diff --git a/internal/imports/fix.go b/internal/imports/fix.go
index 7fd513062f..916ddf3ac6 100644
--- a/internal/imports/fix.go
+++ b/internal/imports/fix.go
@@ -846,6 +846,8 @@ type Resolver interface {
 	// loadExports returns the set of exported symbols in the package at dir.
 	// loadExports may be called concurrently.
 	loadExports(ctx context.Context, pkg *pkg) (string, []string, error)
+
+	ClearForNewScan()
 }
 
 // gopackagesResolver implements resolver for GOPATH and module workspaces using go/packages.
@@ -853,6 +855,8 @@ type goPackagesResolver struct {
 	env *ProcessEnv
 }
 
+func (r *goPackagesResolver) ClearForNewScan() {}
+
 func (r *goPackagesResolver) loadPackageNames(importPaths []string, srcDir string) (map[string]string, error) {
 	if len(importPaths) == 0 {
 		return nil, nil
@@ -1032,6 +1036,10 @@ func (r *gopathResolver) init() {
 	}
 }
 
+func (r *gopathResolver) ClearForNewScan() {
+	r.cache = nil
+}
+
 func (r *gopathResolver) loadPackageNames(importPaths []string, srcDir string) (map[string]string, error) {
 	r.init()
 	names := map[string]string{}
diff --git a/internal/lsp/cache/view.go b/internal/lsp/cache/view.go
index 2a5c45e791..118a21d95f 100644
--- a/internal/lsp/cache/view.go
+++ b/internal/lsp/cache/view.go
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import (
 	"os/exec"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
+	"time"
 
 	"golang.org/x/tools/go/packages"
 	"golang.org/x/tools/internal/imports"
@@ -22,6 +23,7 @@ import (
 	"golang.org/x/tools/internal/lsp/source"
 	"golang.org/x/tools/internal/span"
 	"golang.org/x/tools/internal/telemetry/log"
+	"golang.org/x/tools/internal/telemetry/tag"
 	"golang.org/x/tools/internal/xcontext"
 	errors "golang.org/x/xerrors"
 )
@@ -59,7 +61,8 @@ type view struct {
 	// TODO(suzmue): the state cached in the process env is specific to each view,
 	// however, there is state that can be shared between views that is not currently
 	// cached, like the module cache.
-	processEnv *imports.ProcessEnv
+	processEnv       *imports.ProcessEnv
+	cacheRefreshTime time.Time
 
 	// modFileVersions stores the last seen versions of the module files that are used
 	// by processEnvs resolver.
@@ -142,12 +145,8 @@ func (v *view) RunProcessEnvFunc(ctx context.Context, fn func(*imports.Options)
 	}
 
 	// Before running the user provided function, clear caches in the resolver.
-	if r, ok := v.processEnv.GetResolver().(*imports.ModuleResolver); ok {
-		if v.modFilesChanged() {
-			r.ClearForNewMod()
-		} else {
-			r.ClearForNewScan()
-		}
+	if v.modFilesChanged() {
+		v.processEnv.GetResolver().(*imports.ModuleResolver).ClearForNewMod()
 	}
 
 	// Run the user function.
@@ -155,11 +154,27 @@ func (v *view) RunProcessEnvFunc(ctx context.Context, fn func(*imports.Options)
 	if err := fn(opts); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+	if v.cacheRefreshTime.IsZero() {
+		v.cacheRefreshTime = time.Now()
+	}
 
 	// If applicable, store the file versions of the 'go.mod' files that are
 	// looked at by the resolver.
 	v.storeModFileVersions()
 
+	if time.Since(v.cacheRefreshTime) > 30*time.Second {
+		go func() {
+			v.mu.Lock()
+			defer v.mu.Unlock()
+
+			log.Print(context.Background(), "background imports cache refresh starting")
+			v.processEnv.GetResolver().ClearForNewScan()
+			_, err := imports.GetAllCandidates("", opts)
+			v.cacheRefreshTime = time.Now()
+			log.Print(context.Background(), "background refresh finished with err: ", tag.Of("err", err))
+		}()
+	}
+
 	return nil
 }