diff --git a/lib/path.js b/lib/path.js
index 63b037cddfb986..ef385789cc8c9e 100644
--- a/lib/path.js
+++ b/lib/path.js
@@ -90,6 +90,12 @@ function isWindowsDeviceRoot(code) {
 
 // Resolves . and .. elements in a path with directory names
 function normalizeString(path, allowAboveRoot, separator, isPathSeparator) {
+  if (!path.includes(`${CHAR_DOT}${CHAR_FORWARD_SLASH}` &&
+      !path.includes(`${CHAR_DOT}${CHAR_BACKWARD_SLASH}`) {
+    // Happy path: no . and .. elements - avoid string concatenation in cycle
+    const otherSeparator = separator === CHAR_FORWARD_SLASH ? CHAR_BACKWARD_SLASH : CHAR_FORWARD_SLASH;
+    return path.replaceAll(otherSeparator, separator);
+  }
   let res = '';
   let lastSegmentLength = 0;
   let lastSlash = -1;