diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/db/CheckerConfig.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/db/CheckerConfig.java
index f601b86..3661f23 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/db/CheckerConfig.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/plugins/checks/db/CheckerConfig.java
@@ -334,8 +334,8 @@
     return createBuilderFrom(config, created, commitTimestamp);
   }
 
-  private Config updateCheckerProperties() throws IOException, ConfigInvalidException {
-    Config config = readConfig(CHECKER_CONFIG_FILE);
+  private Config updateCheckerProperties() throws IOException {
+    Config config = loadedConfig.orElseGet(Config::new);
     checkerCreation.ifPresent(
         checkerCreation ->
             Arrays.stream(CheckerConfigEntry.values())
@@ -345,6 +345,7 @@
             Arrays.stream(CheckerConfigEntry.values())
                 .forEach(configEntry -> configEntry.updateConfigValue(config, checkerUpdate)));
     saveConfig(CHECKER_CONFIG_FILE, config);
+    loadedConfig = Optional.of(config);
     return config;
   }