diff --git a/py/mpconfig.h b/py/mpconfig.h
index 7b98112e17..2fbf1490d8 100644
--- a/py/mpconfig.h
+++ b/py/mpconfig.h
@@ -527,6 +527,12 @@
 #define MICROPY_OPT_CACHE_MAP_LOOKUP_IN_BYTECODE (0)
 #endif
 
+// Optimise the fast path for loading attributes from instance types. Increases
+// Thumb2 code size by about 48 bytes.
+#ifndef MICROPY_OPT_LOAD_ATTR_FAST_PATH
+#define MICROPY_OPT_LOAD_ATTR_FAST_PATH (0)
+#endif
+
 // Whether to use fast versions of bitwise operations (and, or, xor) when the
 // arguments are both positive.  Increases Thumb2 code size by about 250 bytes.
 #ifndef MICROPY_OPT_MPZ_BITWISE
diff --git a/py/objtype.c b/py/objtype.c
index 508bab99d3..0977a67ced 100644
--- a/py/objtype.c
+++ b/py/objtype.c
@@ -579,6 +579,7 @@ STATIC void mp_obj_instance_load_attr(mp_obj_t self_in, qstr attr, mp_obj_t *des
     assert(mp_obj_is_instance_type(mp_obj_get_type(self_in)));
     mp_obj_instance_t *self = MP_OBJ_TO_PTR(self_in);
 
+    // Note: This is fast-path'ed in the VM for the MP_BC_LOAD_ATTR operation.
     mp_map_elem_t *elem = mp_map_lookup(&self->members, MP_OBJ_NEW_QSTR(attr), MP_MAP_LOOKUP);
     if (elem != NULL) {
         // object member, always treated as a value
diff --git a/py/runtime.c b/py/runtime.c
index 27e5bc13eb..2f7cf1fa60 100644
--- a/py/runtime.c
+++ b/py/runtime.c
@@ -1081,6 +1081,10 @@ void mp_load_method_maybe(mp_obj_t obj, qstr attr, mp_obj_t *dest) {
     dest[0] = MP_OBJ_NULL;
     dest[1] = MP_OBJ_NULL;
 
+    // Note: the specific case of obj being an instance type is fast-path'ed in the VM
+    // for the MP_BC_LOAD_ATTR opcode. Instance types handle type->attr and look up directly
+    // in their member's map.
+
     // get the type
     const mp_obj_type_t *type = mp_obj_get_type(obj);
 
diff --git a/py/vm.c b/py/vm.c
index bbfc9914eb..e5a62e4415 100644
--- a/py/vm.c
+++ b/py/vm.c
@@ -414,7 +414,26 @@ dispatch_loop:
                     FRAME_UPDATE();
                     MARK_EXC_IP_SELECTIVE();
                     DECODE_QSTR;
-                    SET_TOP(mp_load_attr(TOP(), qst));
+                    mp_obj_t top = TOP();
+                    mp_obj_t obj;
+                    #if MICROPY_OPT_LOAD_ATTR_FAST_PATH
+                    // For the specific case of an instance type, it implements .attr
+                    // and forwards to its members map. Attribute lookups on instance
+                    // types are extremely common, so avoid all the other checks and
+                    // calls that normally happen first.
+                    mp_map_elem_t *elem = NULL;
+                    if (mp_obj_is_instance_type(mp_obj_get_type(top))) {
+                        mp_obj_instance_t *self = MP_OBJ_TO_PTR(top);
+                        elem = mp_map_lookup(&self->members, MP_OBJ_NEW_QSTR(qst), MP_MAP_LOOKUP);
+                    }
+                    if (elem) {
+                        obj = elem->value;
+                    } else
+                    #endif
+                    {
+                        obj = mp_load_attr(top, qst);
+                    }
+                    SET_TOP(obj);
                     DISPATCH();
                 }
                 #else