diff --git a/oak-core/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/core/SecureNodeBuilder.java b/oak-core/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/core/SecureNodeBuilder.java
index eaee2cf..401ea86 100644
--- a/oak-core/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/core/SecureNodeBuilder.java
+++ b/oak-core/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/core/SecureNodeBuilder.java
@@ -322,10 +322,19 @@ class SecureNodeBuilder implements NodeBuilder {
         return new SecureNodeBuilder(this, name);
     }
 
+    private SecureNodeBuilder lastChildNode;
+
     @Nonnull
     @Override
     public NodeBuilder getChildNode(@Nonnull String name) {
-        return new SecureNodeBuilder(this, name);
+        SecureNodeBuilder lastChildNodeRefCopy = this.lastChildNode;
+        if (lastChildNodeRefCopy != null && lastChildNodeRefCopy.name.equals(name)) {
+            return lastChildNodeRefCopy;
+        } else {
+            SecureNodeBuilder childNode = new SecureNodeBuilder(this, name);
+            this.lastChildNode = childNode;
+            return childNode;
+        }
     }
 
     @Override