diff --git a/lib/smol_str/CHANGELOG.md b/lib/smol_str/CHANGELOG.md
index fb65d88ad191..b7da6d18a440 100644
--- a/lib/smol_str/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/lib/smol_str/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 # Changelog
 
 ## Unreleased
+- Optimise `SmolStr::clone` 4-5x speedup inline, 0.5x heap (slow down).
 
 ## 0.3.4 - 2025-10-23
 
diff --git a/lib/smol_str/src/lib.rs b/lib/smol_str/src/lib.rs
index a1d2c2f06744..91e287c58892 100644
--- a/lib/smol_str/src/lib.rs
+++ b/lib/smol_str/src/lib.rs
@@ -104,11 +104,19 @@ impl SmolStr {
 impl Clone for SmolStr {
     #[inline]
     fn clone(&self) -> Self {
-        if !self.is_heap_allocated() {
-            // SAFETY: We verified that the payload of `Repr` is a POD
-            return unsafe { core::ptr::read(self as *const SmolStr) };
+        // hint for faster inline / slower heap clones
+        #[cold]
+        #[inline(never)]
+        fn cold_clone(v: &SmolStr) -> SmolStr {
+            SmolStr(v.0.clone())
         }
-        Self(self.0.clone())
+
+        if self.is_heap_allocated() {
+            return cold_clone(self);
+        }
+
+        // SAFETY: We verified that the payload of `Repr` is a POD
+        unsafe { core::ptr::read(self as *const SmolStr) }
     }
 }