diff --git a/kernels/src/kernels/importer.py b/kernels/src/kernels/importer.py
index c18d930a..ba32d72d 100644
--- a/kernels/src/kernels/importer.py
+++ b/kernels/src/kernels/importer.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import importlib
+import logging
 import sys
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 from pathlib import Path
@@ -7,6 +8,8 @@
 from kernels._rust import Metadata
 from kernels.hf_hub import RepoInfo
 
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
 
 @dataclass(frozen=True)
 class LoadedKernel:
@@ -71,6 +74,18 @@ def _import_from_path(
         return loaded_kernel.module
 
     metadata = Metadata.read_from_file(variant_path / "metadata.json")
+
+    # Kernel ids are unique per build: if this build was already imported
+    # reuse it instead of executing it again.
+    if (module := sys.modules.get(metadata.id)) is not None:
+        logging.debug(f"Kernel already loaded, skipping: {metadata.id}")
+        _loaded_kernels[variant_path] = LoadedKernel(
+            metadata=metadata,
+            module=module,
+            repo_info=repo_info,
+        )
+        return module
+
     module_name = metadata.name.python_name
 
     file_path = variant_path / "__init__.py"
diff --git a/kernels/tests/test_importer.py b/kernels/tests/test_importer.py
index 3acb0bbb..7fd53545 100644
--- a/kernels/tests/test_importer.py
+++ b/kernels/tests/test_importer.py
@@ -1,10 +1,14 @@
 import json
 import sys
+import types
 
 import pytest
 
 from kernels.importer import _import_from_path, _loaded_kernels
 
+_EXEC_LOG_MODULE = "_kernels_test_exec_log"
+_COUNTING_ID = "counting_1_cuda"
+
 
 def _write_variant(tmp_path):
     variant_dir = tmp_path / "build" / "torch28-cxx11-cu128-x86_64-linux"
@@ -35,3 +39,61 @@ def test_failed_import_cleans_up_sys_modules(tmp_path):
     finally:
         _loaded_kernels.pop(variant_dir, None)
         sys.modules.pop("broken_1_cuda", None)
+
+
+def _write_counting_variant(base_path, kernel_id):
+    """Write a kernel variant that records each execution of its module."""
+    variant_dir = base_path / "build" / "torch28-cxx11-cu128-x86_64-linux"
+    variant_dir.mkdir(parents=True)
+    metadata = {
+        "id": kernel_id,
+        "name": "counting",
+        "version": 1,
+        "license": "Apache-2.0",
+        "python-depends": ["torch"],
+        "backend": {"type": "cuda"},
+    }
+    (variant_dir / "metadata.json").write_text(json.dumps(metadata))
+    (variant_dir / "__init__.py").write_text(f"import {_EXEC_LOG_MODULE}\n{_EXEC_LOG_MODULE}.calls.append(__file__)\n")
+    return variant_dir
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def exec_log(monkeypatch):
+    log = types.ModuleType(_EXEC_LOG_MODULE)
+    log.calls = []  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
+    monkeypatch.setitem(sys.modules, _EXEC_LOG_MODULE, log)
+    return log.calls  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
+
+
+def test_same_id_different_path_is_not_reloaded(tmp_path, exec_log):
+    first_dir = _write_counting_variant(tmp_path / "first", _COUNTING_ID)
+    second_dir = _write_counting_variant(tmp_path / "second", _COUNTING_ID)
+    try:
+        first = _import_from_path(first_dir, deps={})
+        second = _import_from_path(second_dir, deps={})
+
+        assert first is second
+        assert len(exec_log) == 1
+        assert _loaded_kernels[first_dir].module is first
+        assert _loaded_kernels[second_dir].module is first
+    finally:
+        _loaded_kernels.pop(first_dir, None)
+        _loaded_kernels.pop(second_dir, None)
+        sys.modules.pop(_COUNTING_ID, None)
+
+
+def test_already_imported_kernel_is_reregistered(tmp_path, exec_log):
+    variant_dir = _write_counting_variant(tmp_path, _COUNTING_ID)
+    try:
+        first = _import_from_path(variant_dir, deps={})
+        _loaded_kernels.pop(variant_dir)
+
+        second = _import_from_path(variant_dir, deps={})
+
+        assert first is second
+        assert len(exec_log) == 1
+        assert _loaded_kernels[variant_dir].module is first
+    finally:
+        _loaded_kernels.pop(variant_dir, None)
+        sys.modules.pop(_COUNTING_ID, None)