diff --git a/aider/main.py b/aider/main.py
index 28080e7f1..9a09a6ac4 100644
--- a/aider/main.py
+++ b/aider/main.py
@@ -705,24 +705,52 @@ def main(argv=None, input=None, output=None, force_git_root=None, return_coder=F
 
 
 def launch_slow_imports_thread():
-    thread = threading.Thread(target=load_slow_imports)
+    thread = threading.Thread(target=check_and_load_imports)
     thread.daemon = True
     thread.start()
 
 
+def check_and_load_imports():
+    import json
+    from pathlib import Path
+
+    installs_file = Path.home() / ".aider" / "installs.json"
+    key = (__version__, sys.executable)
+
+    try:
+        if installs_file.exists():
+            with open(installs_file, "r") as f:
+                installs = json.load(f)
+        else:
+            installs = {}
+
+        if str(key) not in installs:
+            load_slow_imports()
+            installs[str(key)] = True
+            installs_file.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+            with open(installs_file, "w") as f:
+                json.dump(installs, f)
+        else:
+            thread = threading.Thread(target=load_slow_imports)
+            thread.daemon = True
+            thread.start()
+    except Exception as e:
+        print(f"Error in check_and_load_imports: {e}", file=sys.stderr)
+
+
 def load_slow_imports():
     # These imports are deferred in various ways to
     # improve startup time.
-    # This func is called in a thread to load them in the background
-    # while we wait for the user to type their first message.
+    # This func is called either synchronously or in a thread
+    # depending on whether it's been run before for this version and executable.
 
     try:
         import httpx  # noqa: F401
         import litellm  # noqa: F401
         import networkx  # noqa: F401
         import numpy  # noqa: F401
-    except Exception:
-        pass
+    except Exception as e:
+        print(f"Error in load_slow_imports: {e}", file=sys.stderr)
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":