diff --git a/fs.go b/fs.go
index c123c2cd7..32cd03991 100644
--- a/fs.go
+++ b/fs.go
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ type Fs interface {
 type FsObject interface {
 	Remote() string
 	Md5sum() (string, error)
-	ModTime() (time.Time, error)
+	ModTime() time.Time
 	SetModTime(time.Time)
 	Size() int64
 	Open() (io.ReadCloser, error)
@@ -118,24 +118,18 @@ func Equal(src, dst FsObject) bool {
 	}
 
 	// Size the same so check the mtime
-	srcModTime, err := src.ModTime()
-	if err != nil {
-		FsDebug(src, "Failed to read src mtime: %s", err)
+	srcModTime := src.ModTime()
+	dstModTime := dst.ModTime()
+	if !dstModTime.Equal(srcModTime) {
+		FsDebug(src, "Modification times differ")
 	} else {
-		dstModTime, err := dst.ModTime()
-		if err != nil {
-			FsDebug(dst, "Failed to read dst mtime: %s", err)
-		} else if !dstModTime.Equal(srcModTime) {
-			FsDebug(src, "Modification times differ")
-		} else {
-			FsDebug(src, "Size and modification time the same")
-			return true
-		}
+		FsDebug(src, "Size and modification time the same")
+		return true
 	}
 
 	// mtime is unreadable or different but size is the same so
 	// check the MD5SUM
-	same, err := CheckMd5sums(src, dst)
+	same, _ := CheckMd5sums(src, dst)
 	if !same {
 		FsDebug(src, "Md5sums differ")
 		return false
diff --git a/fs_local.go b/fs_local.go
index 7d36924e9..cf33b85cc 100644
--- a/fs_local.go
+++ b/fs_local.go
@@ -150,12 +150,7 @@ func (f *FsLocal) Put(src FsObject) {
 	}
 
 	// Set the mtime
-	modTime, err := src.ModTime()
-	if err != nil {
-		FsDebug(fs, "Failed to read mtime from object: %s", err)
-	} else {
-		fs.SetModTime(modTime)
-	}
+	fs.SetModTime(src.ModTime())
 }
 
 // Mkdir creates the directory if it doesn't exist
@@ -200,8 +195,8 @@ func (fs *FsObjectLocal) Size() int64 {
 }
 
 // ModTime returns the modification time of the object
-func (fs *FsObjectLocal) ModTime() (modTime time.Time, err error) {
-	return fs.info.ModTime(), nil
+func (fs *FsObjectLocal) ModTime() time.Time {
+	return fs.info.ModTime()
 }
 
 // Sets the modification time of the local fs object
diff --git a/fs_swift.go b/fs_swift.go
index 91883403d..8c50e85a7 100644
--- a/fs_swift.go
+++ b/fs_swift.go
@@ -183,12 +183,7 @@ func (f *FsSwift) Put(src FsObject) {
 
 	// Set the mtime
 	m := swift.Metadata{}
-	modTime, err := src.ModTime()
-	if err != nil {
-		FsDebug(fs, "Failed to read mtime from object: %s", err)
-	} else {
-		m.SetModTime(modTime)
-	}
+	m.SetModTime(src.ModTime())
 
 	_, err = fs.swift.c.ObjectPut(fs.swift.container, fs.remote, in, true, "", "", m.ObjectHeaders())
 	if err != nil {
@@ -246,18 +241,22 @@ func (fs *FsObjectSwift) readMetaData() (err error) {
 }
 
 // ModTime returns the modification time of the object
-func (fs *FsObjectSwift) ModTime() (modTime time.Time, err error) {
-	err = fs.readMetaData()
+//
+//
+// It attempts to read the objects mtime and if that isn't present the
+// LastModified returned in the http headers
+func (fs *FsObjectSwift) ModTime() time.Time {
+	err := fs.readMetaData()
 	if err != nil {
-		FsLog(fs, "Failed to read metadata: %s", err)
-		return
+		// FsLog(fs, "Failed to read metadata: %s", err)
+		return fs.info.LastModified
 	}
-	modTime, err = fs.meta.GetModTime()
+	modTime, err := fs.meta.GetModTime()
 	if err != nil {
-		FsLog(fs, "Failed to read mtime from object: %s", err)
-		return
+		// FsLog(fs, "Failed to read mtime from object: %s", err)
+		return fs.info.LastModified
 	}
-	return
+	return modTime
 }
 
 // Sets the modification time of the local fs object
diff --git a/notes.txt b/notes.txt
index 2e36f3ef0..342bbbfe7 100644
--- a/notes.txt
+++ b/notes.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 Todo
   * FIXME: More -dry-run checks for object transfer
+  * FIXME ls is very slow also - need to run mtimes in parallel
   * Check logging in various parts
   * Make logging controllable with flags (mostly done)
   * progress meter would be nice! Do this by wrapping the Reader with a progress bar
diff --git a/swiftsync.go b/swiftsync.go
index b2acd14eb..9d8294477 100644
--- a/swiftsync.go
+++ b/swiftsync.go
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ func List(f Fs) {
 		//			fmt.Printf("%9s %19s %s\n", "Directory", "-", fs.Remote())
 		//		} else {
 		// FIXME ModTime is expensive?
-		modTime, _ := fs.ModTime()
+		modTime := fs.ModTime()
 		fmt.Printf("%9d %19s %s\n", fs.Size(), modTime.Format("2006-01-02 15:04:05"), fs.Remote())
 		//			fmt.Printf("%9d %19s %s\n", fs.Size(), object.LastModified.Format("2006-01-02 15:04:05"), fs.Remote())
 		//		}