diff --git a/Lib/sysconfig/__init__.py b/Lib/sysconfig/__init__.py
index 298256a5b23a9c..6493a152c60417 100644
--- a/Lib/sysconfig/__init__.py
+++ b/Lib/sysconfig/__init__.py
@@ -182,6 +182,8 @@ def joinuser(*args):
 _CONFIG_VARS = None
 # True iff _CONFIG_VARS has been fully initialized.
 _CONFIG_VARS_INITIALIZED = False
+_config_vars_cached_prefix = None
+_config_vars_cached_exec_prefix = None
 _USER_BASE = None
 
 
@@ -597,16 +599,20 @@ def get_config_vars(*args):
     each argument in the configuration variable dictionary.
     """
     global _CONFIG_VARS_INITIALIZED
+    global _config_vars_cached_prefix
+    global _config_vars_cached_exec_prefix
 
     # Avoid claiming the lock once initialization is complete.
+    prefix = os.path.normpath(sys.prefix)
+    exec_prefix = os.path.normpath(sys.exec_prefix)
     if _CONFIG_VARS_INITIALIZED:
         # GH-126789: If sys.prefix or sys.exec_prefix were updated, invalidate the cache.
-        prefix = os.path.normpath(sys.prefix)
-        exec_prefix = os.path.normpath(sys.exec_prefix)
-        if _CONFIG_VARS['prefix'] != prefix or _CONFIG_VARS['exec_prefix'] != exec_prefix:
+        if _config_vars_cached_prefix != prefix or _config_vars_cached_exec_prefix != exec_prefix:
             with _CONFIG_VARS_LOCK:
                 _CONFIG_VARS_INITIALIZED = False
                 _init_config_vars()
+                _config_vars_cached_prefix = prefix
+                _config_vars_cached_exec_prefix = exec_prefix
     else:
         # Initialize the config_vars cache.
         with _CONFIG_VARS_LOCK:
@@ -616,6 +622,8 @@ def get_config_vars(*args):
             # don't re-enter init_config_vars().
             if _CONFIG_VARS is None:
                 _init_config_vars()
+            _config_vars_cached_prefix = prefix
+            _config_vars_cached_exec_prefix = exec_prefix
 
     if args:
         vals = []