diff --git a/weed/command/filer_remote_sync_dir.go b/weed/command/filer_remote_sync_dir.go
index 99986e94e5..5e3cd8cd5c 100644
--- a/weed/command/filer_remote_sync_dir.go
+++ b/weed/command/filer_remote_sync_dir.go
@@ -1145,7 +1145,9 @@ func resolveLastSyncOffset(mountedDir string, timeAgo time.Duration, lookupMount
 			return time.Time{}, fmt.Errorf("read the sync offset of %s: %w", mountedDir, err)
 		}
 		if mountedDirEntry != nil {
-			if mountedDirEntry.Attributes.Crtime < lastOffsetTsNs/1000000 {
+			// a saved offset wins even over a newer creation time: remote.unmount
+			// saves one after recreating the directory, often in the same second
+			if lastOffsetTsNs > 0 {
 				lastOffsetTs = time.Unix(0, lastOffsetTsNs)
 				glog.V(0).Infof("resume from %v", lastOffsetTs)
 			} else {
diff --git a/weed/command/filer_remote_sync_dir_test.go b/weed/command/filer_remote_sync_dir_test.go
index 1275f44c78..0c2d65c90e 100644
--- a/weed/command/filer_remote_sync_dir_test.go
+++ b/weed/command/filer_remote_sync_dir_test.go
@@ -658,6 +658,17 @@ func TestResolveLastSyncOffsetKeepsTheSavedOffsetWhenTheLookupFails(t *testing.T
 	if !got.Equal(saved) {
 		t.Fatalf("resolved %v, want %v", got, saved)
 	}
+
+	// remote.unmount recreates the directory, then saves the offset in the same
+	// second: starting at the creation second would replay the unmount's purge
+	unmounted := &filer_pb.Entry{Name: "x", Attributes: &filer_pb.FuseAttributes{Crtime: saved.Unix()}}
+	got, err = resolveLastSyncOffset("/buckets/x", 0, func() (*filer_pb.Entry, error) { return unmounted, nil }, savedOffset)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if !got.Equal(saved) {
+		t.Fatalf("resolved %v, want the saved offset %v", got, saved)
+	}
 }
 
 func TestResolveLastSyncOffsetReturnsTheErrorToTheRetryLoop(t *testing.T) {