A cache stores, along with data that is being transferred from a higher level cache to a lower level cache, information indicating the higher level cache location from which the data was transferred. Upon receiving a request for data that is stored at the location in the higher level cache, a cache controller stores the higher level cache location information in a status tag of the data. The cache controller then transfers the data with the status tag indicating the higher level cache location to a lower level cache. When the data is subsequently updated or evicted from the lower level cache, the cache controller reads the status tag location information and transfers the data back to the location in the higher level cache from which it was originally transferred.