diff --git a/faker/factory.py b/faker/factory.py
index a1e9c06505..074f1a05e3 100644
--- a/faker/factory.py
+++ b/faker/factory.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import functools
 import locale as pylocale
 import logging
 import sys
@@ -64,6 +65,7 @@ def create(
         return faker
 
     @classmethod
+    @functools.cache
     def _find_provider_class(
         cls,
         provider_path: str,
diff --git a/tests/test_factory.py b/tests/test_factory.py
index 48c9015ed4..4c226f41a4 100644
--- a/tests/test_factory.py
+++ b/tests/test_factory.py
@@ -151,6 +151,10 @@ class Provider:
                 def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
                     pass
 
+        # There's a cache based on the provider name, so when the provider changes behaviour we need
+        # a new name:
+        provider_path = f"test_lang_localized_provider_{with_default}"
+
         with patch.multiple(
             "faker.factory",
             import_module=MagicMock(return_value=DummyProviderModule()),
@@ -167,8 +171,8 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
                 ("ar_EG", with_default),  # True if module defines a default locale
             ]
             for locale, expected_used in test_cases:
-                factory = Factory.create(providers=["dummy"], locale=locale)
-                assert factory.providers[0].__provider__ == "dummy"
+                factory = Factory.create(providers=[provider_path], locale=locale)
+                assert factory.providers[0].__provider__ == provider_path
                 from faker.config import DEFAULT_LOCALE
 
                 print(f"requested locale = {locale} , DEFAULT LOCALE {DEFAULT_LOCALE}")