diff --git a/CHANGES/9174.misc.rst b/CHANGES/9174.misc.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..13dc00ec1de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CHANGES/9174.misc.rst
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Improved performance of web requests -- by :user:`bdraco`.
diff --git a/aiohttp/helpers.py b/aiohttp/helpers.py
index 6abbe74d8cf..40705b16d71 100644
--- a/aiohttp/helpers.py
+++ b/aiohttp/helpers.py
@@ -973,6 +973,7 @@ def parse_http_date(date_str: Optional[str]) -> Optional[datetime.datetime]:
     return None
 
 
+@functools.lru_cache
 def must_be_empty_body(method: str, code: int) -> bool:
     """Check if a request must return an empty body."""
     return (