diff --git a/dashboard/src/t5gweb/api.py b/dashboard/src/t5gweb/api.py
index 29c5bd4..2aeecc7 100644
--- a/dashboard/src/t5gweb/api.py
+++ b/dashboard/src/t5gweb/api.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 """API endpoints for t5gweb"""
+import json
 
 from flask import Blueprint, jsonify, request
 from flask_login import login_required
@@ -12,7 +13,7 @@
     get_stats,
     get_watchlist,
 )
-from t5gweb.libtelco5g import generate_stats, redis_get
+from t5gweb.libtelco5g import generate_stats, redis_get, redis_set
 from t5gweb.utils import set_cfg
 
 BP = Blueprint("api", __name__, url_prefix="/api")
@@ -61,7 +62,9 @@ def refresh(data_type):
     elif data_type == "bugs":
         get_bz_details(cfg)
     elif data_type == "escalations":
-        get_escalations(cfg)
+        cases = redis_get("cases")
+        escalations = get_escalations(cfg, cases)
+        redis_set("escalations", json.dumps(escalations))
         return jsonify({"caching escalations": "ok"})
     elif data_type == "watchlist":
         get_watchlist(cfg)
diff --git a/dashboard/src/t5gweb/cache.py b/dashboard/src/t5gweb/cache.py
index bde0cf4..d565021 100644
--- a/dashboard/src/t5gweb/cache.py
+++ b/dashboard/src/t5gweb/cache.py
@@ -62,16 +62,22 @@ def get_cases(cfg):
     libtelco5g.redis_set("cases", json.dumps(cases))
 
 
-def get_escalations(cfg):
-    """Get cases that have been escalated by querying the escalations JIRA board"""
-    cases = libtelco5g.redis_get("cases")
+def get_escalations(cfg, cases):
+    """Get cases that have been escalated by querying the escalations JIRA board
+
+    Args:
+        cfg: generated by utils.set_cfg()
+        cases: cases returned from portal API using the configured query
+
+    Returns:
+        list: open Jira cards that have been escalated
+    """
     if (
         cases is None
         or cfg["jira_escalations_project"] is None
         or cfg["jira_escalations_label"] is None
     ):
-        libtelco5g.redis_set("escalations", json.dumps(None))
-        return
+        return None
 
     logging.warning("getting escalated cases from JIRA")
     jira_conn = libtelco5g.jira_connection(cfg)
@@ -87,10 +93,10 @@ def get_escalations(cfg):
     escalations = []
     for card in escalated_cards:
         issue = jira_conn.issue(card)
-        case = issue.fields.customfield_12313441
+        case = issue.fields.customfield_12313441  # SDFC Case Links in escalations proj.
         if case is not None:
             escalations.append(case)
-    libtelco5g.redis_set("escalations", json.dumps(escalations))
+    return escalations
 
 
 def get_cards(cfg, self=None, background=False):
diff --git a/dashboard/src/t5gweb/t5gweb.py b/dashboard/src/t5gweb/t5gweb.py
index e47ff6e..0642bc0 100644
--- a/dashboard/src/t5gweb/t5gweb.py
+++ b/dashboard/src/t5gweb/t5gweb.py
@@ -152,7 +152,9 @@ def init_cache():
             cache.get_issue_details(cfg)
         if escalations == {}:
             logging.warning("no escalations found in cache. refreshing...")
-            cache.get_escalations(cfg)
+            cases = libtelco5g.redis_get("cases")
+            escalations = cache.get_escalations(cfg, cases)
+            libtelco5g.redis_set("escalations", json.dumps(escalations))
         if watchlist == {}:
             logging.warning("no watchlist found in cache. refreshing...")
             cache.get_watchlist(cfg)
diff --git a/dashboard/src/t5gweb/taskmgr.py b/dashboard/src/t5gweb/taskmgr.py
index 87941e7..1553229 100644
--- a/dashboard/src/t5gweb/taskmgr.py
+++ b/dashboard/src/t5gweb/taskmgr.py
@@ -196,7 +196,9 @@ def cache_data(data_type):
     elif data_type == "issues":
         cache.get_issue_details(cfg)
     elif data_type == "escalations":
-        cache.get_escalations(cfg)
+        cases = libtelco5g.redis_get("cases")
+        escalations = cache.get_escalations(cfg, cases)
+        libtelco5g.redis_set("escalations", json.dumps(escalations))
     elif data_type == "watchlist":
         cache.get_watchlist(cfg)
     else: