diff --git a/packages/google-api-core/google/api_core/_python_version_support.py b/packages/google-api-core/google/api_core/_python_version_support.py
index 3a85f793a04b..66782bfc9ea8 100644
--- a/packages/google-api-core/google/api_core/_python_version_support.py
+++ b/packages/google-api-core/google/api_core/_python_version_support.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 import datetime
 import enum
+import functools
 import logging
 import warnings
 import sys
@@ -152,15 +153,16 @@ def _get_pypi_package_name(module_name):  # pragma: NO COVER
 else:
     from importlib import metadata
 
+    @functools.cache
+    def _cached_packages_distributions():
+        return metadata.packages_distributions()
+
     def _get_pypi_package_name(module_name):
         """Determine the PyPI package name for a given module name."""
         try:
-            # Get the mapping of modules to distributions
-            module_to_distributions = metadata.packages_distributions()
+            module_to_distributions = _cached_packages_distributions()
 
-            # Check if the module is found in the mapping
             if module_name in module_to_distributions:  # pragma: NO COVER
-                # The value is a list of distribution names, take the first one
                 return module_to_distributions[module_name][0]
         except Exception as e:  # pragma: NO COVER
             _LOGGER.info(
@@ -195,7 +197,6 @@ def check_python_version(
         The support status of the current Python version.
     """
     today = today or datetime.date.today()
-    package_label, _ = _get_distribution_and_import_packages(package)
 
     python_version = sys.version_info
     version_tuple = (python_version.major, python_version.minor)
@@ -221,7 +222,14 @@ def min_python(date: datetime.date) -> str:
                 return f"{version[0]}.{version[1]}"
         return "at a currently supported version [https://devguide.python.org/versions]"
 
+    # Resolve the pretty package label lazily so we avoid any work on
+    # the happy path (supported Python version, no warning needed).
+    def get_package_label():
+        label, _ = _get_distribution_and_import_packages(package)
+        return label
+
     if gapic_end < today:
+        package_label = get_package_label()
         message = _flatten_message(
             f"""
             You are using a non-supported Python version ({py_version_str}).
@@ -236,6 +244,7 @@ def min_python(date: datetime.date) -> str:
 
     eol_date = version_info.python_eol + EOL_GRACE_PERIOD
     if eol_date <= today <= gapic_end:
+        package_label = get_package_label()
         message = _flatten_message(
             f"""
             You are using a Python version ({py_version_str})
@@ -250,6 +259,7 @@ def min_python(date: datetime.date) -> str:
         return PythonVersionStatus.PYTHON_VERSION_EOL
 
     if gapic_deprecation <= today <= gapic_end:
+        package_label = get_package_label()
         message = _flatten_message(
             f"""
             You are using a Python version ({py_version_str}) which Google will