diff --git a/drivers/md/dm-cache-metadata.c b/drivers/md/dm-cache-metadata.c
index 822972c..136fbe9 100644
--- a/drivers/md/dm-cache-metadata.c
+++ b/drivers/md/dm-cache-metadata.c
@@ -748,6 +748,53 @@ void dm_cache_metadata_close(struct dm_cache_metadata *cmd)
 	kfree(cmd);
 }
 
+/*
+ * Checks that the given cache block is either unmapped, or clean.
+ */
+static int block_unmapped_or_clean(struct dm_cache_metadata *cmd, dm_cblock_t b,
+				   bool *result)
+{
+	int r;
+	__le64 value;
+	dm_oblock_t ob;
+	unsigned flags;
+
+	r = dm_array_get_value(&cmd->info, cmd->root, from_cblock(b), &value);
+	if (r) {
+		DMERR("block_unmapped_or_clean failed");
+		return r;
+	}
+
+	unpack_value(value, &ob, &flags);
+	*result = !((flags & M_VALID) && (flags & M_DIRTY));
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static int blocks_are_unmapped_or_clean(struct dm_cache_metadata *cmd,
+					dm_cblock_t begin,
+					dm_cblock_t end,
+					bool *result)
+{
+	int r;
+
+	while (begin != end) {
+		r = block_unmapped_or_clean(cmd, begin, result);
+		if (r)
+			return r;
+
+		if (!*result) {
+			DMERR("cache block %llu is dirty",
+			      (unsigned long long) from_cblock(begin));
+			return 0;
+		}
+
+		begin = to_cblock(from_cblock(begin) + 1);
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
 int dm_cache_resize(struct dm_cache_metadata *cmd, dm_cblock_t new_cache_size)
 {
 	int r;
@@ -1263,3 +1310,8 @@ int dm_cache_save_hint(struct dm_cache_metadata *cmd, dm_cblock_t cblock, void *
 
 	return r;
 }
+
+int dm_cache_metadata_all_clean(struct dm_cache_metadata *cmd, bool *result)
+{
+	return blocks_are_unmapped_or_clean(cmd, 0, cmd->cache_blocks, result);
+}
diff --git a/drivers/md/dm-cache-metadata.h b/drivers/md/dm-cache-metadata.h
index 44fd4bf..4e5f435 100644
--- a/drivers/md/dm-cache-metadata.h
+++ b/drivers/md/dm-cache-metadata.h
@@ -146,6 +146,11 @@ int dm_cache_save_hint(struct dm_cache_metadata *cmd,
 		       dm_cblock_t cblock, void *hint)
 	__dm_written_to_disk(hint);
 
+/*
+ * Query method.  Are all the blocks in the cache clean?
+ */
+int dm_cache_metadata_all_clean(struct dm_cache_metadata *cmd, bool *result);
+
 /*----------------------------------------------------------------*/
 
 #endif /* DM_CACHE_METADATA_H */
diff --git a/drivers/md/dm-cache-target.c b/drivers/md/dm-cache-target.c
index 6fa45a8..3bf8cc7 100644
--- a/drivers/md/dm-cache-target.c
+++ b/drivers/md/dm-cache-target.c
@@ -76,14 +76,37 @@ static void free_bitset(unsigned long *bits)
 /*
  * FIXME: the cache is read/write for the time being.
  */
-enum cache_mode {
+enum cache_metadata_mode {
 	CM_WRITE,		/* metadata may be changed */
 	CM_READ_ONLY,		/* metadata may not be changed */
 };
 
+enum cache_io_mode {
+	/*
+	 * Data is written to cached blocks only.  These blocks are marked
+	 * dirty.  If you lose the cache device you will lose data.
+	 * Potential performance increase for both reads and writes.
+	 */
+	CM_IO_WRITEBACK,
+
+	/*
+	 * Data is written to both cache and origin.  Blocks are never
+	 * dirty.  Potential performance benfit for reads only.
+	 */
+	CM_IO_WRITETHROUGH,
+
+	/*
+	 * A degraded mode useful for various cache coherency situations
+	 * (eg, rolling back snapshots).  Reads and writes always go to the
+	 * origin.  If a write goes to a cached oblock, then the cache
+	 * block is invalidated.
+	 */
+	CM_IO_PASSTHROUGH
+};
+
 struct cache_features {
-	enum cache_mode mode;
-	bool write_through:1;
+	enum cache_metadata_mode mode;
+	enum cache_io_mode io_mode;
 };
 
 struct cache_stats {
@@ -533,9 +556,24 @@ static void save_stats(struct cache *cache)
 #define PB_DATA_SIZE_WB (offsetof(struct per_bio_data, cache))
 #define PB_DATA_SIZE_WT (sizeof(struct per_bio_data))
 
+static bool writethrough_mode(struct cache_features *f)
+{
+	return f->io_mode == CM_IO_WRITETHROUGH;
+}
+
+static bool writeback_mode(struct cache_features *f)
+{
+	return f->io_mode == CM_IO_WRITEBACK;
+}
+
+static bool passthrough_mode(struct cache_features *f)
+{
+	return f->io_mode == CM_IO_PASSTHROUGH;
+}
+
 static size_t get_per_bio_data_size(struct cache *cache)
 {
-	return cache->features.write_through ? PB_DATA_SIZE_WT : PB_DATA_SIZE_WB;
+	return writethrough_mode(&cache->features) ? PB_DATA_SIZE_WT : PB_DATA_SIZE_WB;
 }
 
 static struct per_bio_data *get_per_bio_data(struct bio *bio, size_t data_size)
@@ -1047,6 +1085,31 @@ static void demote_then_promote(struct cache *cache, struct prealloc *structs,
 	quiesce_migration(mg);
 }
 
+/*
+ * Invalidate a cache entry.  No writeback occurs; any changes in the cache
+ * block are thrown away.
+ */
+static void invalidate(struct cache *cache, struct prealloc *structs,
+		       dm_oblock_t oblock, dm_cblock_t cblock,
+		       struct dm_bio_prison_cell *cell)
+{
+	struct dm_cache_migration *mg = prealloc_get_migration(structs);
+
+	mg->err = false;
+	mg->writeback = false;
+	mg->demote = true;
+	mg->promote = false;
+	mg->cache = cache;
+	mg->old_oblock = oblock;
+	mg->cblock = cblock;
+	mg->old_ocell = cell;
+	mg->new_ocell = NULL;
+	mg->start_jiffies = jiffies;
+
+	inc_nr_migrations(cache);
+	quiesce_migration(mg);
+}
+
 /*----------------------------------------------------------------
  * bio processing
  *--------------------------------------------------------------*/
@@ -1109,11 +1172,9 @@ static bool spare_migration_bandwidth(struct cache *cache)
 	return current_volume < cache->migration_threshold;
 }
 
-static bool is_writethrough_io(struct cache *cache, struct bio *bio,
-			       dm_cblock_t cblock)
+static bool is_write_io(struct bio *bio)
 {
-	return bio_data_dir(bio) == WRITE &&
-		cache->features.write_through && !is_dirty(cache, cblock);
+	return bio_data_dir(bio) == WRITE;
 }
 
 static void inc_hit_counter(struct cache *cache, struct bio *bio)
@@ -1128,6 +1189,15 @@ static void inc_miss_counter(struct cache *cache, struct bio *bio)
 		   &cache->stats.read_miss : &cache->stats.write_miss);
 }
 
+static void issue_cache_bio(struct cache *cache, struct bio *bio,
+			    struct per_bio_data *pb,
+			    dm_oblock_t oblock, dm_cblock_t cblock)
+{
+	pb->all_io_entry = dm_deferred_entry_inc(cache->all_io_ds);
+	remap_to_cache_dirty(cache, bio, oblock, cblock);
+	issue(cache, bio);
+}
+
 static void process_bio(struct cache *cache, struct prealloc *structs,
 			struct bio *bio)
 {
@@ -1139,7 +1209,8 @@ static void process_bio(struct cache *cache, struct prealloc *structs,
 	size_t pb_data_size = get_per_bio_data_size(cache);
 	struct per_bio_data *pb = get_per_bio_data(bio, pb_data_size);
 	bool discarded_block = is_discarded_oblock(cache, block);
-	bool can_migrate = discarded_block || spare_migration_bandwidth(cache);
+	bool passthrough = passthrough_mode(&cache->features);
+	bool can_migrate = !passthrough && (discarded_block || spare_migration_bandwidth(cache));
 
 	/*
 	 * Check to see if that block is currently migrating.
@@ -1160,15 +1231,39 @@ static void process_bio(struct cache *cache, struct prealloc *structs,
 
 	switch (lookup_result.op) {
 	case POLICY_HIT:
-		inc_hit_counter(cache, bio);
-		pb->all_io_entry = dm_deferred_entry_inc(cache->all_io_ds);
+		if (passthrough) {
+			inc_miss_counter(cache, bio);
 
-		if (is_writethrough_io(cache, bio, lookup_result.cblock))
-			remap_to_origin_then_cache(cache, bio, block, lookup_result.cblock);
-		else
-			remap_to_cache_dirty(cache, bio, block, lookup_result.cblock);
+			/*
+			 * Passthrough always maps to the origin,
+			 * invalidating any cache blocks that are written
+			 * to.
+			 */
+
+			if (is_write_io(bio)) {
+				atomic_inc(&cache->stats.demotion);
+				invalidate(cache, structs, block, lookup_result.cblock, new_ocell);
+				release_cell = false;
+
+			} else {
+				// FIXME: factor out issue_origin()
+				pb->all_io_entry = dm_deferred_entry_inc(cache->all_io_ds);
+				remap_to_origin_clear_discard(cache, bio, block);
+				issue(cache, bio);
+			}
+		} else {
+			inc_hit_counter(cache, bio);
+
+			if (is_write_io(bio) &&
+			    writethrough_mode(&cache->features) &&
+			    !is_dirty(cache, lookup_result.cblock)) {
+				pb->all_io_entry = dm_deferred_entry_inc(cache->all_io_ds);
+				remap_to_origin_then_cache(cache, bio, block, lookup_result.cblock);
+				issue(cache, bio);
+			} else
+				issue_cache_bio(cache, bio, pb, block, lookup_result.cblock);
+		}
 
-		issue(cache, bio);
 		break;
 
 	case POLICY_MISS:
@@ -1715,7 +1810,7 @@ static int parse_block_size(struct cache_args *ca, struct dm_arg_set *as,
 static void init_features(struct cache_features *cf)
 {
 	cf->mode = CM_WRITE;
-	cf->write_through = false;
+	cf->io_mode = CM_IO_WRITEBACK;
 }
 
 static int parse_features(struct cache_args *ca, struct dm_arg_set *as,
@@ -1740,10 +1835,13 @@ static int parse_features(struct cache_args *ca, struct dm_arg_set *as,
 		arg = dm_shift_arg(as);
 
 		if (!strcasecmp(arg, "writeback"))
-			cf->write_through = false;
+			cf->io_mode = CM_IO_WRITEBACK;
 
 		else if (!strcasecmp(arg, "writethrough"))
-			cf->write_through = true;
+			cf->io_mode = CM_IO_WRITETHROUGH;
+
+		else if (!strcasecmp(arg, "passthrough"))
+			cf->io_mode = CM_IO_PASSTHROUGH;
 
 		else {
 			*error = "Unrecognised cache feature requested";
@@ -1995,6 +2093,22 @@ static int cache_create(struct cache_args *ca, struct cache **result)
 	}
 	cache->cmd = cmd;
 
+	if (passthrough_mode(&cache->features)) {
+		bool all_clean;
+
+		r = dm_cache_metadata_all_clean(cache->cmd, &all_clean);
+		if (r) {
+			*error = "dm_cache_metadata_all_clean() failed";
+			goto bad;
+		}
+
+		if (!all_clean) {
+			*error = "Cannot enter passthrough mode unless all blocks are clean";
+			r = -EINVAL;
+			goto bad;
+		}
+	}
+
 	spin_lock_init(&cache->lock);
 	bio_list_init(&cache->deferred_bios);
 	bio_list_init(&cache->deferred_flush_bios);
@@ -2207,17 +2321,40 @@ static int cache_map(struct dm_target *ti, struct bio *bio)
 		return DM_MAPIO_SUBMITTED;
 	}
 
+	r = DM_MAPIO_REMAPPED;
 	switch (lookup_result.op) {
 	case POLICY_HIT:
-		inc_hit_counter(cache, bio);
-		pb->all_io_entry = dm_deferred_entry_inc(cache->all_io_ds);
+		if (passthrough_mode(&cache->features)) {
+			if (is_write_io(bio)) {
+				/*
+				 * We need to invalidate this block, so
+				 * defer for the worker thread.
+				 */
+				cell_defer(cache, cell, true);
+				r = DM_MAPIO_SUBMITTED;
+
+			} else {
+				pb->all_io_entry = dm_deferred_entry_inc(cache->all_io_ds);
+				inc_miss_counter(cache, bio);
+				remap_to_origin_clear_discard(cache, bio, block);
+
+				cell_defer(cache, cell, false);
+			}
 
-		if (is_writethrough_io(cache, bio, lookup_result.cblock))
-			remap_to_origin_then_cache(cache, bio, block, lookup_result.cblock);
-		else
-			remap_to_cache_dirty(cache, bio, block, lookup_result.cblock);
+		} else {
+			inc_hit_counter(cache, bio);
 
-		cell_defer(cache, cell, false);
+			if (is_write_io(bio) &&
+			    writethrough_mode(&cache->features) &&
+			    !is_dirty(cache, lookup_result.cblock))
+				remap_to_origin_then_cache(cache, bio, block, lookup_result.cblock);
+
+			else
+				remap_to_cache_dirty(cache, bio, block, lookup_result.cblock);
+
+			cell_defer(cache, cell, false);
+
+		}
 		break;
 
 	case POLICY_MISS:
@@ -2242,10 +2379,10 @@ static int cache_map(struct dm_target *ti, struct bio *bio)
 		DMERR_LIMIT("%s: erroring bio: unknown policy op: %u", __func__,
 			    (unsigned) lookup_result.op);
 		bio_io_error(bio);
-		return DM_MAPIO_SUBMITTED;
+		r = DM_MAPIO_SUBMITTED;
 	}
 
-	return DM_MAPIO_REMAPPED;
+	return r;
 }
 
 static int cache_end_io(struct dm_target *ti, struct bio *bio, int error)
@@ -2520,10 +2657,19 @@ static void cache_status(struct dm_target *ti, status_type_t type,
 		       (unsigned long long) from_cblock(residency),
 		       cache->nr_dirty);
 
-		if (cache->features.write_through)
+		if (writethrough_mode(&cache->features))
 			DMEMIT("1 writethrough ");
-		else
-			DMEMIT("0 ");
+
+		else if (passthrough_mode(&cache->features))
+			DMEMIT("1 passthrough ");
+
+		else if (writeback_mode(&cache->features))
+			DMEMIT("1 writeback ");
+
+		else {
+			DMERR("internal error: unknown io mode: %d", (int) cache->features.io_mode);
+			goto err;
+		}
 
 		DMEMIT("2 migration_threshold %llu ", (unsigned long long) cache->migration_threshold);
 		if (sz < maxlen) {
