diff --git a/scene/main/node.cpp b/scene/main/node.cpp
index 675294af757..9df729c7518 100644
--- a/scene/main/node.cpp
+++ b/scene/main/node.cpp
@@ -1303,12 +1303,14 @@ Node *Node::get_node_or_null(const NodePath &p_path) const {
 
 Node *Node::get_node(const NodePath &p_path) const {
 	Node *node = get_node_or_null(p_path);
-	if (p_path.is_absolute()) {
-		ERR_FAIL_COND_V_MSG(!node, nullptr,
-				vformat("(Node not found: \"%s\" (absolute path attempted from \"%s\").)", p_path, get_path()));
-	} else {
-		ERR_FAIL_COND_V_MSG(!node, nullptr,
-				vformat("(Node not found: \"%s\" (relative to \"%s\").)", p_path, get_path()));
+	if (unlikely(!node)) {
+		if (p_path.is_absolute()) {
+			ERR_FAIL_V_MSG(nullptr,
+					vformat("(Node not found: \"%s\" (absolute path attempted from \"%s\").)", p_path, get_path()));
+		} else {
+			ERR_FAIL_V_MSG(nullptr,
+					vformat("(Node not found: \"%s\" (relative to \"%s\").)", p_path, get_path()));
+		}
 	}
 
 	return node;