diff --git a/java/ql/lib/semmle/code/java/dataflow/ExternalFlow.qll b/java/ql/lib/semmle/code/java/dataflow/ExternalFlow.qll
index 1666413db767..ded0606956f2 100644
--- a/java/ql/lib/semmle/code/java/dataflow/ExternalFlow.qll
+++ b/java/ql/lib/semmle/code/java/dataflow/ExternalFlow.qll
@@ -430,6 +430,7 @@ private Element interpretElement0(
 }
 
 /** Gets the source/sink/summary/neutral element corresponding to the supplied parameters. */
+cached
 Element interpretElement(
   string package, string type, boolean subtypes, string name, string signature, string ext
 ) {