diff --git a/data/src/cache.js b/data/src/cache.js
index 52b2d2f..3a6886e 100644
--- a/data/src/cache.js
+++ b/data/src/cache.js
@@ -35,6 +35,11 @@ class EJS_Cache {
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Indicates whether the startup cleanup has been completed.
+     */
+    #startupCleanupCompleted = false;
+
     /**
      * Generates a cache key for the given data array.
      * @param {Uint8Array} dataArray 
@@ -55,6 +60,12 @@ class EJS_Cache {
     async get(key, metadataOnly = false) {
         if (!this.enabled) return null;
 
+        // clean up cache on first get if not already done
+        if (!this.#startupCleanupCompleted) {
+            await this.cleanup();
+            this.#startupCleanupCompleted = true;
+        }
+
         const item = await this.storage.get(key);
         // if the item exists, update its lastAccessed time and return cache item
         if (item) {