diff --git a/.jules/bolt.md b/.jules/bolt.md
index afe8117e..f3df0c23 100644
--- a/.jules/bolt.md
+++ b/.jules/bolt.md
@@ -61,3 +61,7 @@
 ## 2026-04-22 - [Avoid string allocation on single-part split]
 **Learning:** Calling `.split(delimiter)` on a reference-counted string (`Arc<str>`) and `.map()`ing the results into `Arc::from(s)` unconditionally creates a new allocation for every chunk. If the delimiter doesn't exist, the entire string is re-allocated unnecessarily.
 **Action:** When iterating over a split of a reference-counted string, explicitly check if `s.len() == text.len() && !text.is_empty()`. If it is, use `Arc::clone(&text)` to return another reference to the existing string, bypassing the allocation.
+
+## 2024-05-09 - [Optimize text replacement fast path]
+**Learning:** `str::replace` in Rust always allocates a new `String` even when the target substring is not found, which is inefficient when dealing with reference-counted strings (`Arc<str>`).
+**Action:** When performing text replacements on reference-counted strings (like `Arc<str>` in `Value::Text`), always add a fast-path check using `.contains()` before calling `.replace()`. If the substring is not found, return an `Arc::clone` of the original string to prevent unnecessary memory allocation by the standard library.
diff --git a/src/stdlib/text.rs b/src/stdlib/text.rs
index c9591d6b..91478d70 100644
--- a/src/stdlib/text.rs
+++ b/src/stdlib/text.rs
@@ -279,8 +279,16 @@ pub fn native_replace(args: Vec<Value>) -> Result<Value, RuntimeError> {
     let text = expect_text(&args[0])?;
     let old = expect_text(&args[1])?;
     let new = expect_text(&args[2])?;
-    let result = text.replace(old.as_ref(), new.as_ref());
-    Ok(Value::Text(Arc::from(result)))
+
+    // Optimization: str::replace always allocates a new String even if the substring is not found.
+    // By checking contains first, we can reuse the Arc reference when no replacement is needed,
+    // avoiding a memory allocation.
+    if !text.contains(old.as_ref()) {
+        Ok(Value::Text(Arc::clone(&text)))
+    } else {
+        let result = text.replace(old.as_ref(), new.as_ref());
+        Ok(Value::Text(Arc::from(result)))
+    }
 }
 
 pub fn native_last_index_of(args: Vec<Value>) -> Result<Value, RuntimeError> {