diff --git a/offlineimap/folder/Base.py b/offlineimap/folder/Base.py
index 14b0867..c358a51 100644
--- a/offlineimap/folder/Base.py
+++ b/offlineimap/folder/Base.py
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ class BaseFolder(object):
         """
 
         self.ui = getglobalui()
+        self.messagelist = {}
         # Save original name for folderfilter operations
         self.ffilter_name = name
         # Top level dir name is always ''
@@ -262,7 +263,7 @@ class BaseFolder(object):
         raise NotImplementedError
 
     def ismessagelistempty(self):
-        """Empty everythings we know about messages."""
+        """Is the list of messages empty."""
 
         if len(self.messagelist.keys()) < 1:
             return True
@@ -278,7 +279,7 @@ class BaseFolder(object):
 
         You must call cachemessagelist() before calling this function!"""
 
-        raise NotImplementedError
+        return self.messagelist
 
     def msglist_item_initializer(self, uid):
         """Returns value for empty messagelist element with given UID.
diff --git a/offlineimap/folder/Gmail.py b/offlineimap/folder/Gmail.py
index ee52aed..970d836 100644
--- a/offlineimap/folder/Gmail.py
+++ b/offlineimap/folder/Gmail.py
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ class GmailFolder(IMAPFolder):
             return super(GmailFolder, self).cachemessagelist(
                 min_date=min_date, min_uid=min_uid)
 
-        self.messagelist = {}
+        self.dropmessagelistcache()
 
         self.ui.collectingdata(None, self)
         imapobj = self.imapserver.acquireconnection()
diff --git a/offlineimap/folder/IMAP.py b/offlineimap/folder/IMAP.py
index 5a26051..c105b72 100644
--- a/offlineimap/folder/IMAP.py
+++ b/offlineimap/folder/IMAP.py
@@ -49,7 +49,6 @@ class IMAPFolder(BaseFolder):
         self.expunge = repository.getexpunge()
         self.root = None # imapserver.root
         self.imapserver = imapserver
-        self.messagelist = {}
         self.randomgenerator = random.Random()
         #self.ui is set in BaseFolder
         self.imap_query = ['BODY.PEEK[]']
@@ -216,7 +215,7 @@ class IMAPFolder(BaseFolder):
     # Interface from BaseFolder
     def cachemessagelist(self, min_date=None, min_uid=None):
         self.ui.loadmessagelist(self.repository, self)
-        self.messagelist = {}
+        self.dropmessagelistcache()
 
         imapobj = self.imapserver.acquireconnection()
         try:
@@ -257,9 +256,6 @@ class IMAPFolder(BaseFolder):
                     'keywords': keywords}
         self.ui.messagelistloaded(self.repository, self, self.getmessagecount())
 
-    def dropmessagelistcache(self):
-        self.messagelist = {}
-
     # Interface from BaseFolder
     def getvisiblename(self):
         vname = super(IMAPFolder, self).getvisiblename()
@@ -267,10 +263,6 @@ class IMAPFolder(BaseFolder):
             return imaputil.decode_mailbox_name(vname)
         return vname
 
-    # Interface from BaseFolder
-    def getmessagelist(self):
-        return self.messagelist
-
     # Interface from BaseFolder
     def getmessage(self, uid):
         """Retrieve message with UID from the IMAP server (incl body).
diff --git a/offlineimap/folder/LocalStatus.py b/offlineimap/folder/LocalStatus.py
index 78f2134..2a16e0b 100644
--- a/offlineimap/folder/LocalStatus.py
+++ b/offlineimap/folder/LocalStatus.py
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@ class LocalStatusFolder(BaseFolder):
         super(LocalStatusFolder, self).__init__(name, repository)
         self.root = repository.root
         self.filename = os.path.join(self.getroot(), self.getfolderbasename())
-        self.messagelist = {}
         self.savelock = threading.Lock()
         # Should we perform fsyncs as often as possible?
         self.doautosave = self.config.getdefaultboolean(
@@ -108,12 +107,12 @@ class LocalStatusFolder(BaseFolder):
     # Interface from BaseFolder
     def cachemessagelist(self):
         if self.isnewfolder():
-            self.messagelist = {}
+            self.dropmessagelistcache()
             return
 
         # Loop as many times as version, and update format.
         for i in range(1, self.cur_version + 1):
-            self.messagelist = {}
+            self.dropmessagelistcache()
             cachefd = open(self.filename, "rt")
             line = cachefd.readline().strip()
 
@@ -181,10 +180,6 @@ class LocalStatusFolder(BaseFolder):
                 os.fsync(fd)
                 os.close(fd)
 
-    # Interface from BaseFolder
-    def getmessagelist(self):
-        return self.messagelist
-
     # Interface from BaseFolder
     def savemessage(self, uid, content, flags, rtime, mtime=0, labels=set()):
         """Writes a new message, with the specified uid.
diff --git a/offlineimap/folder/LocalStatusSQLite.py b/offlineimap/folder/LocalStatusSQLite.py
index 64adcd1..6eb549f 100644
--- a/offlineimap/folder/LocalStatusSQLite.py
+++ b/offlineimap/folder/LocalStatusSQLite.py
@@ -48,7 +48,6 @@ class LocalStatusSQLiteFolder(BaseFolder):
         super(LocalStatusSQLiteFolder, self).__init__(name, repository)
         self.root = repository.root
         self.filename = os.path.join(self.getroot(), self.getfolderbasename())
-        self.messagelist = {}
 
         self._newfolder = False        # Flag if the folder is new.
 
@@ -197,7 +196,7 @@ class LocalStatusSQLiteFolder(BaseFolder):
 
     # Interface from BaseFolder
     def cachemessagelist(self):
-        self.messagelist = {}
+        self.dropmessagelistcache()
         cursor = self.connection.execute('SELECT id,flags,mtime,labels from status')
         for row in cursor:
             uid = row[0]
@@ -222,9 +221,6 @@ class LocalStatusSQLiteFolder(BaseFolder):
             self.messagelist[uid]['labels'] = labels
             self.messagelist[uid]['mtime'] = row[2]
 
-    def dropmessagelistcache(self):
-        self.messagelist = {}
-
     # Interface from LocalStatusFolder
     def save(self):
         pass
@@ -282,11 +278,6 @@ class LocalStatusSQLiteFolder(BaseFolder):
     #        assert False,"getmessageflags() called on non-existing message"
 
 
-    # Interface from BaseFolder
-    def getmessagelist(self):
-        return self.messagelist
-
-
     # Interface from BaseFolder
     def savemessage(self, uid, content, flags, rtime, mtime=0, labels=set()):
         """Writes a new message, with the specified uid.
diff --git a/offlineimap/folder/Maildir.py b/offlineimap/folder/Maildir.py
index 77a774b..d97b0d3 100644
--- a/offlineimap/folder/Maildir.py
+++ b/offlineimap/folder/Maildir.py
@@ -61,7 +61,6 @@ class MaildirFolder(BaseFolder):
         super(MaildirFolder, self).__init__(name, repository)
         self.dofsync = self.config.getdefaultboolean("general", "fsync", True)
         self.root = root
-        self.messagelist = {}
         # check if we should use a different infosep to support Win file systems
         self.wincompatible = self.config.getdefaultboolean(
             "Account "+self.accountname, "maildir-windows-compatible", False)
@@ -244,10 +243,6 @@ class MaildirFolder(BaseFolder):
                 min_uid=min_uid)
             self.ui.messagelistloaded(self.repository, self, self.getmessagecount())
 
-    # Interface from BaseFolder
-    def getmessagelist(self):
-        return self.messagelist
-
     # Interface from BaseFolder
     def getmessage(self, uid):
         """Return the content of the message."""