diff --git a/pym/bob/cmds/layers.py b/pym/bob/cmds/layers.py
index 98cda854..ffcca12d 100644
--- a/pym/bob/cmds/layers.py
+++ b/pym/bob/cmds/layers.py
@@ -2,8 +2,9 @@
 
 from ..input import RecipeSet
 from ..layers import Layers, updateLayers
-from ..utils import EventLoopWrapper, processDefines
 from ..tty import NORMAL, setVerbosity
+from ..utils import EventLoopWrapper, processDefines
+from .build.status import PackagePrinter
 
 def doLayers(argv, bobRoot):
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(prog="bob layers", description='Handle layers')
@@ -32,5 +33,6 @@ def doLayers(argv, bobRoot):
         layers = Layers(recipes, loop)
         layers.collect(False, args.verbose)
         if args.action == "status":
-            layers.status(args.verbose)
+            pp = PackagePrinter(args.verbose, False, False)
+            layers.status(pp.show)
 
diff --git a/pym/bob/input.py b/pym/bob/input.py
index 22618eb9..12440d34 100644
--- a/pym/bob/input.py
+++ b/pym/bob/input.py
@@ -35,6 +35,9 @@
     from yaml import load as yamlLoad, SafeLoader as YamlSafeLoader
 
 
+class LayerNotFoundError(ParseError):
+    pass
+
 def isPrefixPath(p1, p2):
     """Check if the initial elements of ``p2`` equal ``p1``.
 
@@ -3436,6 +3439,7 @@ def __parse(self, envOverrides, platform, recipesRoot="", dryRun=False):
         if platform not in ('cygwin', 'darwin', 'linux', 'msys', 'win32'):
             raise ParseError("Invalid platform: " + platform)
         self.__platform = platform
+        self.__layers = []
         self.__whiteList = set()
         if platform == 'win32':
             self.__whiteList |= set(["ALLUSERSPROFILE", "APPDATA",
@@ -3518,9 +3522,6 @@ def __parse(self, envOverrides, platform, recipesRoot="", dryRun=False):
         self.__rootRecipe = Recipe.createVirtualRoot(self, sorted(filteredRoots), self.__properties)
         self.__addRecipe(self.__rootRecipe)
 
-    def resetLayers(self):
-        self.__layers = []
-
     def __parseLayer(self, layerSpec, maxVer, recipesRoot, dryRun):
         layer = layerSpec.getName()
 
@@ -3530,7 +3531,8 @@ def __parseLayer(self, layerSpec, maxVer, recipesRoot, dryRun):
 
         rootDir = os.path.join(recipesRoot, os.path.join("layers", layer) if layer != "" else "")
         if not os.path.isdir(rootDir or "."):
-            raise ParseError(f"Layer '{layer}' does not exist!")
+            raise LayerNotFoundError(f"Layer '{layer}' does not exist!",
+                                     help="You probably want to run 'bob layers update' to fetch missing layers.")
 
         configYaml = os.path.join(rootDir, "config.yaml")
         def preValidate(data):
diff --git a/pym/bob/layers.py b/pym/bob/layers.py
index eb37dfd4..8e5e1932 100644
--- a/pym/bob/layers.py
+++ b/pym/bob/layers.py
@@ -1,10 +1,9 @@
 import datetime
 import os
-from .cmds.build.status import PackagePrinter
-from .errors import BuildError, ParseError
+from .errors import BuildError
 from .invoker import CmdFailedError, InvocationError, Invoker
 from .state import BobState
-from .input import RecipeSet, Scm, YamlCache
+from .input import LayerNotFoundError, RecipeSet, Scm, YamlCache
 from .utils import INVALID_CHAR_TRANS
 from .tty import DEBUG, EXECUTED, INFO, NORMAL, IMPORTANT, SKIPPED, WARNING, log
 
@@ -92,6 +91,7 @@ async def __checkoutTask(self, verbose):
                 os.makedirs(atticPath)
             atticPath = os.path.join(atticPath, atticName)
             os.rename(layerSrcPath, atticPath)
+            BobState().delLayerState(layerSrcPath)
 
         if not os.path.isdir(layerSrcPath):
             os.makedirs(layerSrcPath)
@@ -137,12 +137,11 @@ def parse(self):
     def getSubLayers(self):
         return self.__subLayers
 
-    def status(self, verbose):
+    def status(self, printer):
         if self.__scm is None:
             return
-        pp = PackagePrinter(verbose, False, False)
         status = self.__scm.status(self.__layerDir)
-        pp.show(status, self.__layerDir)
+        printer(status, self.__layerDir)
 
 class Layers:
     def __init__(self, recipes, loop):
@@ -173,28 +172,25 @@ def __collect(self, depth, update, verbose):
             self.__collect(depth + 1, update, verbose)
 
     def collect(self, update, verbose=0):
-        if self.__yamlCache is not None:
-            self.__yamlCache.open()
+        self.__yamlCache.open()
         try:
             rootLayers = Layer("", os.getcwd(), self.__recipes, self.__yamlCache)
             rootLayers.parse()
             self.__layers[0] = rootLayers.getSubLayers();
             self.__collect(0, update, verbose)
         finally:
-            if self.__yamlCache is not None:
-                self.__yamlCache.close()
+            self.__yamlCache.close()
 
-    def status(self, verbose):
-        for level in self.__layers:
+    def status(self, printer):
+        for level in sorted(self.__layers.keys()):
             for layer in self.__layers[level]:
-                layer.status(verbose)
+                layer.status(printer)
 
 def updateLayers(recipes, loop, defines, verbose):
     try:
         recipes.parse(defines, dryRun=True)
-    except ParseError:
+    except LayerNotFoundError:
         pass
-    recipes.resetLayers()
 
     layers = Layers(recipes, loop)
     layers.collect(True, verbose)
diff --git a/pym/bob/state.py b/pym/bob/state.py
index 7c73aec1..daa912ca 100644
--- a/pym/bob/state.py
+++ b/pym/bob/state.py
@@ -558,6 +558,11 @@ def setLayerState(self, path, digest):
         self.__layerStates[path] = digest
         self.__save()
 
+    def delLayerState(self, path):
+        if path in self.__layerStates:
+            del self.__layerStates[path]
+            self.__save()
+
     def getDirectories(self):
         return list(self.__dirStates.keys())