diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 48ffca2..ccb2a35 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -277,6 +277,15 @@ It renders an abtop-style dashboard with VibeMode quota windows, warning
 alerts, reset timers, remaining credits/requests, and optional local
 Codex/Claude agent context from `abtop --status-json`.
 
+API cache behavior:
+
+- Successful live `/v1/me` responses are cached for 30 seconds by default.
+- Set `cache_ttl_secs = 120` in `config.toml` to change the cache TTL.
+- `--no-cache` always performs a live fetch and does not read or write the API
+  cache, including stale fallback.
+- In monitor mode, pressing `r` clears the current account/endpoint cache entry
+  before forcing the next refresh.
+
 Desktop notifications:
 
 ```bash
diff --git a/README.ru.md b/README.ru.md
index d345836..7fd92f7 100644
--- a/README.ru.md
+++ b/README.ru.md
@@ -264,6 +264,15 @@ vimit --monitor --threshold 5h=80:95,7d=90
 vimit --fail-on warning --threshold 24h=85:98
 ```
 
+Поведение API cache:
+
+- Успешные live-ответы `/v1/me` кэшируются на 30 секунд по умолчанию.
+- В `config.toml` можно задать `cache_ttl_secs = 120`.
+- `--no-cache` всегда делает live-запрос и не читает/не пишет API cache,
+  включая stale fallback.
+- В monitor mode клавиша `r` очищает cache entry текущего аккаунта/endpoint и
+  затем запускает refresh.
+
 Desktop-уведомления:
 
 ```bash
diff --git a/src/cli/args.rs b/src/cli/args.rs
index 69dd5c5..c8d04e1 100644
--- a/src/cli/args.rs
+++ b/src/cli/args.rs
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ pub struct Args {
     pub vpn: bool,
     pub auto_failover: bool,
     pub no_cache: bool,
+    pub cache_ttl_secs: u64,
     pub trend: bool,
     pub trend_days: u64,
     pub update: bool,
@@ -95,6 +96,7 @@ where
         vpn: false,
         auto_failover: true,
         no_cache: false,
+        cache_ttl_secs: super::cache::DEFAULT_TTL_SECS,
         trend: false,
         trend_days: 30,
         update: false,
@@ -338,6 +340,7 @@ OPTIONS:
       --api-key-env <NAME>   API key environment variable [default: VIBEMODE_API_KEY]
       --vpn                  Switch to fallback endpoint (r-api.vibemod.pro)
       --no-failover          Disable automatic api/r-api endpoint failover
+      --no-cache             Always fetch live data; do not read or write API cache
   -V, --version              Print version
   -h, --help                 Print help
 
@@ -384,6 +387,13 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(!args.auto_failover);
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn no_cache_flag_is_parsed() {
+        let args = parse_args(["--no-cache".to_string()]).unwrap();
+        assert!(args.no_cache);
+        assert_eq!(args.cache_ttl_secs, crate::cli::cache::DEFAULT_TTL_SECS);
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn demo_and_mock_are_mutually_exclusive() {
         let error = parse_args([
diff --git a/src/cli/cache.rs b/src/cli/cache.rs
index 762bc73..c75016b 100644
--- a/src/cli/cache.rs
+++ b/src/cli/cache.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ use std::path::PathBuf;
 use std::time::{Duration, Instant};
 
 const TABLE: TableDefinition<&[u8], &[u8]> = TableDefinition::new("api_cache");
-const DEFAULT_TTL_SECS: u64 = 30;
+pub const DEFAULT_TTL_SECS: u64 = 30;
 
 pub struct CacheEntry {
     pub cache_key: String,
@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@ impl CacheStore {
         }))
     }
 
-    #[allow(dead_code)]
     pub fn set_ttl(&mut self, secs: u64) {
         self.ttl = Duration::from_secs(secs);
     }
@@ -62,7 +61,7 @@ impl CacheStore {
             .map(|d| d.as_secs())
             .unwrap_or(0);
         let age_secs = now_secs.saturating_sub(cached_at_secs);
-        if Duration::from_secs(age_secs) > self.ttl {
+        if self.ttl.is_zero() || Duration::from_secs(age_secs) > self.ttl {
             return None;
         }
         let payload = parsed.get("payload")?.clone();
@@ -116,7 +115,6 @@ impl CacheStore {
         tx.commit().map_err(|e| format!("cache commit failed: {e}"))
     }
 
-    #[allow(dead_code)]
     pub fn ttl(&self) -> Duration {
         self.ttl
     }
diff --git a/src/cli/config.rs b/src/cli/config.rs
index 0bf2d49..88211e8 100644
--- a/src/cli/config.rs
+++ b/src/cli/config.rs
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ pub struct Config {
     pub danger: Option<f64>,
     pub threshold: Option<String>,
     pub auto_failover: Option<bool>,
+    pub cache_ttl_secs: Option<u64>,
 }
 
 impl Config {
@@ -120,6 +121,9 @@ impl Config {
             danger_threshold: self.danger(),
             window_thresholds: self.window_thresholds()?,
             auto_failover: self.auto_failover.unwrap_or(true),
+            cache_ttl_secs: self
+                .cache_ttl_secs
+                .unwrap_or(super::cache::DEFAULT_TTL_SECS),
         })
     }
 }
@@ -141,6 +145,7 @@ pub struct MergedConfig {
     pub danger_threshold: f64,
     pub window_thresholds: HashMap<String, (f64, f64)>,
     pub auto_failover: bool,
+    pub cache_ttl_secs: u64,
 }
 
 fn default_config_path() -> Option<PathBuf> {
@@ -194,6 +199,7 @@ mod tests {
             preset = "compact"
             notify = true
             fail_on = "warning"
+            cache_ttl_secs = 120
         "#;
         let config: Config = toml::from_str(toml_str).unwrap();
         assert_eq!(config.theme(), Theme::Dracula);
@@ -204,6 +210,7 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(matches!(config.preset(), Preset::Compact));
         assert_eq!(config.notify, Some(true));
         assert_eq!(config.fail_on(), FailOn::Warning);
+        assert_eq!(config.cache_ttl_secs, Some(120));
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -246,6 +253,7 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(!merged.demo);
         assert!(!merged.monitor);
         assert!(merged.auto_failover);
+        assert_eq!(merged.cache_ttl_secs, super::super::cache::DEFAULT_TTL_SECS);
     }
 
     #[test]
diff --git a/src/cli/init.rs b/src/cli/init.rs
index 85f4fe7..b689176 100644
--- a/src/cli/init.rs
+++ b/src/cli/init.rs
@@ -52,6 +52,9 @@ pub fn run_init() -> Result<i32, String> {
 
 # Poll interval in seconds (0 = single run)
 # watch = 0
+
+# API cache TTL in seconds; set to 0 to expire cached responses immediately.
+# cache_ttl_secs = 30
 "#;
         print!("  creating config.toml... ");
         io::stdout().flush().unwrap();
diff --git a/src/cli/mcp.rs b/src/cli/mcp.rs
index 4719ce7..e30e4be 100644
--- a/src/cli/mcp.rs
+++ b/src/cli/mcp.rs
@@ -113,6 +113,7 @@ impl VimitMcpServer {
             vpn: false,
             auto_failover: true,
             no_cache,
+            cache_ttl_secs: cli::cache::DEFAULT_TTL_SECS,
             trend: false,
             trend_days: 30,
             update: false,
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 0569adb..f55a9bb 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -181,7 +181,11 @@ fn real_main() -> Result<i32, String> {
     }
 
     let trends = TrendStore::open()?;
-    let cache = CacheStore::open()?;
+    let mut cache = CacheStore::open()?;
+    if let Some(store) = cache.as_mut() {
+        store.set_ttl(args.cache_ttl_secs);
+    }
+    let cache_ref = if args.no_cache { None } else { cache.as_ref() };
     let mut notifier = Notifier::new(args.notify);
     let http = ng::HttpClient::new(ng::USER_AGENT)?;
     let mut router = ng::Router::new(
@@ -213,7 +217,7 @@ fn real_main() -> Result<i32, String> {
             &account_configs,
             initial_idx,
             trends.as_ref(),
-            cache.as_ref(),
+            cache_ref,
         );
     }
 
@@ -225,7 +229,7 @@ fn real_main() -> Result<i32, String> {
             &mut notifier,
             &http,
             trends.as_ref(),
-            cache.as_ref(),
+            cache_ref,
             Some(&mut router),
         )?;
         if args.watch == 0 {
@@ -320,6 +324,7 @@ fn merge_args_with_config(args: Args, merged: &MergedConfig) -> Args {
         vpn: args.vpn,
         auto_failover: args.auto_failover && merged.auto_failover,
         no_cache: args.no_cache,
+        cache_ttl_secs: merged.cache_ttl_secs,
         trend: args.trend,
         trend_days: args.trend_days,
         update: args.update,