diff --git a/cmd/containerd-shim-runhcs-v1/exec_hcs.go b/cmd/containerd-shim-runhcs-v1/exec_hcs.go
index 0886ff19a5..d176986432 100644
--- a/cmd/containerd-shim-runhcs-v1/exec_hcs.go
+++ b/cmd/containerd-shim-runhcs-v1/exec_hcs.go
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ func (he *hcsExec) Kill(ctx context.Context, signal uint32) error {
 		return nil
 	case shimExecStateRunning:
 		supported := false
-		if osversion.Get().Build >= osversion.RS5 {
+		if osversion.Build() >= osversion.RS5 {
 			supported = he.host == nil || he.host.SignalProcessSupported()
 		}
 		var options interface{}
diff --git a/cmd/containerd-shim-runhcs-v1/pod.go b/cmd/containerd-shim-runhcs-v1/pod.go
index bdec1d4c75..73a3247998 100644
--- a/cmd/containerd-shim-runhcs-v1/pod.go
+++ b/cmd/containerd-shim-runhcs-v1/pod.go
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ type shimPod interface {
 func createPod(ctx context.Context, events publisher, req *task.CreateTaskRequest, s *specs.Spec) (shimPod, error) {
 	log.G(ctx).WithField("tid", req.ID).Debug("createPod")
 
-	if osversion.Get().Build < osversion.RS5 {
+	if osversion.Build() < osversion.RS5 {
 		return nil, errors.Wrapf(errdefs.ErrFailedPrecondition, "pod support is not available on Windows versions previous to RS5 (%d)", osversion.RS5)
 	}
 
diff --git a/cmd/containerd-shim-runhcs-v1/task_hcs.go b/cmd/containerd-shim-runhcs-v1/task_hcs.go
index 438cb73985..ddbb2e7c5d 100644
--- a/cmd/containerd-shim-runhcs-v1/task_hcs.go
+++ b/cmd/containerd-shim-runhcs-v1/task_hcs.go
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ func newHcsStandaloneTask(ctx context.Context, events publisher, req *task.Creat
 	owner := filepath.Base(os.Args[0])
 
 	var parent *uvm.UtilityVM
-	if osversion.Get().Build >= osversion.RS5 && oci.IsIsolated(s) {
+	if osversion.Build() >= osversion.RS5 && oci.IsIsolated(s) {
 		// Create the UVM parent
 		opts, err := oci.SpecToUVMCreateOpts(ctx, s, fmt.Sprintf("%s@vm", req.ID), owner)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -375,7 +375,7 @@ type hcsTask struct {
 	// host is the hosting VM for this exec if hypervisor isolated. If
 	// `host==nil` this is an Argon task so no UVM cleanup is required.
 	//
-	// NOTE: if `osversion.Get().Build < osversion.RS5` this will always be
+	// NOTE: if `osversion.Build() < osversion.RS5` this will always be
 	// `nil`.
 	host *uvm.UtilityVM
 
diff --git a/cmd/runhcs/container.go b/cmd/runhcs/container.go
index ac5eb49bed..66b0bb9589 100644
--- a/cmd/runhcs/container.go
+++ b/cmd/runhcs/container.go
@@ -307,7 +307,7 @@ func createContainer(cfg *containerConfig) (_ *container, err error) {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("host container %s is not a VM host", hostID)
 		}
 		hostUniqueID = host.UniqueID
-	} else if vmisolated && (isSandbox || cfg.Spec.Linux != nil || osversion.Get().Build >= osversion.RS5) {
+	} else if vmisolated && (isSandbox || cfg.Spec.Linux != nil || osversion.Build() >= osversion.RS5) {
 		// This handles all LCOW, Pod Sandbox, and (Windows Xenon V2 for RS5+)
 		hostID = cfg.ID
 		newvm = true
diff --git a/cmd/runhcs/create-scratch.go b/cmd/runhcs/create-scratch.go
index 379ba646c6..78bb614171 100644
--- a/cmd/runhcs/create-scratch.go
+++ b/cmd/runhcs/create-scratch.go
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ var createScratchCommand = cli.Command{
 			return errors.New("'destpath' is required")
 		}
 
-		if osversion.Get().Build < osversion.RS5 {
+		if osversion.Build() < osversion.RS5 {
 			return errors.New("LCOW is not supported pre-RS5")
 		}
 
diff --git a/cmd/runhcs/kill.go b/cmd/runhcs/kill.go
index d323d4edee..6edf9eaa4b 100644
--- a/cmd/runhcs/kill.go
+++ b/cmd/runhcs/kill.go
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ signal to the init process of the "ubuntu01" container:
 		signalsSupported := false
 
 		// The Signal feature was added in RS5
-		if osversion.Get().Build >= osversion.RS5 {
+		if osversion.Build() >= osversion.RS5 {
 			if c.IsHost || c.HostID != "" {
 				var hostID string
 				if c.IsHost {
diff --git a/cmd/runhcs/prepare-disk.go b/cmd/runhcs/prepare-disk.go
index 78dda8dbb9..6349e02911 100644
--- a/cmd/runhcs/prepare-disk.go
+++ b/cmd/runhcs/prepare-disk.go
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ var prepareDiskCommand = cli.Command{
 			return errors.New("'destpath' is required")
 		}
 
-		if osversion.Get().Build < osversion.RS5 {
+		if osversion.Build() < osversion.RS5 {
 			return errors.New("LCOW is not supported pre-RS5")
 		}
 
diff --git a/computestorage/setup.go b/computestorage/setup.go
index ca7b40ef66..06aaf841e8 100644
--- a/computestorage/setup.go
+++ b/computestorage/setup.go
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ func SetupBaseOSLayer(ctx context.Context, layerPath string, vhdHandle windows.H
 //
 // `options` are the options applied while processing the layer.
 func SetupBaseOSVolume(ctx context.Context, layerPath, volumePath string, options OsLayerOptions) (err error) {
-	if osversion.Get().Build < 19645 {
+	if osversion.Build() < 19645 {
 		return errors.New("SetupBaseOSVolume is not present on builds older than 19645")
 	}
 	title := "hcsshim.SetupBaseOSVolume"
diff --git a/internal/hcsoci/hcsdoc_wcow.go b/internal/hcsoci/hcsdoc_wcow.go
index 439740fe9b..c183126c42 100644
--- a/internal/hcsoci/hcsdoc_wcow.go
+++ b/internal/hcsoci/hcsdoc_wcow.go
@@ -366,7 +366,7 @@ func createWindowsContainerDocument(ctx context.Context, coi *createOptionsInter
 	}
 	v1.MappedDirectories = mounts.mdsv1
 	v2Container.MappedDirectories = mounts.mdsv2
-	if len(mounts.mpsv1) > 0 && osversion.Get().Build < osversion.RS3 {
+	if len(mounts.mpsv1) > 0 && osversion.Build() < osversion.RS3 {
 		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("named pipe mounts are not supported on this version of Windows")
 	}
 	v1.MappedPipes = mounts.mpsv1
diff --git a/internal/schemaversion/schemaversion.go b/internal/schemaversion/schemaversion.go
index fd2d40909b..aa9b6f774e 100644
--- a/internal/schemaversion/schemaversion.go
+++ b/internal/schemaversion/schemaversion.go
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ func IsSupported(sv *hcsschema.Version) error {
 		return nil
 	}
 	if IsV21(sv) {
-		if osversion.Get().Build < osversion.RS5 {
+		if osversion.Build() < osversion.RS5 {
 			return fmt.Errorf("unsupported on this Windows build")
 		}
 		return nil
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ func String(sv *hcsschema.Version) string {
 // requested option.
 func DetermineSchemaVersion(requestedSV *hcsschema.Version) *hcsschema.Version {
 	sv := SchemaV10()
-	if osversion.Get().Build >= osversion.RS5 {
+	if osversion.Build() >= osversion.RS5 {
 		sv = SchemaV21()
 	}
 	if requestedSV != nil {
diff --git a/internal/uvm/create.go b/internal/uvm/create.go
index d688ef5733..cbcd4d84a1 100644
--- a/internal/uvm/create.go
+++ b/internal/uvm/create.go
@@ -145,11 +145,11 @@ func verifyOptions(ctx context.Context, options interface{}) error {
 				return errors.New("PreferredRootFSTypeVHD requires at least one VPMem device")
 			}
 		}
-		if opts.KernelDirect && osversion.Get().Build < 18286 {
+		if opts.KernelDirect && osversion.Build() < 18286 {
 			return errors.New("KernelDirectBoot is not supported on builds older than 18286")
 		}
 
-		if opts.EnableColdDiscardHint && osversion.Get().Build < 18967 {
+		if opts.EnableColdDiscardHint && osversion.Build() < 18967 {
 			return errors.New("EnableColdDiscardHint is not supported on builds older than 18967")
 		}
 	case *OptionsWCOW:
diff --git a/internal/uvm/create_lcow.go b/internal/uvm/create_lcow.go
index 0c4a301b2a..48f501d6db 100644
--- a/internal/uvm/create_lcow.go
+++ b/internal/uvm/create_lcow.go
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ func defaultLCOWOSBootFilesPath() string {
 // executable files name.
 func NewDefaultOptionsLCOW(id, owner string) *OptionsLCOW {
 	// Use KernelDirect boot by default on all builds that support it.
-	kernelDirectSupported := osversion.Get().Build >= 18286
+	kernelDirectSupported := osversion.Build() >= 18286
 	opts := &OptionsLCOW{
 		Options:               newDefaultOptions(id, owner),
 		BootFilesPath:         defaultLCOWOSBootFilesPath(),
diff --git a/internal/uvm/network.go b/internal/uvm/network.go
index 04f4b9252a..65d7450b6b 100644
--- a/internal/uvm/network.go
+++ b/internal/uvm/network.go
@@ -512,7 +512,7 @@ func (uvm *UtilityVM) isNetworkNamespaceSupported() bool {
 }
 
 func getNetworkModifyRequest(adapterID string, requestType string, settings interface{}) interface{} {
-	if osversion.Get().Build >= osversion.RS5 {
+	if osversion.Build() >= osversion.RS5 {
 		return guestrequest.NetworkModifyRequest{
 			AdapterId:   adapterID,
 			RequestType: requestType,
diff --git a/internal/uvm/plan9.go b/internal/uvm/plan9.go
index 684c173dc6..cd8408479a 100644
--- a/internal/uvm/plan9.go
+++ b/internal/uvm/plan9.go
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ func (uvm *UtilityVM) AddPlan9(ctx context.Context, hostPath string, uvmPath str
 	if uvm.operatingSystem != "linux" {
 		return nil, errNotSupported
 	}
-	if restrict && osversion.Get().Build < osversion.V19H1 {
+	if restrict && osversion.Build() < osversion.V19H1 {
 		return nil, errors.New("single-file mappings are not supported on this build of Windows")
 	}
 	if uvmPath == "" {
diff --git a/internal/uvm/vsmb.go b/internal/uvm/vsmb.go
index 85692d8824..1f29fbd0bf 100644
--- a/internal/uvm/vsmb.go
+++ b/internal/uvm/vsmb.go
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ func openHostPath(path string) (windows.Handle, error) {
 // To work around this, we attempt to query for FileIdInfo ourselves if on an affected build. If
 // the query fails, we override the specified options to force no direct map to be used.
 func forceNoDirectMap(path string) (bool, error) {
-	if ver := osversion.Get().Build; ver < osversion.V19H1 || ver > osversion.V20H2 {
+	if ver := osversion.Build(); ver < osversion.V19H1 || ver > osversion.V20H2 {
 		return false, nil
 	}
 	h, err := openHostPath(path)
diff --git a/internal/wclayer/expandscratchsize.go b/internal/wclayer/expandscratchsize.go
index 93f27da8a0..22f7605bee 100644
--- a/internal/wclayer/expandscratchsize.go
+++ b/internal/wclayer/expandscratchsize.go
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ func ExpandScratchSize(ctx context.Context, path string, size uint64) (err error
 
 	// Manually expand the volume now in order to work around bugs in 19H1 and
 	// prerelease versions of Vb. Remove once this is fixed in Windows.
-	if build := osversion.Get().Build; build >= osversion.V19H1 && build < 19020 {
+	if build := osversion.Build(); build >= osversion.V19H1 && build < 19020 {
 		err = expandSandboxVolume(ctx, path)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
diff --git a/osversion/osversion_windows.go b/osversion/osversion_windows.go
index 42e58403de..3ab3bcd89a 100644
--- a/osversion/osversion_windows.go
+++ b/osversion/osversion_windows.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package osversion
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"sync"
 
 	"golang.org/x/sys/windows"
 )
@@ -15,19 +16,26 @@ type OSVersion struct {
 	Build        uint16
 }
 
+var (
+	osv  OSVersion
+	once sync.Once
+)
+
 // Get gets the operating system version on Windows.
 // The calling application must be manifested to get the correct version information.
 func Get() OSVersion {
-	var err error
-	osv := OSVersion{}
-	osv.Version, err = windows.GetVersion()
-	if err != nil {
-		// GetVersion never fails.
-		panic(err)
-	}
-	osv.MajorVersion = uint8(osv.Version & 0xFF)
-	osv.MinorVersion = uint8(osv.Version >> 8 & 0xFF)
-	osv.Build = uint16(osv.Version >> 16)
+	once.Do(func() {
+		var err error
+		osv = OSVersion{}
+		osv.Version, err = windows.GetVersion()
+		if err != nil {
+			// GetVersion never fails.
+			panic(err)
+		}
+		osv.MajorVersion = uint8(osv.Version & 0xFF)
+		osv.MinorVersion = uint8(osv.Version >> 8 & 0xFF)
+		osv.Build = uint16(osv.Version >> 16)
+	})
 	return osv
 }
 
diff --git a/test/cri-containerd/container_virtual_device_test.go b/test/cri-containerd/container_virtual_device_test.go
index e5762642aa..cc51599175 100644
--- a/test/cri-containerd/container_virtual_device_test.go
+++ b/test/cri-containerd/container_virtual_device_test.go
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ func getGPUContainerRequestWCOW(t *testing.T, podID string, podConfig *runtime.P
 func Test_RunContainer_VirtualDevice_GPU_LCOW(t *testing.T) {
 	requireFeatures(t, featureLCOW, featureGPU)
 
-	if osversion.Get().Build < osversion.V20H1 {
+	if osversion.Build() < osversion.V20H1 {
 		t.Skip("Requires build +20H1")
 	}
 
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ func Test_RunContainer_VirtualDevice_GPU_LCOW(t *testing.T) {
 func Test_RunContainer_VirtualDevice_GPU_Multiple_LCOW(t *testing.T) {
 	requireFeatures(t, featureLCOW, featureGPU)
 
-	if osversion.Get().Build < osversion.V20H1 {
+	if osversion.Build() < osversion.V20H1 {
 		t.Skip("Requires build +20H1")
 	}
 
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@ func Test_RunContainer_VirtualDevice_GPU_Multiple_LCOW(t *testing.T) {
 func Test_RunContainer_VirtualDevice_GPU_and_NoGPU_LCOW(t *testing.T) {
 	requireFeatures(t, featureLCOW, featureGPU)
 
-	if osversion.Get().Build < osversion.V20H1 {
+	if osversion.Build() < osversion.V20H1 {
 		t.Skip("Requires build +20H1")
 	}
 
@@ -358,7 +358,7 @@ func Test_RunContainer_VirtualDevice_GPU_and_NoGPU_LCOW(t *testing.T) {
 func Test_RunContainer_VirtualDevice_GPU_Multiple_Removal_LCOW(t *testing.T) {
 	requireFeatures(t, featureLCOW, featureGPU)
 
-	if osversion.Get().Build < osversion.V20H1 {
+	if osversion.Build() < osversion.V20H1 {
 		t.Skip("Requires build +20H1")
 	}
 
@@ -486,7 +486,7 @@ func Test_RunContainer_VirtualDevice_ClassGUID_WCOW_Process(t *testing.T) {
 func Test_RunContainer_VirtualDevice_GPU_WCOW_Hypervisor(t *testing.T) {
 	requireFeatures(t, featureWCOWHypervisor, featureGPU)
 
-	if osversion.Get().Build < osversion.V20H1 {
+	if osversion.Build() < osversion.V20H1 {
 		t.Skip("Requires build +20H1")
 	}
 
@@ -531,7 +531,7 @@ func Test_RunContainer_VirtualDevice_GPU_WCOW_Hypervisor(t *testing.T) {
 func Test_RunContainer_VirtualDevice_GPU_and_NoGPU_WCOW_Hypervisor(t *testing.T) {
 	requireFeatures(t, featureWCOWHypervisor, featureGPU)
 
-	if osversion.Get().Build < osversion.V20H1 {
+	if osversion.Build() < osversion.V20H1 {
 		t.Skip("Requires build +20H1")
 	}
 
@@ -592,7 +592,7 @@ func Test_RunContainer_VirtualDevice_GPU_and_NoGPU_WCOW_Hypervisor(t *testing.T)
 func Test_RunContainer_VirtualDevice_GPU_Multiple_WCOW_Hypervisor(t *testing.T) {
 	requireFeatures(t, featureWCOWHypervisor, featureGPU)
 
-	if osversion.Get().Build < osversion.V20H1 {
+	if osversion.Build() < osversion.V20H1 {
 		t.Skip("Requires build +20H1")
 	}
 
@@ -645,7 +645,7 @@ func Test_RunContainer_VirtualDevice_GPU_Multiple_WCOW_Hypervisor(t *testing.T)
 func Test_RunContainer_VirtualDevice_GPU_Multiple_Removal_WCOW_Hypervisor(t *testing.T) {
 	requireFeatures(t, featureWCOWHypervisor, featureGPU)
 
-	if osversion.Get().Build < osversion.V20H1 {
+	if osversion.Build() < osversion.V20H1 {
 		t.Skip("Requires build +20H1")
 	}
 
diff --git a/test/cri-containerd/main.go b/test/cri-containerd/main.go
index 5cd219d220..ab281178a6 100644
--- a/test/cri-containerd/main.go
+++ b/test/cri-containerd/main.go
@@ -57,8 +57,8 @@ const (
 
 // Image definitions
 var (
-	imageWindowsNanoserver      = getWindowsNanoserverImage(osversion.Get().Build)
-	imageWindowsServercore      = getWindowsServerCoreImage(osversion.Get().Build)
+	imageWindowsNanoserver      = getWindowsNanoserverImage(osversion.Build())
+	imageWindowsServercore      = getWindowsServerCoreImage(osversion.Build())
 	imageWindowsNanoserver17763 = getWindowsNanoserverImage(osversion.RS5)
 	imageWindowsNanoserver18362 = getWindowsNanoserverImage(osversion.V19H1)
 	imageWindowsNanoserver19041 = getWindowsNanoserverImage(osversion.V20H1)
diff --git a/test/cri-containerd/runpodsandbox_test.go b/test/cri-containerd/runpodsandbox_test.go
index 6ba364bead..8a50668537 100644
--- a/test/cri-containerd/runpodsandbox_test.go
+++ b/test/cri-containerd/runpodsandbox_test.go
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ func Test_RunPodSandbox_MemorySize_LCOW(t *testing.T) {
 func Test_RunPodSandbox_MMIO_WCOW_Process(t *testing.T) {
 	requireFeatures(t, featureWCOWProcess)
 
-	if osversion.Get().Build < osversion.V20H1 {
+	if osversion.Build() < osversion.V20H1 {
 		t.Skip("Requires build +20H1")
 	}
 	pullRequiredImages(t, []string{imageWindowsNanoserver})
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ func Test_RunPodSandbox_MMIO_WCOW_Process(t *testing.T) {
 func Test_RunPodSandbox_MMIO_WCOW_Hypervisor(t *testing.T) {
 	requireFeatures(t, featureWCOWHypervisor)
 
-	if osversion.Get().Build < osversion.V20H1 {
+	if osversion.Build() < osversion.V20H1 {
 		t.Skip("Requires build +20H1")
 	}
 	pullRequiredImages(t, []string{imageWindowsNanoserver})
@@ -294,7 +294,7 @@ func Test_RunPodSandbox_MMIO_WCOW_Hypervisor(t *testing.T) {
 func Test_RunPodSandbox_MMIO_LCOW(t *testing.T) {
 	requireFeatures(t, featureLCOW)
 
-	if osversion.Get().Build < osversion.V20H1 {
+	if osversion.Build() < osversion.V20H1 {
 		t.Skip("Requires build +20H1")
 	}
 	pullRequiredLcowImages(t, []string{imageLcowK8sPause})
@@ -917,7 +917,7 @@ func Test_RunPodSandbox_MultipleContainersSameVhd_WCOW(t *testing.T) {
 	requireFeatures(t, featureWCOWHypervisor)
 	// Prior to 19H1, we aren't able to easily create a formatted VHD, as
 	// HcsFormatWritableLayerVhd requires the VHD to be mounted prior the call.
-	if osversion.Get().Build < osversion.V19H1 {
+	if osversion.Build() < osversion.V19H1 {
 		t.Skip("Requires at least 19H1")
 	}
 
diff --git a/test/functional/utilities/requiresbuild.go b/test/functional/utilities/requiresbuild.go
index fb0d79396d..47930994d0 100644
--- a/test/functional/utilities/requiresbuild.go
+++ b/test/functional/utilities/requiresbuild.go
@@ -7,13 +7,13 @@ import (
 )
 
 func RequiresBuild(t *testing.T, b uint16) {
-	if osversion.Get().Build < b {
+	if osversion.Build() < b {
 		t.Skipf("Requires build %d+", b)
 	}
 }
 
 func RequiresExactBuild(t *testing.T, b uint16) {
-	if osversion.Get().Build != b {
+	if osversion.Build() != b {
 		t.Skipf("Requires exact build %d", b)
 	}
 }