S3Key)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -642,6 +640,12 @@ func (e *Engine) checkUpstreamOnce(ctx context.Context, remote models.Remote, pa
 	return resp.StatusCode == http.StatusNotModified, nil
 }
 
+// etagTTL keeps a mutable path's ETag well past its freshness key so an expired
+// path revalidates with a conditional HEAD, while idle paths still age out.
+func etagTTL(ttl time.Duration) time.Duration {
+	return max(10*ttl, 7*24*time.Hour)
+}
+
 func (e *Engine) ttlFor(remote models.Remote, class Classification) time.Duration {
 	switch class {
 	case ClassImmutable:
diff --git a/internal/proxy/engine_test.go b/internal/proxy/engine_test.go
index 87ce690..447de34 100644
--- a/internal/proxy/engine_test.go
+++ b/internal/proxy/engine_test.go
@@ -17,12 +17,14 @@ import (
 	"git.unkin.net/unkin/artifactapi/internal/storage"
 	"git.unkin.net/unkin/artifactapi/internal/testsupport"
 	"git.unkin.net/unkin/artifactapi/pkg/models"
+	goredis "github.com/redis/go-redis/v9"
 )
 
 var (
 	testEngine *Engine
 	testCache  *cache.Redis
 	testDB     *database.DB
+	testRedis  string
 	upstream   *httptest.Server
 )
 
@@ -64,6 +66,7 @@ func TestMain(m *testing.M) {
 	}
 
 	testCache = redis
+	testRedis = redisURL
 	testDB = db
 	testEngine = NewEngine(db, redis, s3)
 	upstream = httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(mockUpstream))
@@ -216,6 +219,20 @@ func TestHead(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestHeadUpstreamUsesRemoteTimeout(t *testing.T) {
+	slow := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		time.Sleep(3 * time.Second)
+	}))
+	defer slow.Close()
+	r := models.Remote{Name: "slow-head", PackageType: models.PackageGeneric, BaseURL: slow.URL, UpstreamResponseHeaderTimeout: 1}
+
+	start := time.Now()
+	_, err := (&Engine{}).headUpstreamOnce(context.Background(), r, "blob.bin", prov(t, models.PackageGeneric))
+	if err == nil || time.Since(start) > 2*time.Second {
+		t.Fatalf("HEAD ignored the remote's response header timeout: err=%v after %s", err, time.Since(start))
+	}
+}
+
 func TestStaleOnError(t *testing.T) {
 	requireStack(t)
 	ctx := context.Background()
@@ -260,30 +277,169 @@ func TestCircuitOpenServesStale(t *testing.T) {
 	res.Reader.Close()
 }
 
+// expire drops path's freshness key so the next fetch revalidates.
+func expire(t *testing.T, remote, path string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	if err := testCache.SetTTL(context.Background(), remote, path, time.Millisecond); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	time.Sleep(5 * time.Millisecond)
+}
+
+func mutableFetch(t *testing.T, r models.Remote, path string) (string, string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	res, err := testEngine.Fetch(context.Background(), r, path, prov(t, models.PackageRPM))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("fetch: %v", err)
+	}
+	return readAll(t, res), res.Source
+}
+
+const repomd = "8/Everything/x86_64/repodata/repomd.xml"
+
 func TestMutableRevalidation(t *testing.T) {
+	requireStack(t)
+	srv, rev, conditional := changingUpstream(t)
+	r := seed(t, models.Remote{Name: "eng-reval", PackageType: models.PackageRPM, RepoType: models.RepoTypeRemote, BaseURL: srv.URL, CheckMutable: true, MutableTTL: 60})
+
+	if body, _ := mutableFetch(t, r, repomd); body != "rev1:/"+repomd {
+		t.Fatalf("initial fetch = %q", body)
+	}
+	expire(t, r.Name, repomd)
+	if body, src := mutableFetch(t, r, repomd); body != "rev1:/"+repomd || src != "cache" {
+		t.Errorf("after expiry = %q from %s, want cached rev1", body, src)
+	}
+	if n := conditional.Load(); n != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("conditional requests = %d, want 1 revalidation", n)
+	}
+	if fresh, _ := testCache.CheckTTL(context.Background(), r.Name, repomd); !fresh {
+		t.Error("304 should re-arm the freshness key")
+	}
+
+	rev.Store("rev2")
+	expire(t, r.Name, repomd)
+	if body, src := mutableFetch(t, r, repomd); body != "rev2:/"+repomd || src != "remote" {
+		t.Errorf("after upstream change = %q from %s, want remote rev2", body, src)
+	}
+}
+
+func etagKeyTTL(t *testing.T, remote, path string) time.Duration {
+	t.Helper()
+	opts, err := goredis.ParseURL(testRedis)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	c := goredis.NewClient(opts)
+	defer func() { _ = c.Close() }()
+	d, err := c.PTTL(context.Background(), "etag:"+remote+":"+path).Result()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	return d
+}
+
+// The ETag is only kept when it can be used, and never without an expiry.
+func TestMutableETagStorage(t *testing.T) {
+	requireStack(t)
+	srv, _, _ := changingUpstream(t)
+	for _, tc := range []struct {
+		name  string
+		check bool
+		ttl   int
+		want  time.Duration
+	}{
+		{"eng-etag-off", false, 60, -2},
+		{"eng-etag-never", true, 0, -2},
+		{"eng-etag-short", true, 60, 7 * 24 * time.Hour},
+		{"eng-etag-long", true, 86400, 10 * 24 * time.Hour},
+	} {
+		r := seed(t, models.Remote{Name: tc.name, PackageType: models.PackageRPM, RepoType: models.RepoTypeRemote, BaseURL: srv.URL, CheckMutable: tc.check, MutableTTL: tc.ttl})
+		mutableFetch(t, r, repomd)
+		got := etagKeyTTL(t, tc.name, repomd)
+		if tc.want < 0 {
+			if got != tc.want {
+				t.Errorf("%s: etag key ttl = %v, want no key", tc.name, got)
+			}
+			continue
+		}
+		if got <= tc.want-time.Minute || got > tc.want {
+			t.Errorf("%s: etag key ttl = %v, want ~%v", tc.name, got, tc.want)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// Immutable paths are never revalidated, so their upstream ETag is not kept.
+func TestImmutableFetchStoresNoETag(t *testing.T) {
+	requireStack(t)
+	srv, _, _ := changingUpstream(t)
+	r := seed(t, models.Remote{Name: "eng-etag-imm", PackageType: models.PackageRPM, RepoType: models.RepoTypeRemote, BaseURL: srv.URL, CheckMutable: true, MutableTTL: 60})
+	const rpm = "Packages/e2e-1.0-1.noarch.rpm"
+	if body, src := mutableFetch(t, r, rpm); body != "rev1:/"+rpm || src != "remote" {
+		t.Fatalf("fetch = %q from %s", body, src)
+	}
+	if got := etagKeyTTL(t, r.Name, rpm); got != -2 {
+		t.Errorf("etag key ttl = %v, want no key", got)
+	}
+}
+
+// A 304 for a path whose S3 body is gone falls back to a full refetch.
+func TestNotModifiedWithEvictedBodyRefetches(t *testing.T) {
+	requireStack(t)
+	srv, _, conditional := changingUpstream(t)
+	r := seed(t, models.Remote{Name: "eng-304-gone", PackageType: models.PackageRPM, RepoType: models.RepoTypeRemote, BaseURL: srv.URL, CheckMutable: true, MutableTTL: 60})
+
+	mutableFetch(t, r, repomd)
+	if err := testEngine.store.Delete(context.Background(), storage.IndexKey(r.Name, repomd)); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	expire(t, r.Name, repomd)
+	if body, src := mutableFetch(t, r, repomd); body != "rev1:/"+repomd || src != "remote" {
+		t.Errorf("got %q from %s, want refetched rev1 from remote", body, src)
+	}
+	if n := conditional.Load(); n != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("conditional requests = %d, want the 304 HEAD first", n)
+	}
+}
+
+// A failing revalidation HEAD still serves the stored copy with stale_on_error.
+func TestStaleOnErrorWhenRevalidationFails(t *testing.T) {
+	requireStack(t)
+	srv, _, _ := changingUpstream(t)
+	r := seed(t, models.Remote{Name: "eng-stale-head", PackageType: models.PackageRPM, RepoType: models.RepoTypeRemote, BaseURL: srv.URL, CheckMutable: true, MutableTTL: 60, StaleOnError: true})
+
+	mutableFetch(t, r, repomd)
+	srv.Close()
+	expire(t, r.Name, repomd)
+	if body, src := mutableFetch(t, r, repomd); body != "rev1:/"+repomd || src != "cache" {
+		t.Errorf("got %q from %s, want stale rev1 from cache", body, src)
+	}
+}
+
+// After a remote is deleted and flushed, a re-created remote of the same name
+// fetches from its own upstream instead of revalidating the old ETag.
+func TestRecreatedRemoteHasNoStaleState(t *testing.T) {
 	requireStack(t)
 	ctx := context.Background()
-	r := seed(t, models.Remote{Name: "eng-npm", PackageType: models.PackageNPM, RepoType: models.RepoTypeRemote, BaseURL: upstream.URL, CheckMutable: true, MutableTTL: 3600, StaleOnError: true})
-	p := prov(t, models.PackageNPM)
+	oldSrv, _, _ := changingUpstream(t)
+	r := seed(t, models.Remote{Name: "eng-recreate", PackageType: models.PackageRPM, RepoType: models.RepoTypeRemote, BaseURL: oldSrv.URL, CheckMutable: true, MutableTTL: 60})
+	mutableFetch(t, r, repomd)
 
-	res, err := testEngine.Fetch(ctx, r, "pkg", p)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("initial mutable fetch: %v", err)
+	if err := testDB.DeleteRemote(ctx, r.Name); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	res.Reader.Close()
-
-	// Expire only the freshness marker; the ETag persists, forcing a
-	// conditional revalidation that the upstream answers with 304.
-	testCache.SetTTL(ctx, "eng-npm", "pkg", time.Millisecond)
-	time.Sleep(10 * time.Millisecond)
-	res, err = testEngine.Fetch(ctx, r, "pkg", p)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("revalidation fetch: %v", err)
+	if err := testCache.FlushRemote(ctx, r.Name); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	if res.Source != "cache" {
-		t.Errorf("revalidated response should come from cache, got %s", res.Source)
+	newSrv, rev, conditional := changingUpstream(t)
+	rev.Store("rev9")
+	r.BaseURL = newSrv.URL
+	seed(t, r)
+	if body, src := mutableFetch(t, r, repomd); body != "rev9:/"+repomd || src != "remote" {
+		t.Errorf("got %q from %s, want rev9 from the new upstream", body, src)
+	}
+	if n := conditional.Load(); n != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("conditional requests = %d, want none after flush", n)
 	}
-	res.Reader.Close()
 }
 
 func TestBearerTokenFlow(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/internal/proxy/evict_test.go b/internal/proxy/evict_test.go
index 15b8def..622cc35 100644
--- a/internal/proxy/evict_test.go
+++ b/internal/proxy/evict_test.go
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ type cached struct{ row, index, ttl, etag bool }
 // Mutable indexes live in the S3 index; immutable blobs get an artifact row.
 var (
 	indexCached = cached{index: true, ttl: true, etag: true}
-	blobCached  = cached{row: true, ttl: true, etag: true}
+	blobCached  = cached{row: true, ttl: true}
 )
 
 func layers(t *testing.T, remote, path string) cached {
diff --git a/pkg/models/package_type_gems.go b/pkg/models/package_type_gems.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..58e0bd1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/models/package_type_gems.go
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+package models
+
+const PackageGems PackageType = "gems"
+
+func init() { registerPackageType(PackageGems) }
diff --git a/ui/src/packagetypes/defs/gems.ts b/ui/src/packagetypes/defs/gems.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b1a8e9a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/src/packagetypes/defs/gems.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+import type { PackageTypeUI } from '../types';
+
+const def: PackageTypeUI = {
+  color: 'red',
+  snippets: ({ proxy }) => {
+    return [
+      {
+        title: 'Use this remote as the RubyGems source',
+        language: 'bash',
+        code: `gem sources --clear-all --add ${proxy}/
+bundle config mirror.https://rubygems.org ${proxy}`,
+      },
+    ];
+  },
+};
+
+export default def;