diff --git a/extensions/api/util.py b/extensions/api/util.py
index bd86f8d1..596caee2 100644
--- a/extensions/api/util.py
+++ b/extensions/api/util.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ from threading import Thread
 from typing import Callable, Optional
 
 from modules import shared
-from modules.chat import load_character
+from modules.chat import load_character_memoized
 
 
 def build_parameters(body, chat=False):
@@ -41,8 +41,8 @@ def build_parameters(body, chat=False):
     if chat:
         character = body.get('character')
         instruction_template = body.get('instruction_template')
-        name1, name2, _, greeting, context, _ = load_character(character, shared.settings['name1'], shared.settings['name2'], instruct=False)
-        name1_instruct, name2_instruct, _, _, context_instruct, turn_template = load_character(instruction_template, '', '', instruct=True)
+        name1, name2, _, greeting, context, _ = load_character_memoized(character, shared.settings['name1'], shared.settings['name2'], instruct=False)
+        name1_instruct, name2_instruct, _, _, context_instruct, turn_template = load_character_memoized(instruction_template, '', '', instruct=True)
         generate_params.update({
             'stop_at_newline': bool(body.get('stop_at_newline', shared.settings['stop_at_newline'])),
             'chat_prompt_size': int(body.get('chat_prompt_size', shared.settings['chat_prompt_size'])),
diff --git a/modules/chat.py b/modules/chat.py
index a4d10f2d..be5eb9a7 100644
--- a/modules/chat.py
+++ b/modules/chat.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import ast
 import base64
 import copy
+import functools
 import io
 import json
 import re
@@ -568,6 +569,11 @@ def load_character(character, name1, name2, instruct=False):
     return name1, name2, picture, greeting, context, repr(turn_template)[1:-1]
 
 
+@functools.cache
+def load_character_memoized(character, name1, name2, instruct=False):
+    return load_character(character, name1, name2, instruct=instruct)
+
+
 def upload_character(json_file, img, tavern=False):
     json_file = json_file if type(json_file) == str else json_file.decode('utf-8')
     data = json.loads(json_file)