diff --git a/subprojects/gstreamer/gst/gst.c b/subprojects/gstreamer/gst/gst.c
index 4e34d0ccb9..c068314d3e 100644
--- a/subprojects/gstreamer/gst/gst.c
+++ b/subprojects/gstreamer/gst/gst.c
@@ -534,6 +534,8 @@ init_pre (GOptionContext * context, GOptionGroup * group, gpointer data,
     return TRUE;
   }
 
+  priv_gst_clock_init ();
+
   find_executable_path ();
 
   _priv_gst_start_time = gst_util_get_timestamp ();
diff --git a/subprojects/gstreamer/gst/gst_private.h b/subprojects/gstreamer/gst/gst_private.h
index 1471fb0e30..9be91ef96e 100644
--- a/subprojects/gstreamer/gst/gst_private.h
+++ b/subprojects/gstreamer/gst/gst_private.h
@@ -522,5 +522,9 @@ struct _GstClockEntryImpl
 char * priv_gst_get_relocated_libgstreamer (void);
 gint   priv_gst_count_directories (const char *filepath);
 
+void priv_gst_clock_init (void);
+GstClockTime priv_gst_get_monotonic_time (void);
+GstClockTime priv_gst_get_real_time (void);
+
 G_END_DECLS
 #endif /* __GST_PRIVATE_H__ */
diff --git a/subprojects/gstreamer/gst/gstsystemclock.c b/subprojects/gstreamer/gst/gstsystemclock.c
index 7d8efb171e..403cc3d170 100644
--- a/subprojects/gstreamer/gst/gstsystemclock.c
+++ b/subprojects/gstreamer/gst/gstsystemclock.c
@@ -60,6 +60,108 @@
 #include <mach/mach_time.h>
 #endif
 
+#if defined __APPLE__
+static struct mach_timebase_info mach_timebase;
+#endif
+
+#if defined G_OS_WIN32
+static LARGE_INTEGER performance_counter_frequency;
+#endif
+
+/* Small helper to make the atomics below cheaper.
+ *
+ * GLib always uses SEQ_CST atomic ops while here it's more than enough to use
+ * ACQUIRE/RELEASE atomic ops. On x86 / x86-64 the ACQUIRE load is compiling
+ * to a simple memory read.
+ */
+#if defined __APPLE__ || defined G_OS_WIN32
+#if defined(__STDC_VERSION__) && __STDC_VERSION__ >= 201112L && !defined(__STDC_NO_ATOMICS)
+#include <stdatomic.h>
+
+typedef atomic_int gst_atomic_int;
+
+static inline int
+gst_atomic_int_get_acquire (gst_atomic_int * x)
+{
+  return atomic_load_explicit (x, memory_order_acquire);
+}
+
+static inline void
+gst_atomic_int_set_release (gst_atomic_int * x, gint val)
+{
+  atomic_store_explicit (x, val, memory_order_release);
+}
+#else /* defined(__STDC_VERSION__) && __STDC_VERSION__ >= 201112L && !defined(__STDC_NO_ATOMICS) */
+typedef int gst_atomic_int;
+#define gst_atomic_int_get_acquire(x) g_atomic_int_get(x)
+#define gst_atomic_int_set_release(x, val) g_atomic_int_set(x, val)
+#endif /* defined(__STDC_VERSION__) && __STDC_VERSION__ >= 201112L && !defined(__STDC_NO_ATOMICS) */
+#endif /* defined __APPLE__ || defined G_OS_WIN32 */
+
+/* priv_gst_clock_init:
+ *
+ * Initialize internal state of the clock. This is safe to call multiple
+ * times.
+ */
+void
+priv_gst_clock_init (void)
+{
+#if defined __APPLE__
+  static gst_atomic_int inited = FALSE;
+
+  if (!gst_atomic_int_get_acquire (&inited)) {
+    mach_timebase_info (&mach_timebase);
+    gst_atomic_int_set_release (&inited, TRUE);
+  }
+#endif
+
+#if defined G_OS_WIN32
+  static gst_atomic_int inited = FALSE;
+
+  if (!gst_atomic_int_get_acquire (&inited)) {
+    QueryPerformanceFrequency (&performance_counter_frequency);
+    gst_atomic_int_set_release (&inited, TRUE);
+  }
+#endif
+}
+
+GstClockTime
+priv_gst_get_monotonic_time (void)
+{
+#if defined __APPLE__
+  guint64 mach_t = mach_absolute_time ();
+  return gst_util_uint64_scale (mach_t, mach_timebase.numer,
+      mach_timebase.denom);
+#elif defined G_OS_WIN32
+  LARGE_INTEGER now;
+  QueryPerformanceCounter (&now);
+
+  return gst_util_uint64_scale (now.QuadPart, GST_SECOND,
+      performance_counter_frequency.QuadPart);
+#elif defined (HAVE_POSIX_TIMERS) && defined(HAVE_MONOTONIC_CLOCK) &&\
+    defined (HAVE_CLOCK_GETTIME)
+  struct timespec now;
+
+  clock_gettime (CLOCK_MONOTONIC, &now);
+  return GST_TIMESPEC_TO_TIME (now);
+#else
+  return g_get_monotonic_time () * 1000;
+#endif
+}
+
+GstClockTime
+priv_gst_get_real_time (void)
+{
+#if defined (HAVE_POSIX_TIMERS) && defined (HAVE_CLOCK_GETTIME)
+  struct timespec now;
+
+  clock_gettime (CLOCK_REALTIME, &now);
+  return GST_TIMESPEC_TO_TIME (now);
+#else
+  return g_get_real_time () * 1000;
+#endif
+}
+
 /* Define this to get some extra debug about jitter from each clock_wait */
 #undef WAIT_DEBUGGING
 
@@ -300,7 +402,7 @@ gst_pthread_cond_wait_until (pthread_cond_t * cond, pthread_mutex_t * lock,
    * Since this pthreads wants the relative time, convert it back again.
    */
   {
-    gint64 now = g_get_monotonic_time () * 1000;
+    gint64 now = priv_gst_get_monotonic_time ();
     gint64 relative;
 
     if (end_time <= now)
@@ -446,13 +548,6 @@ struct _GstSystemClockPrivate
   GCond entries_changed;
 
   GstClockType clock_type;
-
-#ifdef G_OS_WIN32
-  LARGE_INTEGER frequency;
-#endif                          /* G_OS_WIN32 */
-#ifdef __APPLE__
-  struct mach_timebase_info mach_timebase;
-#endif
 };
 
 #ifdef HAVE_POSIX_TIMERS
@@ -483,10 +578,6 @@ static void gst_system_clock_get_property (GObject * object, guint prop_id,
     GValue * value, GParamSpec * pspec);
 
 static GstClockTime gst_system_clock_get_internal_time (GstClock * clock);
-#if !defined HAVE_POSIX_TIMERS || !defined HAVE_CLOCK_GETTIME
-static GstClockTime gst_system_clock_get_mono_time (GstSystemClock * clock);
-static GstClockTime gst_system_clock_get_real_time ();
-#endif
 static guint64 gst_system_clock_get_resolution (GstClock * clock);
 static GstClockReturn gst_system_clock_id_wait_jitter (GstClock * clock,
     GstClockEntry * entry, GstClockTimeDiff * jitter);
@@ -551,14 +642,6 @@ gst_system_clock_init (GstSystemClock * clock)
   priv->entries = NULL;
   g_cond_init (&priv->entries_changed);
 
-#ifdef G_OS_WIN32
-  QueryPerformanceFrequency (&priv->frequency);
-#endif /* G_OS_WIN32 */
-
-#ifdef __APPLE__
-  mach_timebase_info (&priv->mach_timebase);
-#endif
-
 #if 0
   /* Uncomment this to start the async clock thread straight away */
   GST_SYSTEM_CLOCK_LOCK (clock);
@@ -909,7 +992,6 @@ clock_type_to_posix_id (GstClockType clock_type)
 #ifdef HAVE_MONOTONIC_CLOCK
   if (clock_type == GST_CLOCK_TYPE_MONOTONIC)
     return CLOCK_MONOTONIC;
-  else
 #endif
   if (clock_type == GST_CLOCK_TYPE_TAI)
 #ifdef CLOCK_TAI
@@ -927,6 +1009,16 @@ static GstClockTime
 gst_system_clock_get_internal_time (GstClock * clock)
 {
   GstSystemClock *sysclock = GST_SYSTEM_CLOCK_CAST (clock);
+
+  /* For the monotonic and realtime clock, always directly call the specific
+   * helper functions above */
+  if (sysclock->priv->clock_type == GST_CLOCK_TYPE_MONOTONIC)
+    return priv_gst_get_monotonic_time ();
+  else if (sysclock->priv->clock_type == GST_CLOCK_TYPE_REALTIME)
+    return priv_gst_get_real_time ();
+
+  /* If POSIX timers are available, use those for any other clock,
+   * or otherwise return the monotonic time */
 #if defined HAVE_POSIX_TIMERS && defined HAVE_CLOCK_GETTIME
   // BSD and Linux' Posix timers and clock_gettime cover all of the different clock types
   // without need for special handling so we'll use those.
@@ -939,90 +1031,49 @@ gst_system_clock_get_internal_time (GstClock * clock)
     return GST_CLOCK_TIME_NONE;
 
   return GST_TIMESPEC_TO_TIME (ts);
-#else
-  if (sysclock->priv->clock_type == GST_CLOCK_TYPE_REALTIME) {
-    return gst_system_clock_get_real_time ();
-  } else {
-    return gst_system_clock_get_mono_time (sysclock);
-  }
+#else /* !HAVE_POSIX_TIMERS || !HAVE_CLOCK_GETTIME */
+  return priv_gst_get_monotonic_time ();
 #endif /* !HAVE_POSIX_TIMERS || !HAVE_CLOCK_GETTIME */
 }
 
-#if !defined HAVE_POSIX_TIMERS || !defined HAVE_CLOCK_GETTIME
-static GstClockTime
-gst_system_clock_get_real_time ()
-{
-  gint64 rt_micros = g_get_real_time ();
-  // g_get_real_time returns microseconds but we need nanos, so we'll multiply by 1000
-  return ((guint64) rt_micros) * 1000;
-}
-
-static GstClockTime
-gst_system_clock_get_mono_time (GstSystemClock * sysclock)
-{
-#if defined __APPLE__
-  uint64_t mach_t = mach_absolute_time ();
-  return gst_util_uint64_scale (mach_t, sysclock->priv->mach_timebase.numer,
-      sysclock->priv->mach_timebase.denom);
-#else
-#if defined G_OS_WIN32
-  if (sysclock->priv->frequency.QuadPart != 0) {
-    LARGE_INTEGER now;
-
-    /* we prefer the highly accurate performance counters on windows */
-    QueryPerformanceCounter (&now);
-
-    return gst_util_uint64_scale (now.QuadPart,
-        GST_SECOND, sysclock->priv->frequency.QuadPart);
-  } else
-#endif /* G_OS_WIN32 */
-  {
-    gint64 monotime;
-
-    monotime = g_get_monotonic_time ();
-
-    return monotime * 1000;
-  }
-#endif /* __APPLE__ */
-}
-#endif /* !HAVE_POSIX_TIMERS || !HAVE_CLOCK_GETTIME */
-
 static guint64
 gst_system_clock_get_resolution (GstClock * clock)
 {
   GstSystemClock *sysclock = GST_SYSTEM_CLOCK_CAST (clock);
-#if defined __APPLE__ || defined G_OS_WIN32
+
+#if defined G_OS_WIN32
   if (sysclock->priv->clock_type == GST_CLOCK_TYPE_REALTIME) {
     return 1 * GST_USECOND;
-  } else
+  } else {
+    return GST_SECOND / performance_counter_frequency.QuadPart;
+  }
 #endif
+
 #if defined __APPLE__
-  {
+  // On Apple platforms we want to use mach_absolute_time() unconditionally
+  // for the monotonic clock even if clock_gettime() support is available.
+  // Only use the latter for other clock types there.
+  if (sysclock->priv->clock_type == GST_CLOCK_TYPE_MONOTONIC) {
     return gst_util_uint64_scale (GST_NSECOND,
-        sysclock->priv->mach_timebase.numer,
-        sysclock->priv->mach_timebase.denom);
+        mach_timebase.numer, mach_timebase.denom);
   }
-#elif defined G_OS_WIN32
+#endif
+
+#if defined(HAVE_POSIX_TIMERS) && defined(HAVE_CLOCK_GETTIME)
   {
-    if (sysclock->priv->frequency.QuadPart != 0) {
-      return GST_SECOND / sysclock->priv->frequency.QuadPart;
-    } else {
-      return 1 * GST_USECOND;
-    }
-  }
-#elif defined(HAVE_POSIX_TIMERS) && defined(HAVE_CLOCK_GETTIME)
     clockid_t ptype;
-  struct timespec ts;
+    struct timespec ts;
 
-  ptype = clock_type_to_posix_id (sysclock->priv->clock_type);
+    ptype = clock_type_to_posix_id (sysclock->priv->clock_type);
 
-  if (G_UNLIKELY (clock_getres (ptype, &ts)))
-    return GST_CLOCK_TIME_NONE;
+    if (G_UNLIKELY (clock_getres (ptype, &ts)))
+      return GST_CLOCK_TIME_NONE;
 
-  return GST_TIMESPEC_TO_TIME (ts);
-#else
-    return 1 * GST_USECOND;
-#endif /* __APPLE__ */
+    return GST_TIMESPEC_TO_TIME (ts);
+  }
+#endif /* HAVE_POSIX_TIMERS && HAVE_CLOCK_GETTIME */
+
+  return 1 * GST_USECOND;
 }
 
 /* synchronously wait on the given GstClockEntry.
diff --git a/subprojects/gstreamer/gst/gstutils.c b/subprojects/gstreamer/gst/gstutils.c
index bd552e59de..83c3f485e3 100644
--- a/subprojects/gstreamer/gst/gstutils.c
+++ b/subprojects/gstreamer/gst/gstutils.c
@@ -3528,15 +3528,8 @@ gst_parse_bin_from_description_full (const gchar * bin_description,
 GstClockTime
 gst_util_get_timestamp (void)
 {
-#if defined (HAVE_POSIX_TIMERS) && defined(HAVE_MONOTONIC_CLOCK) &&\
-    defined (HAVE_CLOCK_GETTIME)
-  struct timespec now;
-
-  clock_gettime (CLOCK_MONOTONIC, &now);
-  return GST_TIMESPEC_TO_TIME (now);
-#else
-  return g_get_monotonic_time () * 1000;
-#endif
+  priv_gst_clock_init ();
+  return priv_gst_get_monotonic_time ();
 }
 
 /**