diff --git a/core/src/main/java/com/datastax/oss/driver/internal/core/cql/CqlPrepareAsyncProcessor.java b/core/src/main/java/com/datastax/oss/driver/internal/core/cql/CqlPrepareAsyncProcessor.java
index a3d11cff054..d38443524f2 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/com/datastax/oss/driver/internal/core/cql/CqlPrepareAsyncProcessor.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/com/datastax/oss/driver/internal/core/cql/CqlPrepareAsyncProcessor.java
@@ -162,8 +162,16 @@ public CompletionStage<PreparedStatement> process(
                   });
         }
       }
-      // Return a defensive copy. So if a client cancels its request, the cache won't be impacted
-      // nor a potential concurrent request.
+      if (result.isDone()) {
+        // Once a CompletableFuture is completed, cancel(), complete(), and
+        // completeExceptionally() are no-ops (return false), so returning the cached
+        // instance directly is safe from concurrent callers. This also keeps the cache
+        // entry alive via the caller's strong reference, preventing premature weak-value
+        // eviction under GC pressure.
+        return result;
+      }
+      // Defensive copy for in-flight preparations only: protects the shared cached future
+      // from cancellation by one of multiple concurrent waiters.
       return result.thenApply(x -> x); // copy() is available only since Java 9
     } catch (ExecutionException e) {
       return CompletableFutures.failedFuture(e.getCause());
diff --git a/core/src/test/java/com/datastax/oss/driver/internal/core/cql/CqlPrepareAsyncProcessorTest.java b/core/src/test/java/com/datastax/oss/driver/internal/core/cql/CqlPrepareAsyncProcessorTest.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..96cf3256df8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/src/test/java/com/datastax/oss/driver/internal/core/cql/CqlPrepareAsyncProcessorTest.java
@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+/*
+ * Licensed to the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements.  See the NOTICE file
+ * distributed with this work for additional information
+ * regarding copyright ownership.  The ASF licenses this file
+ * to you under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the
+ * "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance
+ * with the License.  You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package com.datastax.oss.driver.internal.core.cql;
+
+import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThat;
+
+import com.datastax.oss.driver.api.core.cql.PrepareRequest;
+import com.datastax.oss.driver.api.core.cql.PreparedStatement;
+import com.datastax.oss.driver.shaded.guava.common.cache.Cache;
+import java.util.Optional;
+import java.util.concurrent.CompletableFuture;
+import java.util.concurrent.CompletionStage;
+import org.junit.Before;
+import org.junit.Test;
+import org.mockito.Mockito;
+
+/**
+ * Unit tests for {@link CqlPrepareAsyncProcessor} focusing on the caching behavior of {@link
+ * CqlPrepareAsyncProcessor#process} with respect to defensive copies and weak-value retention.
+ */
+public class CqlPrepareAsyncProcessorTest {
+
+  private CqlPrepareAsyncProcessor processor;
+  private Cache<PrepareRequest, CompletableFuture<PreparedStatement>> cache;
+
+  @Before
+  public void setup() {
+    processor = new CqlPrepareAsyncProcessor(Optional.empty());
+    cache = processor.getCache();
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * When the cached future is already completed, process() should return the exact same instance
+   * (identity). This ensures callers hold a strong reference to the cached CF, preventing
+   * weak-value eviction under GC pressure.
+   */
+  @Test
+  public void should_return_cached_future_directly_when_already_completed() throws Exception {
+    PrepareRequest request = new DefaultPrepareRequest("SELECT 1");
+    PreparedStatement ps = Mockito.mock(PreparedStatement.class);
+
+    // Pre-populate cache with a completed future
+    CompletableFuture<PreparedStatement> completed = CompletableFuture.completedFuture(ps);
+    cache.put(request, completed);
+
+    // process() should return the exact same object
+    CompletionStage<PreparedStatement> returned = processor.process(request, null, null, "test");
+
+    assertThat(returned).isSameAs(completed);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * When the cached future is still in-flight (not yet done), process() should return a defensive
+   * copy to protect the cache from cancellation by the caller.
+   */
+  @Test
+  public void should_return_defensive_copy_when_future_is_in_flight() throws Exception {
+    PrepareRequest request = new DefaultPrepareRequest("SELECT 1");
+
+    // Pre-populate cache with an incomplete future
+    CompletableFuture<PreparedStatement> inFlight = new CompletableFuture<>();
+    cache.put(request, inFlight);
+
+    CompletionStage<PreparedStatement> returned = processor.process(request, null, null, "test");
+
+    // Should NOT be the same instance
+    assertThat(returned).isNotSameAs(inFlight);
+
+    // Cancelling the returned copy should NOT affect the cached future
+    returned.toCompletableFuture().cancel(false);
+    assertThat(inFlight.isCancelled()).isFalse();
+  }
+}