diff --git a/.changeset/bright-rules-shout.md b/.changeset/bright-rules-shout.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f7cdae3b4f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/bright-rules-shout.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'@backstage/catalog-model': patch
+---
+
+Defer `ajv` compilation of schema validators to improve module-import performance
diff --git a/packages/catalog-model/src/kinds/util.ts b/packages/catalog-model/src/kinds/util.ts
index c77b77cb97..40c88b7066 100644
--- a/packages/catalog-model/src/kinds/util.ts
+++ b/packages/catalog-model/src/kinds/util.ts
@@ -22,9 +22,12 @@ import { KindValidator } from './types';
 // exported kind validators have the `KindValidator` signature which is
 // different. So let's postpone that change until a later time.
 export function ajvCompiledJsonSchemaValidator(schema: unknown): KindValidator {
-  const validator = entityKindSchemaValidator(schema);
+  let validator: undefined | ((data: unknown) => any);
   return {
     async check(data) {
+      if (!validator) {
+        validator = entityKindSchemaValidator(schema);
+      }
       return validator(data) === data;
     },
   };