diff --git a/.jules/bolt.md b/.jules/bolt.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ebd4d54
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.jules/bolt.md
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+## 2024-05-24 - [Avoid dynamic array allocations on hot cache paths]
+**Learning:** Using `[a, b, c].filter(Boolean).join(':')` to dynamically generate cache keys incurs unnecessary array allocation and loop processing overhead, which degrades performance when executed frequently in a hot path like `fetch`. Precomputing the static portion of the key (prefix + version) limits the overhead significantly in Node.js/V8.
+**Action:** Always prefer precomputing static values and simple string concatenation (or template literals) for hot paths that run on every cache operation.
diff --git a/src/backends/index.ts b/src/backends/index.ts
index 20ba43b..3f96b8e 100644
--- a/src/backends/index.ts
+++ b/src/backends/index.ts
@@ -42,22 +42,26 @@ function getGlobalRedisClient(): Redis {
       lazyConnect: true, // Don't connect immediately
     });
 
+    const client = globalRedisClient;
+
     // Set up proper error handling
-    globalRedisClient.on('error', (error) => {
+    client.on('error', (error) => {
       // Only log connection errors, don't throw unhandled rejections
       if (process.env.NODE_ENV !== 'test') {
+        // eslint-disable-next-line no-console
         console.warn('Redis connection error:', error.message);
       }
     });
 
-    globalRedisClient.on('connect', () => {
+    client.on('connect', () => {
       if (process.env.NODE_ENV !== 'test') {
+        // eslint-disable-next-line no-console
         console.log('Redis connected successfully');
       }
     });
 
     // Handle connection promise
-    connectionPromise = globalRedisClient.connect().then(() => globalRedisClient!).catch((error) => {
+    connectionPromise = client.connect().then(() => client).catch((error) => {
       // Reset the promise on error so it can be retried
       connectionPromise = null;
       const connectionError = new CacheConnectionError(
@@ -66,8 +70,9 @@ function getGlobalRedisClient(): Redis {
       
       // In test environment, don't throw unhandled rejections
       if (process.env.NODE_ENV === 'test') {
+        // eslint-disable-next-line no-console
         console.warn('Redis connection failed in test environment:', connectionError.message);
-        return globalRedisClient!;
+        return client;
       }
       
       throw connectionError;
diff --git a/src/cache/createCacheHandler.ts b/src/cache/createCacheHandler.ts
index 70f42de..5c9bceb 100644
--- a/src/cache/createCacheHandler.ts
+++ b/src/cache/createCacheHandler.ts
@@ -63,12 +63,14 @@ export function createCacheHandler<T = unknown>(
   const l1Cache = new Map<string, { value: unknown; expiresAt: number }>();
   const L1_CACHE_TTL = 1000; // 1 second TTL for L1 cache
 
+  // Precompute the static part of the key to avoid array allocation, filter, and join on every fetch
+  const basePrefix = prefix && version ? `${prefix}:${version}:` : prefix ? `${prefix}:` : version ? `${version}:` : '';
+
   /**
    * Get the fully qualified key with prefix and version
    */
   const getFullKey = (key: string): string => {
-    const parts = [prefix, version, key].filter(Boolean);
-    return parts.join(':');
+    return `${basePrefix}${key}`;
   };
 
   /**
@@ -253,11 +255,20 @@ export function createCacheHandler<T = unknown>(
   };
 
   // Clean up L1 cache periodically
-  setInterval(cleanupL1Cache, 5000); // Every 5 seconds
+  const cleanupInterval = setInterval(cleanupL1Cache, 5000); // Every 5 seconds
+
+  /**
+   * Clean up resources when the handler is destroyed
+   */
+  const destroy = () => {
+    clearInterval(cleanupInterval);
+    l1Cache.clear();
+  };
 
   return {
     fetch,
     backend,
     getFullKey,
+    destroy,
   };
 } 
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/types/index.ts b/src/types/index.ts
index 154bc7e..de9c7a0 100644
--- a/src/types/index.ts
+++ b/src/types/index.ts
@@ -121,4 +121,9 @@ export interface CacheHandler<T = unknown> {
    * @returns The prefixed key
    */
   getFullKey(key: string): string;
+
+  /**
+   * Destroy the cache handler, cleaning up any resources such as intervals and L1 cache
+   */
+  destroy?: () => void;
 }
diff --git a/test/cache/createCacheHandler.test.ts b/test/cache/createCacheHandler.test.ts
index 7098c97..07f9b73 100644
--- a/test/cache/createCacheHandler.test.ts
+++ b/test/cache/createCacheHandler.test.ts
@@ -424,5 +424,52 @@ describe('createCacheHandler', () => {
       });
       expect(result).toBe('value');
     });
+
+    it('should clean up expired L1 cache entries automatically', async () => {
+      vi.useFakeTimers();
+
+      const timerHandler = createCacheHandler({
+        backend,
+        prefix: 'test',
+      });
+
+      // Add to L1 cache
+      await timerHandler.fetch('test-key', async () => 'value');
+
+      // Wait for cleanup interval to run (5s)
+      vi.advanceTimersByTime(5100);
+
+      // Cleanup should have run, clearing the expired item
+
+      // Destroy handler
+      if (timerHandler.destroy) {
+        timerHandler.destroy();
+      }
+
+      vi.useRealTimers();
+    });
+
+    it('should clean up resources when destroy is called', async () => {
+      const destroyHandler = createCacheHandler({
+        backend,
+        prefix: 'test',
+      });
+
+      // Populate L1 cache by fetching
+      await destroyHandler.fetch('test-key', async () => 'value');
+
+      // Destroy should not throw and should clean up intervals and L1 cache
+      expect(() => {
+        if (destroyHandler.destroy) {
+          destroyHandler.destroy();
+        }
+      }).not.toThrow();
+
+      // We can't directly check the interval is cleared without mocking timers,
+      // but we can verify it doesn't error when we try to fetch again
+      // after the L1 cache was cleared.
+      const result = await destroyHandler.fetch('test-key-2', async () => 'value2');
+      expect(result).toBe('value2');
+    });
   });
 }); 
\ No newline at end of file