diff --git a/.github/workflows/windows-validation.yml b/.github/workflows/windows-validation.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6890d07
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/windows-validation.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,114 @@
+name: Validate Windows installation
+
+on:
+  push:
+    branches:
+      - main
+    paths-ignore:
+      - '**.md'
+  pull_request:
+    paths-ignore:
+      - '**.md'
+
+jobs:
+  create-link-if-not-default:
+    runs-on: windows-latest
+    name: 'Validate if symlink is created'
+    strategy:
+      matrix:
+        cache: [false, true]
+        go: [1.20.1]
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+
+      - name: 'Setup ${{ matrix.cache }}, cache: ${{ matrix.go }}'
+        uses: ./
+        with:
+          go-version: ${{ matrix.go }}
+          cache: ${{ matrix.cache }}
+
+      - name: 'Drive C: should have zero size link'
+        run: |
+          du -m -s 'C:\hostedtoolcache\windows\go\${{ matrix.go }}\x64'
+          # make sure drive c: contains only a link
+          size=$(du -m -s 'C:\hostedtoolcache\windows\go\${{ matrix.go }}\x64'|cut -f1 -d$'\t')
+          if [ $size -ne 0 ];then
+            echo 'Size of the link created on drive c: must be 0'
+            exit 1
+          fi
+        shell: bash
+
+      # Drive D: is small, take care the action does not eat up the space
+      - name: 'Drive D: space usage should be below 1G'
+        run: |
+          du -m -s 'D:\hostedtoolcache\windows\go\${{ matrix.go }}\x64'
+          size=$(du -m -s 'D:\hostedtoolcache\windows\go\${{ matrix.go }}\x64'|cut -f1 -d$'\t')
+          # make sure archive does not take lot of space
+          if [ $size -gt 999 ];then
+            echo 'Size of installed on drive d: go is too big';
+            exit 1
+          fi
+        shell: bash
+
+      # make sure the Go installation has not been changed to the end user
+      - name: Test paths and environments
+        run: |
+          echo $PATH
+          which go
+          go version
+          go env
+          if [ $(which go) != '/c/hostedtoolcache/windows/go/${{ matrix.go }}/x64/bin/go' ];then
+            echo 'which go should return "/c/hostedtoolcache/windows/go/${{ matrix.go }}/x64/bin/go"'
+            exit 1
+          fi
+          if [ $(go env GOROOT) != 'C:\hostedtoolcache\windows\go\${{ matrix.go }}\x64' ];then 
+            echo 'go env GOROOT should return "C:\hostedtoolcache\windows\go\${{ matrix.go }}\x64"'
+            exit 1
+          fi
+        shell: bash
+
+  find-default-go:
+    name: 'Find default go version'
+    runs-on: windows-latest
+    outputs:
+      version: ${{ steps.goversion.outputs.version }}
+    steps:
+      - run: |
+          version=`go env GOVERSION|sed s/^go//`
+          echo "default go version: $version"
+          echo "version=$version" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+        id: goversion
+        shell: bash
+
+  dont-create-link-if-default:
+    name: 'Validate if symlink is not created for default go'
+    runs-on: windows-latest
+    needs: find-default-go
+    strategy:
+      matrix:
+        cache: [false, true]
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+
+      - name: 'Setup default go, cache: ${{ matrix.cache }}'
+        uses: ./
+        with:
+          go-version: ${{ needs.find-default-go.outputs.version }}
+          cache: ${{ matrix.cache }}
+
+      - name: 'Drive C: should have Go installation, cache: ${{ matrix.cache}}'
+        run: |
+          size=$(du -m -s 'C:\hostedtoolcache\windows\go\${{ needs.find-default-go.outputs.version }}\x64'|cut -f1 -d$'\t')
+          if [ $size -eq 0 ];then
+            echo 'Size of the hosted go installed on drive c: must be above zero'
+            exit 1
+          fi
+        shell: bash
+
+      - name: 'Drive D: should not have Go installation, cache: ${{ matrix.cache}}'
+        run: |
+          if [ -e 'D:\hostedtoolcache\windows\go\${{ needs.find-default-go.outputs.version }}\x64' ];then
+            echo 'D:\hostedtoolcache\windows\go\${{ needs.find-default-go.outputs.version }}\x64 should not exist for hosted version of go';
+            exit 1
+          fi
+        shell: bash
diff --git a/__tests__/setup-go.test.ts b/__tests__/setup-go.test.ts
index cea14f4..70f2166 100644
--- a/__tests__/setup-go.test.ts
+++ b/__tests__/setup-go.test.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import * as io from '@actions/io';
 import * as tc from '@actions/tool-cache';
 import fs from 'fs';
 import cp from 'child_process';
-import osm from 'os';
+import osm, {type} from 'os';
 import path from 'path';
 import * as main from '../src/main';
 import * as im from '../src/installer';
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ const matcherRegExp = new RegExp(matcherPattern.regexp);
 const win32Join = path.win32.join;
 const posixJoin = path.posix.join;
 
+jest.setTimeout(10000);
+
 describe('setup-go', () => {
   let inputs = {} as any;
   let os = {} as any;
@@ -39,6 +41,8 @@ describe('setup-go', () => {
   let existsSpy: jest.SpyInstance;
   let readFileSpy: jest.SpyInstance;
   let mkdirpSpy: jest.SpyInstance;
+  let mkdirSpy: jest.SpyInstance;
+  let symlinkSpy: jest.SpyInstance;
   let execSpy: jest.SpyInstance;
   let getManifestSpy: jest.SpyInstance;
   let getAllVersionsSpy: jest.SpyInstance;
@@ -92,6 +96,11 @@ describe('setup-go', () => {
     readFileSpy = jest.spyOn(fs, 'readFileSync');
     mkdirpSpy = jest.spyOn(io, 'mkdirP');
 
+    // fs
+    mkdirSpy = jest.spyOn(fs, 'mkdir');
+    symlinkSpy = jest.spyOn(fs, 'symlinkSync');
+    symlinkSpy.mockImplementation(() => {});
+
     // gets
     getManifestSpy.mockImplementation(() => <tc.IToolRelease[]>goTestManifest);
 
diff --git a/__tests__/windows-toolcache.test.ts b/__tests__/windows-toolcache.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..52fd692
--- /dev/null
+++ b/__tests__/windows-toolcache.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+import fs from 'fs';
+import * as io from '@actions/io';
+import * as tc from '@actions/tool-cache';
+import path from 'path';
+
+describe('Windows performance workaround', () => {
+  let mkdirSpy: jest.SpyInstance;
+  let symlinkSpy: jest.SpyInstance;
+  let statSpy: jest.SpyInstance;
+  let readdirSpy: jest.SpyInstance;
+  let writeFileSpy: jest.SpyInstance;
+  let rmRFSpy: jest.SpyInstance;
+  let mkdirPSpy: jest.SpyInstance;
+  let cpSpy: jest.SpyInstance;
+
+  let runnerToolCache: string | undefined;
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    mkdirSpy = jest.spyOn(fs, 'mkdir');
+    symlinkSpy = jest.spyOn(fs, 'symlinkSync');
+    statSpy = jest.spyOn(fs, 'statSync');
+    readdirSpy = jest.spyOn(fs, 'readdirSync');
+    writeFileSpy = jest.spyOn(fs, 'writeFileSync');
+    rmRFSpy = jest.spyOn(io, 'rmRF');
+    mkdirPSpy = jest.spyOn(io, 'mkdirP');
+    cpSpy = jest.spyOn(io, 'cp');
+
+    // default implementations
+    // @ts-ignore - not implement unused methods
+    statSpy.mockImplementation(() => ({
+      isDirectory: () => true
+    }));
+    readdirSpy.mockImplementation(() => []);
+    writeFileSpy.mockImplementation(() => {});
+    mkdirSpy.mockImplementation(() => {});
+    symlinkSpy.mockImplementation(() => {});
+    rmRFSpy.mockImplementation(() => Promise.resolve());
+    mkdirPSpy.mockImplementation(() => Promise.resolve());
+    cpSpy.mockImplementation(() => Promise.resolve());
+
+    runnerToolCache = process.env['RUNNER_TOOL_CACHE'];
+  });
+  afterEach(() => {
+    jest.clearAllMocks();
+    process.env['RUNNER_TOOL_CACHE'] = runnerToolCache;
+  });
+  // cacheWindowsToolkitDir depends on implementation of tc.cacheDir
+  // with the assumption that target dir is passed by RUNNER_TOOL_CACHE environment variable
+  // Make sure the implementation has not been changed
+  it('addExecutablesToCache should depend on env[RUNNER_TOOL_CACHE]', async () => {
+    process.env['RUNNER_TOOL_CACHE'] = '/faked-hostedtoolcache1';
+    const cacheDir1 = await tc.cacheDir('/qzx', 'go', '1.2.3', 'arch');
+    expect(cacheDir1).toBe(
+      path.join('/', 'faked-hostedtoolcache1', 'go', '1.2.3', 'arch')
+    );
+
+    process.env['RUNNER_TOOL_CACHE'] = '/faked-hostedtoolcache2';
+    const cacheDir2 = await tc.cacheDir('/qzx', 'go', '1.2.3', 'arch');
+    expect(cacheDir2).toBe(
+      path.join('/', 'faked-hostedtoolcache2', 'go', '1.2.3', 'arch')
+    );
+  });
+});
diff --git a/dist/setup/index.js b/dist/setup/index.js
index af096a9..b0a3f4e 100644
--- a/dist/setup/index.js
+++ b/dist/setup/index.js
@@ -61488,6 +61488,46 @@ function resolveVersionFromManifest(versionSpec, stable, auth, arch, manifest) {
         }
     });
 }
+// for github hosted windows runner handle latency of OS drive
+// by avoiding write operations to C:
+function cacheWindowsDir(extPath, tool, version, arch) {
+    return __awaiter(this, void 0, void 0, function* () {
+        if (os_1.default.platform() !== 'win32')
+            return false;
+        // make sure the action runs in the hosted environment
+        if (process.env['RUNNER_ENVIRONMENT'] !== 'github-hosted' &&
+            process.env['AGENT_ISSELFHOSTED'] === '1')
+            return false;
+        const defaultToolCacheRoot = process.env['RUNNER_TOOL_CACHE'];
+        if (!defaultToolCacheRoot)
+            return false;
+        if (!fs_1.default.existsSync('d:\\') || !fs_1.default.existsSync('c:\\'))
+            return false;
+        const actualToolCacheRoot = defaultToolCacheRoot
+            .replace('C:', 'D:')
+            .replace('c:', 'd:');
+        // make toolcache root to be on drive d:
+        process.env['RUNNER_TOOL_CACHE'] = actualToolCacheRoot;
+        const actualToolCacheDir = yield tc.cacheDir(extPath, tool, version, arch);
+        // create a link from c: to d:
+        const defaultToolCacheDir = actualToolCacheDir.replace(actualToolCacheRoot, defaultToolCacheRoot);
+        fs_1.default.mkdirSync(path.dirname(defaultToolCacheDir), { recursive: true });
+        fs_1.default.symlinkSync(actualToolCacheDir, defaultToolCacheDir, 'junction');
+        core.info(`Created link ${defaultToolCacheDir} => ${actualToolCacheDir}`);
+        // make outer code to continue using toolcache as if it were installed on c:
+        // restore toolcache root to default drive c:
+        process.env['RUNNER_TOOL_CACHE'] = defaultToolCacheRoot;
+        return defaultToolCacheDir;
+    });
+}
+function addExecutablesToToolCache(extPath, info, arch) {
+    return __awaiter(this, void 0, void 0, function* () {
+        const tool = 'go';
+        const version = makeSemver(info.resolvedVersion);
+        return ((yield cacheWindowsDir(extPath, tool, version, arch)) ||
+            (yield tc.cacheDir(extPath, tool, version, arch)));
+    });
+}
 function installGoVersion(info, auth, arch) {
     return __awaiter(this, void 0, void 0, function* () {
         core.info(`Acquiring ${info.resolvedVersion} from ${info.downloadUrl}`);
@@ -61503,9 +61543,9 @@ function installGoVersion(info, auth, arch) {
             extPath = path.join(extPath, 'go');
         }
         core.info('Adding to the cache ...');
-        const cachedDir = yield tc.cacheDir(extPath, 'go', makeSemver(info.resolvedVersion), arch);
-        core.info(`Successfully cached go to ${cachedDir}`);
-        return cachedDir;
+        const toolCacheDir = yield addExecutablesToToolCache(extPath, info, arch);
+        core.info(`Successfully cached go to ${toolCacheDir}`);
+        return toolCacheDir;
     });
 }
 function extractGoArchive(archivePath) {
diff --git a/src/installer.ts b/src/installer.ts
index 013fb64..be90e10 100644
--- a/src/installer.ts
+++ b/src/installer.ts
@@ -164,6 +164,64 @@ async function resolveVersionFromManifest(
   }
 }
 
+// for github hosted windows runner handle latency of OS drive
+// by avoiding write operations to C:
+async function cacheWindowsDir(
+  extPath: string,
+  tool: string,
+  version: string,
+  arch: string
+): Promise<string | false> {
+  if (os.platform() !== 'win32') return false;
+
+  // make sure the action runs in the hosted environment
+  if (
+    process.env['RUNNER_ENVIRONMENT'] !== 'github-hosted' &&
+    process.env['AGENT_ISSELFHOSTED'] === '1'
+  )
+    return false;
+
+  const defaultToolCacheRoot = process.env['RUNNER_TOOL_CACHE'];
+  if (!defaultToolCacheRoot) return false;
+
+  if (!fs.existsSync('d:\\') || !fs.existsSync('c:\\')) return false;
+
+  const actualToolCacheRoot = defaultToolCacheRoot
+    .replace('C:', 'D:')
+    .replace('c:', 'd:');
+  // make toolcache root to be on drive d:
+  process.env['RUNNER_TOOL_CACHE'] = actualToolCacheRoot;
+
+  const actualToolCacheDir = await tc.cacheDir(extPath, tool, version, arch);
+
+  // create a link from c: to d:
+  const defaultToolCacheDir = actualToolCacheDir.replace(
+    actualToolCacheRoot,
+    defaultToolCacheRoot
+  );
+  fs.mkdirSync(path.dirname(defaultToolCacheDir), {recursive: true});
+  fs.symlinkSync(actualToolCacheDir, defaultToolCacheDir, 'junction');
+  core.info(`Created link ${defaultToolCacheDir} => ${actualToolCacheDir}`);
+
+  // make outer code to continue using toolcache as if it were installed on c:
+  // restore toolcache root to default drive c:
+  process.env['RUNNER_TOOL_CACHE'] = defaultToolCacheRoot;
+  return defaultToolCacheDir;
+}
+
+async function addExecutablesToToolCache(
+  extPath: string,
+  info: IGoVersionInfo,
+  arch: string
+): Promise<string> {
+  const tool = 'go';
+  const version = makeSemver(info.resolvedVersion);
+  return (
+    (await cacheWindowsDir(extPath, tool, version, arch)) ||
+    (await tc.cacheDir(extPath, tool, version, arch))
+  );
+}
+
 async function installGoVersion(
   info: IGoVersionInfo,
   auth: string | undefined,
@@ -186,14 +244,10 @@ async function installGoVersion(
   }
 
   core.info('Adding to the cache ...');
-  const cachedDir = await tc.cacheDir(
-    extPath,
-    'go',
-    makeSemver(info.resolvedVersion),
-    arch
-  );
-  core.info(`Successfully cached go to ${cachedDir}`);
-  return cachedDir;
+  const toolCacheDir = await addExecutablesToToolCache(extPath, info, arch);
+  core.info(`Successfully cached go to ${toolCacheDir}`);
+
+  return toolCacheDir;
 }
 
 export async function extractGoArchive(archivePath: string): Promise<string> {