diff --git a/docs/source/changes.md b/docs/source/changes.md
index 60c38125..fc9fe890 100644
--- a/docs/source/changes.md
+++ b/docs/source/changes.md
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ releases are available on [PyPI](https://pypi.org/project/pytask) and
 - {pull}`566` makes universal-pathlib an official dependency.
 - {pull}`568` restricts `task_files` to a list of patterns and raises a better error.
 - {pull}`569` removes the hooks related to the creation of the DAG.
+- {pull}`571` removes redundant calls to `PNode.state()` which causes a high penalty for
+  remote files.
 
 ## 0.4.5 - 2024-01-09
 
diff --git a/src/_pytask/database_utils.py b/src/_pytask/database_utils.py
index 0d20e0ae..dc262967 100644
--- a/src/_pytask/database_utils.py
+++ b/src/_pytask/database_utils.py
@@ -69,11 +69,10 @@ def update_states_in_database(session: Session, task_signature: str) -> None:
         _create_or_update_state(task_signature, node.signature, hash_)
 
 
-def has_node_changed(task: PTask, node: PTask | PNode) -> bool:
+def has_node_changed(task: PTask, node: PTask | PNode, state: str | None) -> bool:
     """Indicate whether a single dependency or product has changed."""
     # If node does not exist, we receive None.
-    node_state = node.state()
-    if node_state is None:
+    if state is None:
         return True
 
     with DatabaseSession() as session:
@@ -83,4 +82,4 @@ def has_node_changed(task: PTask, node: PTask | PNode) -> bool:
     if db_state is None:
         return True
 
-    return node_state != db_state.hash_
+    return state != db_state.hash_
diff --git a/src/_pytask/execute.py b/src/_pytask/execute.py
index 08c4cdaa..23329a10 100644
--- a/src/_pytask/execute.py
+++ b/src/_pytask/execute.py
@@ -140,7 +140,8 @@ def pytask_execute_task_setup(session: Session, task: PTask) -> None:
             node = dag.nodes[node_signature].get("task") or dag.nodes[
                 node_signature
             ].get("node")
-            if node_signature in predecessors and not node.state():
+            node_state = node.state()
+            if node_signature in predecessors and not node_state:
                 msg = f"{task.name!r} requires missing node {node.name!r}."
                 if IS_FILE_SYSTEM_CASE_SENSITIVE:
                     msg += (
@@ -149,7 +150,7 @@ def pytask_execute_task_setup(session: Session, task: PTask) -> None:
                     )
                 raise NodeNotFoundError(msg)
 
-            has_changed = has_node_changed(task=task, node=node)
+            has_changed = has_node_changed(task=task, node=node, state=node_state)
             if has_changed:
                 needs_to_be_executed = True
                 break
diff --git a/src/_pytask/nodes.py b/src/_pytask/nodes.py
index e98a0f6d..80697feb 100644
--- a/src/_pytask/nodes.py
+++ b/src/_pytask/nodes.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 import hashlib
 import inspect
 import pickle
+from contextlib import suppress
 from os import stat_result
 from pathlib import Path  # noqa: TCH003
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
@@ -75,12 +76,10 @@ def signature(self) -> str:
 
     def state(self) -> str | None:
         """Return the state of the node."""
-        try:
+        with suppress(OSError):
             source = inspect.getsource(self.function)
-        except OSError:
-            return None
-        else:
             return hashlib.sha256(source.encode()).hexdigest()
+        return None
 
     def execute(self, **kwargs: Any) -> Any:
         """Execute the task."""
@@ -137,10 +136,7 @@ def signature(self) -> str:
 
     def state(self) -> str | None:
         """Return the state of the node."""
-        if self.path.exists():
-            modification_time = self.path.stat().st_mtime
-            return hash_path(self.path, modification_time)
-        return None
+        return _get_state(self.path)
 
     def execute(self, **kwargs: Any) -> Any:
         """Execute the task."""
@@ -180,9 +176,7 @@ def state(self) -> str | None:
         The state is given by the modification timestamp.
 
         """
-        if self.path.exists():
-            return _get_state(self.path)
-        return None
+        return _get_state(self.path)
 
     def load(self, is_product: bool = False) -> Path:  # noqa: ARG002
         """Load the value."""
@@ -316,9 +310,7 @@ def from_path(cls, path: Path) -> PickleNode:
         return cls(name=path.as_posix(), path=path)
 
     def state(self) -> str | None:
-        if self.path.exists():
-            return _get_state(self.path)
-        return None
+        return _get_state(self.path)
 
     def load(self, is_product: bool = False) -> Any:
         if is_product:
@@ -331,15 +323,19 @@ def save(self, value: Any) -> None:
             pickle.dump(value, f)
 
 
-def _get_state(path: Path) -> str:
+def _get_state(path: Path) -> str | None:
     """Get state of a path.
 
     A simple function to handle local and remote files.
 
     """
-    stat = path.stat()
+    try:
+        stat = path.stat()
+    except FileNotFoundError:
+        return None
+
     if isinstance(stat, stat_result):
-        modification_time = path.stat().st_mtime
+        modification_time = stat.st_mtime
         return hash_path(path, modification_time)
     if isinstance(stat, UPathStatResult):
         return stat.as_info().get("ETag", "0")
diff --git a/src/_pytask/persist.py b/src/_pytask/persist.py
index d4a56c25..ebbfbca5 100644
--- a/src/_pytask/persist.py
+++ b/src/_pytask/persist.py
@@ -39,12 +39,13 @@ def pytask_execute_task_setup(session: Session, task: PTask) -> None:
 
     """
     if has_mark(task, "persist"):
-        all_nodes_exist = all(
+        all_states = [
             (
                 session.dag.nodes[name].get("task") or session.dag.nodes[name]["node"]
             ).state()
             for name in node_and_neighbors(session.dag, task.signature)
-        )
+        ]
+        all_nodes_exist = all(all_states)
 
         if all_nodes_exist:
             any_node_changed = any(
@@ -52,8 +53,11 @@ def pytask_execute_task_setup(session: Session, task: PTask) -> None:
                     task=task,
                     node=session.dag.nodes[name].get("task")
                     or session.dag.nodes[name]["node"],
+                    state=state,
+                )
+                for name, state in zip(
+                    node_and_neighbors(session.dag, task.signature), all_states
                 )
-                for name in node_and_neighbors(session.dag, task.signature)
             )
             if any_node_changed:
                 raise Persisted