diff --git src/wp-includes/class-wp-theme.php src/wp-includes/class-wp-theme.php
index 171d8b6c58..d577ba7a6d 100644
--- src/wp-includes/class-wp-theme.php
+++ src/wp-includes/class-wp-theme.php
@@ -984,11 +984,17 @@ final class WP_Theme implements ArrayAccess {
 	 *               being absolute paths.
 	 */
 	public function get_files( $type = null, $depth = 0, $search_parent = false ) {
-		// get and cache all theme files to start with.
-		$label = sanitize_key( 'files_' . $this->cache_hash . '-' . $this->get( 'Version' ) );
-		$transient_key = substr( $label, 0, 29 ) . md5( $label );
+		$do_caching = $depth > 1;
+		$all_files  = false;
+
+		if ( $do_caching ) {
+			// get and cache all theme files to start with.
+			$label = sanitize_key( 'files_' . $this->cache_hash . '-' . $this->get( 'Version' ) );
+			$transient_key = substr( $label, 0, 29 ) . md5( $label );
+
+			$all_files = get_transient( $transient_key );
+		}
 
-		$all_files = get_transient( $transient_key );
 		if ( false === $all_files ) {
 			$all_files = (array) self::scandir( $this->get_stylesheet_directory(), null, -1 );
 
@@ -996,7 +1002,7 @@ final class WP_Theme implements ArrayAccess {
 				$all_files += (array) self::scandir( $this->get_template_directory(), null, -1 );
 			}
 
-			set_transient( $transient_key, $all_files, HOUR_IN_SECONDS );
+			$do_caching && set_transient( $transient_key, $all_files, 5 * MINUTE_IN_SECONDS );
 		}
 
 		// Filter $all_files by $type & $depth.