diff --git a/lib/con_cache/operations.ex b/lib/con_cache/operations.ex
index a4cfda9..d4667ca 100644
--- a/lib/con_cache/operations.ex
+++ b/lib/con_cache/operations.ex
@@ -85,7 +85,12 @@ defmodule ConCache.Operations do
     end)
   end
 
-  def dirty_insert_new(%ConCache{ets: ets, owner_pid: owner_pid, ttl: ttl} = cache, key, value) do
+  def dirty_insert_new(cache, key, %ConCache.Item{ttl: ttl, value: value}),
+    do: perform_insert_new(cache, key, value, ttl)
+
+  def dirty_insert_new(cache, key, value), do: perform_insert_new(cache, key, value, cache.ttl)
+
+  defp perform_insert_new(%ConCache{ets: ets, owner_pid: owner_pid} = cache, key, value, ttl) do
     if :ets.insert_new(ets, {key, value}) do
       set_ttl(cache, key, ttl)
       invoke_callback(cache, {:update, owner_pid, key, value})
diff --git a/test/con_cache_test.exs b/test/con_cache_test.exs
index 0602879..375615b 100644
--- a/test/con_cache_test.exs
+++ b/test/con_cache_test.exs
@@ -77,6 +77,12 @@ defmodule ConCacheTest do
     assert ConCache.get(cache, :b) == 2
   end
 
+  test "insert_new with ConCache.Item unwraps the value" do
+    {:ok, cache} = start_cache()
+    assert ConCache.insert_new(cache, :b, %ConCache.Item{value: 2, ttl: 20}) == :ok
+    assert ConCache.get(cache, :b) == 2
+  end
+
   test "insert_new after multiple put on bag" do
     {:ok, cache} = start_cache(ets_options: [:bag])
     ConCache.put(cache, :a, 1)