diff --git a/scripts/build_psyq.ps1 b/scripts/build_psyq.ps1
index 602cb0a..a9f6b18 100644
--- a/scripts/build_psyq.ps1
+++ b/scripts/build_psyq.ps1
@@ -317,36 +317,14 @@ function build-graphis_hello {
 }
 # build-graphis_hello
 
-# ps1-meta orchestrator. Replaces generate-TapeAtomOffsets +
-# generate-TapeAtomAnnotations with a single invocation. Dispatches
-# the 6 passes (word-counts / components / annotation / offsets /
-# static-analysis / report) in dependency-topological order.
-
-function any-stale {
-	param([Parameter(Mandatory=$true)][string[]]$sources,
-	      [Parameter(Mandatory=$true)][string]$metadata,
-	      [Parameter(Mandatory=$true)][string]$out_root)
-	# Always return true. ps1-meta writes to TWO locations:
-	#   1. <out_root>          (annotation + offsets passes — build/gen/)
-	#   2. <src.dir>/gen/      (component pass — code/duffle/gen/, etc.)
-	# Tracking only <out_root>'s mtime is fragile — if the in-source
-	# gen dir was wiped but <out_root> still exists with a newer mtime,
-	# we'd skip the regen and the compile would fail with a missing
-	# duffle.macs.h. ps1-meta is fast enough (~100ms) that always
-	# running it is the safe default.
-	return $true
-}
-
-function ps1-meta {
-	param(
+function ps1-meta { param(
 		[Parameter(Mandatory=$true)][string[]]$sources,
 		[Parameter(Mandatory=$true)][string]$metadata,
 		[string]$out_root = (join-path $path_build 'gen'),
-		[string[]]$passes  = @('--all')
+		[string[]]$passes = @('--all')
 	)
 	$script = join-path $path_scripts 'ps1_meta.lua'
-	write-host "ps1-meta  $($sources.Count) source(s), passes=$($passes -join ',')" `
-		-ForegroundColor Magenta
+	write-host "ps1-meta  $($sources.Count) source(s), passes=$($passes -join ',')" ` -ForegroundColor Magenta
 	$arg_list = @($passes) + @('--metadata', $metadata) + @('--out-root', $out_root)
 	foreach ($s in $sources) { $arg_list += @('--source', $s) }
 	& luajit $script @arg_list
@@ -365,13 +343,7 @@ function build-gte_hello {
 
 	$source_dirs  = @($path_duffle, $path_module)
 	$atom_sources = Get-SourceFiles -paths $source_dirs -extensions @('.h', '.c')
-
-	if (any-stale -sources $atom_sources -metadata $path_atom_metadata -out_root (join-path $path_build 'gen')) {
-		ps1-meta -sources $atom_sources -metadata $path_atom_metadata -out_root (join-path $path_build 'gen')
-	} else {
-		write-host "ps1-meta  all $($atom_sources.Count) source(s) up-to-date" `
-			-ForegroundColor DarkGray
-	}
+	ps1-meta -sources $atom_sources -metadata $path_atom_metadata -out_root (join-path $path_build 'gen')
 
 	$assemble_args = @()
 	$assemble_args += $f_debug
@@ -416,18 +388,14 @@ build-gte_hello
 
 
 # NO idea if this works yet...
-function Send-ToEmulator { param(
-    [string]$exePath
-)
+function Send-ToEmulator { param( [string]$exePath )
     $uri = "http://localhost:8080/api/v1/load-exec"
 
     # Absolute path is safest for the emulator web server
     $absolutePath = [System.IO.Path]::GetFullPath($exePath)
 
     # Create JSON payload pointing to your compiled .ps-exe
-    $body = @{
-        filename = $absolutePath
-    } | ConvertTo-Json
+    $body = @{ filename = $absolutePath } | ConvertTo-Json
 
     Write-Host "Pushing hot-reload to PCSX-Redux..." -ForegroundColor Magenta
     try {
diff --git a/scripts/duffle.lua b/scripts/duffle.lua
index 5bedc43..0433dd5 100644
--- a/scripts/duffle.lua
+++ b/scripts/duffle.lua
@@ -184,12 +184,25 @@ function M.write_file(path, content)
     f:close()
 end
 
+-- Cache of directories already verified to exist in this process. Each
+-- ensure_dir() call may otherwise spawn a `cmd.exe mkdir` (50-100ms
+-- per call on Windows) — calling it inside per-source loops added 1.5+
+-- seconds to the report pass. Cache makes ensure_dir idempotent within
+-- the process lifetime (safe across passes; the dir state doesn't change).
+local _ensured_dirs = {}
+
 function M.ensure_dir(path)
+    if _ensured_dirs[path] then return end
+    _ensured_dirs[path] = true
     local is_win = package.config:sub(1, 1) == "\\"
     os.execute(is_win and ('if not exist "' .. path .. '" mkdir "' .. path .. '"')
                   or ('mkdir -p "' .. path .. '" 2>/dev/null'))
 end
 
+-- Test helper: clear the cache (used by tests + between process runs).
+-- Not normally needed since Lua state is per-process.
+function M._reset_ensured_dirs() _ensured_dirs = {} end
+
 -- ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
 -- Section 4: C-language scanner primitives
 -- ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
diff --git a/scripts/passes/annotation.lua b/scripts/passes/annotation.lua
index 7771687..71f0aa4 100644
--- a/scripts/passes/annotation.lua
+++ b/scripts/passes/annotation.lua
@@ -763,4 +763,4 @@ function M.run(ctx)
 	return { outputs = outputs, errors = errors, warnings = warnings }
 end
 
-return M
\ No newline at end of file
+return M
diff --git a/scripts/passes/components.lua b/scripts/passes/components.lua
index b30809c..239a8c1 100644
--- a/scripts/passes/components.lua
+++ b/scripts/passes/components.lua
@@ -688,4 +688,4 @@ function M.run(ctx)
 	return { outputs = outputs, errors = errors, warnings = warnings }
 end
 
-return M
\ No newline at end of file
+return M
diff --git a/scripts/passes/report.lua b/scripts/passes/report.lua
index dff3314..b5a30dd 100644
--- a/scripts/passes/report.lua
+++ b/scripts/passes/report.lua
@@ -162,12 +162,13 @@ function M.run(ctx)
 	local annot_results = (ctx.flags and ctx.flags._annot_results) or {}
 
 	-- Render per-source reports.
+	-- Hoist ensure_dir out of the loop (cache + hoisting = single mkdir).
+	if not ctx.dry_run then ensure_dir(ctx.out_root) end
 	for _, entry in ipairs(annot_results) do
 		local src = entry.source
 		local result = entry.result
 		local out_path = ctx.out_root .. "/" .. src.basename .. ".annotations.txt"
 		if not ctx.dry_run then
-			ensure_dir(ctx.out_root)
 			write_file(out_path, render_source_report(src.path, result))
 		end
 		table.insert(outputs, { annotations_txt = out_path })
@@ -177,12 +178,12 @@ function M.run(ctx)
 	if not ctx.dry_run then
 		-- The project report references each source by its absolute path.
 		-- Augment the entries with a .source field for the per-source error counts.
+		-- ensure_dir was already hoisted above; cache makes this a no-op.
 		local all_results = {}
 		for _, entry in ipairs(annot_results) do
 			entry.result.source = entry.source.path
 			table.insert(all_results, entry.result)
 		end
-		ensure_dir(ctx.out_root)
 		local summary_path = ctx.out_root .. "/annotation_validation.txt"
 		write_file(summary_path, render_project_report(all_results))
 		table.insert(outputs, { summary_txt = summary_path })
@@ -191,4 +192,4 @@ function M.run(ctx)
 	return { outputs = outputs, errors = errors, warnings = warnings }
 end
 
-return M
\ No newline at end of file
+return M
diff --git a/scripts/ps1_meta.lua b/scripts/ps1_meta.lua
index 2d9207e..be67a2a 100644
--- a/scripts/ps1_meta.lua
+++ b/scripts/ps1_meta.lua
@@ -570,4 +570,4 @@ local function main(argv)
 	os.exit(0)
 end
 
-main({...})
\ No newline at end of file
+main({...})