diff --git a/docs/changelog/126578.yaml b/docs/changelog/126578.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..c65ef197e8a30
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/changelog/126578.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+pr: 126578
+summary: Retrieve token text only when necessary
+area: ES|QL
+type: bug
+issues: []
diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/esql/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/esql/parser/ParserUtils.java b/x-pack/plugin/esql/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/esql/parser/ParserUtils.java
index 87e70b5222457..8048db9bd2a56 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/esql/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/esql/parser/ParserUtils.java
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/esql/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/esql/parser/ParserUtils.java
@@ -144,10 +144,10 @@ public static String text(ParseTree node) {
      */
     public static String nameOrPosition(Token token) {
         int tokenType = token.getType();
-        String s = token.getText();
+        // Retrieve text from the token only when necessary, when the token type is known.
         return switch (tokenType) {
-            case EsqlBaseLexer.NAMED_OR_POSITIONAL_PARAM -> s.substring(SINGLE_PARAM);
-            case EsqlBaseLexer.NAMED_OR_POSITIONAL_DOUBLE_PARAMS -> s.substring(DOUBLE_PARAM);
+            case EsqlBaseLexer.NAMED_OR_POSITIONAL_PARAM -> token.getText().substring(SINGLE_PARAM);
+            case EsqlBaseLexer.NAMED_OR_POSITIONAL_DOUBLE_PARAMS -> token.getText().substring(DOUBLE_PARAM);
             default -> EMPTY;
         };
     }