diff --git a/lib/util/version.js b/lib/util/version.js
index a919fb4646..eff85612bc 100644
--- a/lib/util/version.js
+++ b/lib/util/version.js
@@ -14,11 +14,17 @@ function resetWarningFlag() {
   warnedForMissingVersion = false;
 }
 
+let cachedDetectedReactVersion;
 function detectReactVersion() {
+  if (cachedDetectedReactVersion) {
+    return cachedDetectedReactVersion;
+  }
+
   try {
     const reactPath = resolve.sync('react', {basedir: process.cwd()});
     const react = require(reactPath); // eslint-disable-line global-require, import/no-dynamic-require
-    return react.version;
+    cachedDetectedReactVersion = react.version;
+    return cachedDetectedReactVersion;
   } catch (e) {
     if (e.code === 'MODULE_NOT_FOUND') {
       if (!warnedForMissingVersion) {