diff --git a/codeflash/cli_cmds/init_java.py b/codeflash/cli_cmds/init_java.py
index 73822e626..a16a0a5d3 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
 
+_cached_theme = None
+
 
 class JavaBuildTool(Enum):
     """Java build tools."""
@@ -57,9 +59,11 @@ class JavaSetupInfo:
 
 def _get_theme():
     """Get the CodeflashTheme - imported lazily to avoid circular imports."""
-    from codeflash.cli_cmds.cmd_init import CodeflashTheme
-
-    return CodeflashTheme()
+    global _cached_theme
+    if _cached_theme is None:
+        from codeflash.cli_cmds.cmd_init import CodeflashTheme
+        _cached_theme = CodeflashTheme()
+    return _cached_theme
 
 
 def detect_java_build_tool(project_root: Path) -> JavaBuildTool:
diff --git a/codeflash/code_utils/code_utils.py b/codeflash/code_utils/code_utils.py
index 9244f6b11..36b9fb1f3 100644
--- a/codeflash/code_utils/code_utils.py
+++ b/codeflash/code_utils/code_utils.py
@@ -472,7 +472,8 @@ def validate_relative_directory_path(path: str) -> tuple[bool, str]:
 
     # Check for absolute paths, invalid characters, and validate path format
     error_msg = ""
-    if Path(path).is_absolute():
+    # Use os.path.isabs() which is faster than Path().is_absolute()
+    if os.path.isabs(path):
         error_msg = "Path must be relative, not absolute"
     elif os.name == "nt":  # Windows
         if any(char in _INVALID_CHARS_NT for char in path):