diff --git a/ci/test-stable-perf.sh b/ci/test-stable-perf.sh
index ed4dfc79b0..b3ce8d248c 100755
--- a/ci/test-stable-perf.sh
+++ b/ci/test-stable-perf.sh
@@ -30,6 +30,11 @@ FEATURES=bpf_c,bpf_rust,erasure,chacha
 if [[ $(uname) = Darwin ]]; then
   ./build-perf-libs.sh
 else
+  # Enable persistence mode to keep the CUDA kernel driver loaded, avoiding a
+  # lengthy and unexpected delay the first time CUDA is involved when the driver
+  # is not yet loaded.
+  sudo --non-interactive ./net/scripts/enable-nvidia-persistence-mode.sh
+
   ./fetch-perf-libs.sh
   # shellcheck source=/dev/null
   source ./target/perf-libs/env.sh