In the title compound, C12H17NO3, which was synthesized by Wagner-Meerwein rearrangement of the N-nitro-imine, the ring-junction C-C bond length is comparatively long [1.573 (2) Å] due to a steric repulsion between the methyl groups at these atoms, which also leads to an increase in the C-C-C angles along this C4 chain [118.10 (13) and 115.04 (15) °, respectively]. In the crystal, N-H⋯O-C and N-H⋯O=C hydrogen bonds are formed between the amide group and the two O-atom acceptors of the lactone group, forming a chain along [001].