diff --git a/code/map_data_cache.js b/code/map_data_cache.js
index bdd18228..a04070fc 100644
--- a/code/map_data_cache.js
+++ b/code/map_data_cache.js
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ window.DataCache = function() {
   // entries would grow indefinitely. an hour seems reasonable from experience with the data, so 55 mins max cache time
 //  this.REQUEST_CACHE_MAX_AGE = 55*60;  // maximum cache age. entries are deleted from the cache after this time
 //UPDATE: this timestampMs parameter doesn't work, so reduced max age to limit RAM usage
-  this.REQUEST_CACHE_MAX_AGE = 5*60;  // maximum cache age. entries are deleted from the cache after this time
+  this.REQUEST_CACHE_MAX_AGE = 15*60;  // maximum cache age. entries are deleted from the cache after this time
 
   if (L.Browser.mobile) {
     // on mobile devices, smaller cache size
diff --git a/code/map_data_request.js b/code/map_data_request.js
index c118d23f..5e49a3f8 100644
--- a/code/map_data_request.js
+++ b/code/map_data_request.js
@@ -247,7 +247,15 @@ window.MapDataRequest.prototype.refresh = function() {
         this.cachedTileCount += 1;
       } else {
 
-        // no fresh data - queue a request
+        // no fresh data
+
+        // render the cached stale data, if we have it. this ensures *something* appears quickly when possible
+        var old_data = this.cache && this.cache.get(tile_id);
+        if (old_data) {
+          this.render.processTileData (old_data);
+        }
+
+        // queue a request
         var boundsParams = generateBoundsParams(
           tile_id,
           latSouth,