diff --git a/src/wp-includes/functions.php b/src/wp-includes/functions.php
index a884303893..136012dd07 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/functions.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/functions.php
@@ -8819,7 +8819,11 @@ function clean_dirsize_cache( $path ) {
  * @return string The current WordPress version.
  */
 function wp_get_wp_version() {
-	require ABSPATH . WPINC . '/version.php';
+	static $wp_version;
+
+	if ( ! isset( $wp_version ) ) {
+		require ABSPATH . WPINC . '/version.php';
+	}
 
 	return $wp_version;
 }