diff --git a/openerp/addons/base/tests/__init__.py b/openerp/addons/base/tests/__init__.py
index f41543cffcd..82b79cfc693 100644
--- a/openerp/addons/base/tests/__init__.py
+++ b/openerp/addons/base/tests/__init__.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import test_ir_values
 import test_mail
 import test_menu
 import test_orm
+import test_ormcache
 import test_osv
 import test_qweb
 import test_res_config
diff --git a/openerp/addons/base/tests/test_ormcache.py b/openerp/addons/base/tests/test_ormcache.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..9d44695a32c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openerp/addons/base/tests/test_ormcache.py
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+
+from openerp.tests import common
+from openerp.tools import get_cache_key_counter
+
+class TestOrmcache(common.TransactionCase):
+    def test_ormcache(self):
+        """ Test the effectiveness of the ormcache() decorator. """
+        IMD = self.env['ir.model.data']
+        XMLID = 'base.group_no_one'
+
+        # retrieve the cache, its key and stat counter
+        cache, key, counter = get_cache_key_counter(IMD.xmlid_lookup, self.cr, self.uid, XMLID)
+        hit = counter.hit
+        miss = counter.miss
+
+        # clear the cache of ir.model.data.xmlid_lookup, retrieve its key and
+        IMD.xmlid_lookup.clear_cache(IMD)
+        self.assertNotIn(key, cache)
+
+        # lookup some reference
+        self.env.ref(XMLID)
+        self.assertEqual(counter.hit, hit)
+        self.assertEqual(counter.miss, miss + 1)
+        self.assertIn(key, cache)
+
+        # lookup again
+        self.env.ref(XMLID)
+        self.assertEqual(counter.hit, hit + 1)
+        self.assertEqual(counter.miss, miss + 1)
+        self.assertIn(key, cache)
+
+        # lookup again
+        self.env.ref(XMLID)
+        self.assertEqual(counter.hit, hit + 2)
+        self.assertEqual(counter.miss, miss + 1)
+        self.assertIn(key, cache)
diff --git a/openerp/tools/cache.py b/openerp/tools/cache.py
index 8d244e38f68..339c942f3c7 100644
--- a/openerp/tools/cache.py
+++ b/openerp/tools/cache.py
@@ -234,5 +234,14 @@ def log_ormcache_stats(sig=None, frame=None):
 
     me.dbname = me_dbname
 
+
+def get_cache_key_counter(bound_method, *args, **kwargs):
+    """ Return the cache, key and stat counter for the given call. """
+    model = bound_method.im_self
+    ormcache = bound_method.clear_cache.im_self
+    cache, key0, counter = ormcache.lru(model)
+    key = key0 + ormcache.key(model, *args, **kwargs)
+    return cache, key, counter
+
 # For backward compatibility
 cache = ormcache