diff --git a/bigchaindb/config_utils.py b/bigchaindb/config_utils.py
index dc396522..c9da67b1 100644
--- a/bigchaindb/config_utils.py
+++ b/bigchaindb/config_utils.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import copy
 import json
 import logging
 import collections
+from functools import lru_cache
 
 from pkg_resources import iter_entry_points, ResolutionError
 
@@ -218,6 +219,7 @@ def autoconfigure(filename=None, config=None, force=False):
     set_config(newconfig)  # sets bigchaindb.config
 
 
+@lru_cache()
 def load_consensus_plugin(name=None):
     """Find and load the chosen consensus plugin.
 
diff --git a/speed-tests/speed_tests.py b/speed-tests/speed_tests.py
index 6fb67714..b6a6b016 100644
--- a/speed-tests/speed_tests.py
+++ b/speed-tests/speed_tests.py
@@ -19,3 +19,7 @@ def speedtest_validate_transaction():
         b.validate_transaction(tx_signed)
 
     profiler.print_stats()
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    speedtest_validate_transaction()
diff --git a/tests/utils/test_config_utils.py b/tests/utils/test_config_utils.py
index 0a365102..29aa5d0b 100644
--- a/tests/utils/test_config_utils.py
+++ b/tests/utils/test_config_utils.py
@@ -58,12 +58,15 @@ def test_load_consensus_plugin_raises_with_invalid_subclass(monkeypatch):
     # Monkeypatch entry_point.load to return something other than a
     # ConsensusRules instance
     from bigchaindb import config_utils
+    import time
     monkeypatch.setattr(config_utils,
                         'iter_entry_points',
                         lambda *args: [type('entry_point', (object), {'load': lambda: object})])
 
     with pytest.raises(TypeError):
-        config_utils.load_consensus_plugin()
+        # Since the function is decorated with `lru_cache`, we need to
+        # "miss" the cache using a name that has not been used previously
+        config_utils.load_consensus_plugin(str(time.time()))
 
 
 def test_map_leafs_iterator():