diff --git a/lib/git.zsh b/lib/git.zsh
index 96598cf5f..b8b5bab61 100644
--- a/lib/git.zsh
+++ b/lib/git.zsh
@@ -134,8 +134,8 @@ function git_compare_version() {
 }
 
 #this is unlikely to change so make it all statically assigned
-POST_1_7_2_GIT=$(git_compare_version "1.7.2")
+if [[ -z "$POST_1_7_2_GIT" ]]; then
+  POST_1_7_2_GIT=$(git_compare_version "1.7.2")
+fi
 #clean up the namespace slightly by removing the checker function
 unset -f git_compare_version
-
-