diff --git a/Lib/pathlib/__init__.py b/Lib/pathlib/__init__.py
index f4668ab3270e51..b020d2db350da8 100644
--- a/Lib/pathlib/__init__.py
+++ b/Lib/pathlib/__init__.py
@@ -90,7 +90,9 @@ def __init__(self, *args):
                         "object where __fspath__ returns a str, "
                         f"not {type(path).__name__!r}")
                 paths.append(path)
-        super().__init__(*paths)
+        # Avoid calling super().__init__, as an optimisation
+        self._raw_paths = paths
+        self._resolving = False
 
     def __reduce__(self):
         # Using the parts tuple helps share interned path parts