diff --git a/hab/cache.py b/hab/cache.py
index 9271d57..9dea411 100644
--- a/hab/cache.py
+++ b/hab/cache.py
@@ -114,7 +114,9 @@ def generate_cache(self, resolver, site_file, version=1):
                 for path in sorted(glob.glob(str(dirname / glob_str))):
                     path = Path(path)
                     try:
-                        data = cls(forest={}, resolver=resolver)._load_raw(path)
+                        data = cls(forest={}, resolver=resolver)._load(
+                            path, cached=False
+                        )
                     except (
                         InvalidVersion,
                         InvalidVersionError,
diff --git a/hab/parsers/distro_version.py b/hab/parsers/distro_version.py
index fbef6a3..bbe830b 100644
--- a/hab/parsers/distro_version.py
+++ b/hab/parsers/distro_version.py
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-from pathlib import Path
-
 from packaging.version import InvalidVersion, Version
 
 from .. import NotSet
@@ -100,15 +98,16 @@ def alias_mods(self):
         """
         return self._alias_mods
 
-    def _load_raw(self, filename):
-        """Load the raw cache data and resolve any extra cached data."""
-        ret = super()._load_raw(filename)
+    def _load(self, filename, cached=True):
+        """Sets self.filename and parses the json file returning the data."""
+        ret = super()._load(filename, cached=cached)
 
-        # Ensure the version is added to the return and is valid
-        self.filename = Path(filename)
-        self.version = self._resolve_version(ret, filename)
-        ret["version"] = str(self.version)
+        # Resolve the version from the various supported ways its stored.
+        self._resolve_version(ret, filename)
 
+        if not cached:
+            # Ensure the version is stored on the returned dictionary
+            ret["version"] = str(self.version)
         return ret
 
     def load(self, filename):
@@ -119,9 +118,6 @@ def load(self, filename):
         # Store any alias_mods, they will be processed later when flattening
         self._alias_mods = data.get("alias_mods", NotSet)
 
-        # Resolve the version from the various supported ways its stored.
-        self.version = self._resolve_version(data, filename)
-
         # The name should be the version == specifier.
         self.distro_name = data.get("name")
         self.name = "{}=={}".format(self.distro_name, self.version)
diff --git a/hab/parsers/hab_base.py b/hab/parsers/hab_base.py
index 3cd64a3..65700f9 100644
--- a/hab/parsers/hab_base.py
+++ b/hab/parsers/hab_base.py
@@ -520,23 +520,25 @@ def inherits(self):
         # Note: Sub-classes need to override this method to enable inheritance.
         return False
 
-    def _load(self, filename):
-        """Sets self.filename and parses the json file returning the data."""
+    def _load(self, filename, cached=True):
+        """Sets self.filename and parses the json file returning the data dict.
+
+        Args:
+            filename (pathlib.Path): The file to load.
+            cached (bool, optional): Enables loading of cached data instead of
+                loading the data from disk.
+        """
         self.filename = Path(filename)
 
-        ret = self._cache().get(Path(filename).as_posix())
-        if ret:
-            logger.debug(f'Cached: "{filename}"')
-            return ret
+        if cached:
+            ret = self._cache().get(Path(filename).as_posix())
+            if ret:
+                logger.debug(f'Cached: "{filename}"')
+                return ret
 
         logger.debug(f'Loading "{filename}"')
         return utils.load_json_file(self.filename)
 
-    def _load_raw(self, filename):
-        """Load the raw cache data and resolve any extra cached data."""
-        logger.debug(f'Loading "{filename}"')
-        return utils.load_json_file(filename)
-
     def load(self, filename, data=None):
         """Load this objects configuration from the given json filename.