diff --git a/codeflash/cli_cmds/init_java.py b/codeflash/cli_cmds/init_java.py
index bd47a6fe4..eb01002fa 100644
--- a/codeflash/cli_cmds/init_java.py
+++ b/codeflash/cli_cmds/init_java.py
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@
 from codeflash.code_utils.shell_utils import get_shell_rc_path, is_powershell
 from codeflash.telemetry.posthog_cf import ph
 
+_MAVEN_NS = {"m": "http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0"}
+
 
 class JavaBuildTool(Enum):
     """Java build tools."""
@@ -75,23 +77,15 @@ def detect_java_build_tool(project_root: Path) -> JavaBuildTool:
 def detect_java_source_root(project_root: Path) -> str:
     """Detect the Java source root directory."""
     # Standard Maven/Gradle layout
-    standard_src = project_root / "src" / "main" / "java"
-    if standard_src.is_dir():
+    if (project_root / "src" / "main" / "java").is_dir():
         return "src/main/java"
 
     # Try to detect from pom.xml
-    pom_path = project_root / "pom.xml"
-    if pom_path.exists():
-        try:
-            tree = ET.parse(pom_path)
-            root = tree.getroot()
-            # Handle Maven namespace
-            ns = {"m": "http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0"}
-            source_dir = root.find(".//m:sourceDirectory", ns)
-            if source_dir is not None and source_dir.text:
-                return source_dir.text
-        except ET.ParseError:
-            pass
+    root = _get_pom_root_cached(project_root)
+    if root is not None:
+        source_dir = root.find(".//m:sourceDirectory", _MAVEN_NS)
+        if source_dir is not None and source_dir.text:
+            return source_dir.text
 
     # Fallback to src directory
     if (project_root / "src").is_dir():
@@ -103,22 +97,15 @@ def detect_java_source_root(project_root: Path) -> str:
 def detect_java_test_root(project_root: Path) -> str:
     """Detect the Java test root directory."""
     # Standard Maven/Gradle layout
-    standard_test = project_root / "src" / "test" / "java"
-    if standard_test.is_dir():
+    if (project_root / "src" / "test" / "java").is_dir():
         return "src/test/java"
 
     # Try to detect from pom.xml
-    pom_path = project_root / "pom.xml"
-    if pom_path.exists():
-        try:
-            tree = ET.parse(pom_path)
-            root = tree.getroot()
-            ns = {"m": "http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0"}
-            test_source_dir = root.find(".//m:testSourceDirectory", ns)
-            if test_source_dir is not None and test_source_dir.text:
-                return test_source_dir.text
-        except ET.ParseError:
-            pass
+    root = _get_pom_root_cached(project_root)
+    if root is not None:
+        test_source_dir = root.find(".//m:testSourceDirectory", _MAVEN_NS)
+        if test_source_dir is not None and test_source_dir.text:
+            return test_source_dir.text
 
     # Fallback patterns
     if (project_root / "test").is_dir():
@@ -461,10 +448,9 @@ def configure_java_project(setup_info: JavaSetupInfo) -> bool:
     test_root = setup_info.test_root_override or detect_java_test_root(curdir)
 
     # Only include non-default values
-    defaults = {"module-root": "src/main/java", "tests-root": "src/test/java"}
-    if source_root != defaults["module-root"]:
+    if source_root != "src/main/java":
         config["module-root"] = source_root
-    if test_root != defaults["tests-root"]:
+    if test_root != "src/test/java":
         config["tests-root"] = test_root
 
     if setup_info.formatter_override is not None and setup_info.formatter_override != ["disabled"]:
@@ -539,6 +525,18 @@ def get_java_test_command(build_tool: JavaBuildTool) -> str:
     return "mvn test"
 
 
+@lru_cache(maxsize=8)
+def _get_pom_root_cached(project_root: Path) -> Union[ET.Element, None]:
+    pom_path = project_root / "pom.xml"
+    if not pom_path.exists():
+        return None
+    try:
+        tree = ET.parse(pom_path)
+        return tree.getroot()
+    except ET.ParseError:
+        return None
+
+
 formatter_warning_shown = False
 
 _SPOTLESS_COMMANDS = {