diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7544efd..c58a135 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -64,9 +64,9 @@ If you are using a `self-hosted` Windows runner, `GNU tar` and `zstd` are requir
 
 ### Outputs
 
-* `cache-hit` - A boolean value to indicate an exact match was found for the key.
-
-    > **Note** `cache-hit` will only be set to `true` when a cache hit occurs for the exact `key` match. For a partial key match via `restore-keys` or a cache miss, it will be set to `false`.
+* `cache-hit` - A string value to indicate an exact match was found for the key.
+  * If there's a cache hit, this will be 'true' or 'false' to indicate if there's an exact match for `key`.
+  * If there's a cache miss, this will be an empty string.
 
 See [Skipping steps based on cache-hit](#skipping-steps-based-on-cache-hit) for info on using this output
 
diff --git a/RELEASES.md b/RELEASES.md
index d576703..b490d02 100644
--- a/RELEASES.md
+++ b/RELEASES.md
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 # Releases
 
+### 4.1.1
+- Restore original behavior of `cache-hit` output - [#1467](https://github.com/actions/cache/pull/1467)
+
 ### 4.1.0
 - Ensure `cache-hit` output is set when a cache is missed - [#1404](https://github.com/actions/cache/pull/1404)
 - Deprecate `save-always` input - [#1452](https://github.com/actions/cache/pull/1452)
diff --git a/__tests__/restore.test.ts b/__tests__/restore.test.ts
index 9b066eb..250f7ef 100644
--- a/__tests__/restore.test.ts
+++ b/__tests__/restore.test.ts
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ test("Fail restore when fail on cache miss is enabled and primary + restore keys
     );
 
     expect(stateMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith("CACHE_KEY", key);
-    expect(setCacheHitOutputMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(setCacheHitOutputMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
 
     expect(failedMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
         `Failed to restore cache entry. Exiting as fail-on-cache-miss is set. Input key: ${key}`
diff --git a/__tests__/restoreOnly.test.ts b/__tests__/restoreOnly.test.ts
index 840307d..81e5bca 100644
--- a/__tests__/restoreOnly.test.ts
+++ b/__tests__/restoreOnly.test.ts
@@ -86,8 +86,7 @@ test("restore with no cache found", async () => {
     );
 
     expect(outputMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith("cache-primary-key", key);
-    expect(outputMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith("cache-hit", "false");
-    expect(outputMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
+    expect(outputMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
     expect(failedMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
 
     expect(infoMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
diff --git a/dist/restore-only/index.js b/dist/restore-only/index.js
index d2f3631..14e97b1 100644
--- a/dist/restore-only/index.js
+++ b/dist/restore-only/index.js
@@ -59415,7 +59415,8 @@ function restoreImpl(stateProvider, earlyExit) {
             const lookupOnly = utils.getInputAsBool(constants_1.Inputs.LookupOnly);
             const cacheKey = yield cache.restoreCache(cachePaths, primaryKey, restoreKeys, { lookupOnly: lookupOnly }, enableCrossOsArchive);
             if (!cacheKey) {
-                core.setOutput(constants_1.Outputs.CacheHit, false.toString());
+                // `cache-hit` is intentionally not set to `false` here to preserve existing behavior
+                // See https://github.com/actions/cache/issues/1466
                 if (failOnCacheMiss) {
                     throw new Error(`Failed to restore cache entry. Exiting as fail-on-cache-miss is set. Input key: ${primaryKey}`);
                 }
diff --git a/dist/restore/index.js b/dist/restore/index.js
index 842eaa6..29b70b2 100644
--- a/dist/restore/index.js
+++ b/dist/restore/index.js
@@ -59415,7 +59415,8 @@ function restoreImpl(stateProvider, earlyExit) {
             const lookupOnly = utils.getInputAsBool(constants_1.Inputs.LookupOnly);
             const cacheKey = yield cache.restoreCache(cachePaths, primaryKey, restoreKeys, { lookupOnly: lookupOnly }, enableCrossOsArchive);
             if (!cacheKey) {
-                core.setOutput(constants_1.Outputs.CacheHit, false.toString());
+                // `cache-hit` is intentionally not set to `false` here to preserve existing behavior
+                // See https://github.com/actions/cache/issues/1466
                 if (failOnCacheMiss) {
                     throw new Error(`Failed to restore cache entry. Exiting as fail-on-cache-miss is set. Input key: ${primaryKey}`);
                 }
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 73f4e6a..fb36255 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "cache",
-  "version": "4.1.0",
+  "version": "4.1.1",
   "lockfileVersion": 2,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "cache",
-      "version": "4.1.0",
+      "version": "4.1.1",
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
         "@actions/cache": "^3.2.3",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 08ba312..ce050e5 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "cache",
-  "version": "4.1.0",
+  "version": "4.1.1",
   "private": true,
   "description": "Cache dependencies and build outputs",
   "main": "dist/restore/index.js",
diff --git a/src/restoreImpl.ts b/src/restoreImpl.ts
index bb302ac..54bef49 100644
--- a/src/restoreImpl.ts
+++ b/src/restoreImpl.ts
@@ -51,7 +51,9 @@ export async function restoreImpl(
         );
 
         if (!cacheKey) {
-            core.setOutput(Outputs.CacheHit, false.toString());
+            // `cache-hit` is intentionally not set to `false` here to preserve existing behavior
+            // See https://github.com/actions/cache/issues/1466
+
             if (failOnCacheMiss) {
                 throw new Error(
                     `Failed to restore cache entry. Exiting as fail-on-cache-miss is set. Input key: ${primaryKey}`