diff --git a/aider/models.py b/aider/models.py
index 73ed42300..32f640675 100644
--- a/aider/models.py
+++ b/aider/models.py
@@ -754,10 +754,9 @@ class ModelInfoManager:
                     pass
         except Exception as ex:
             print(str(ex))
-        finally:
-            # Touch the cache file to update its mtime even if download failed
             try:
-                self.cache_file.touch()
+                # Save empty dict to cache file on failure
+                self.cache_file.write_text("{}")
             except OSError:
                 pass