diff --git a/CHANGES.txt b/CHANGES.txt
index 771302e4d9..6208963634 100644
--- a/CHANGES.txt
+++ b/CHANGES.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 4.1
+ * Avoid unecessary array allocations and initializations when performing query checks (CASSANDRA-17209)
  * Add guardrail for list operations that require read before write (CASSANDRA-17154)
  * Migrate thresholds for number of keyspaces and tables to guardrails (CASSANDRA-17195)
  * Remove self-reference in SSTableTidier (CASSANDRA-17205)
diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/cassandra/cql3/statements/RequestValidations.java b/src/java/org/apache/cassandra/cql3/statements/RequestValidations.java
index f351788dd2..cdaac981c4 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/cassandra/cql3/statements/RequestValidations.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/cassandra/cql3/statements/RequestValidations.java
@@ -26,42 +26,136 @@ import java.util.List;
 import org.apache.cassandra.exceptions.InvalidRequestException;
 import org.apache.cassandra.utils.ByteBufferUtil;
 
-import static org.apache.commons.lang3.ArrayUtils.EMPTY_OBJECT_ARRAY;
-
 /**
  * Utility methods use to perform request validation.
+ *
+ * <p>This class use overloaded methods to allow to specify different numbers of message arguments. While
+ * this introduces some clutter in the API, it avoids array allocation, initialization, and garbage collection
+ * overhead that is incurred by varargs calls. </p>
+ *
+ * <b>Warning about performance</b>
+ *
+ * <p>The goal of this class is to improve readability of code, but in some circumstances this may come at a
+ * significant performance cost. Remember that argument values for message construction must all be computed eagerly,
+ * and autoboxing may happen as well, even when the check succeeds. If the message arguments are expensive to create
+ * you should use the customary form:
+ *  <pre>
+ *      if (value < 0.0)
+ *          throw RequestValidations.invalidRequest("negative value: %s", toReadableText(value));
+ *  </pre>
+ * </p>
  */
 public final class RequestValidations
 {
     /**
-     * Checks that the specified expression is <code>true</code>. If not an <code>InvalidRequestException</code> will
+     * Checks that the specified expression is {@code true}. If not an {@code InvalidRequestException} will
      * be thrown.
      *
      * @param expression the expression to test
      * @param message the error message
-     * @throws InvalidRequestException if the specified expression is <code>false</code>.
+     * @throws InvalidRequestException if the specified expression is {@code false}.
      */
     public static void checkTrue(boolean expression, String message) throws InvalidRequestException
     {
-        checkTrue(expression, message, EMPTY_OBJECT_ARRAY);
+        if (!expression)
+            throw invalidRequest(message);
     }
 
     /**
-     * Checks that the specified expression is <code>true</code>. If not an <code>InvalidRequestException</code> will
+     * Checks that the specified expression is <code>true</code>. If not an {@code InvalidRequestException} will
      * be thrown.
      *
      * @param expression the expression to test
      * @param messageTemplate the template used to build the error message
-     * @param messageArgs the message arguments
-     * @throws InvalidRequestException if the specified expression is <code>false</code>.
+     * @param messageArg the message argument
+     * @throws InvalidRequestException if the specified expression is {@code false}.
      */
     public static void checkTrue(boolean expression,
                                  String messageTemplate,
-                                 Object... messageArgs)
-                                 throws InvalidRequestException
+                                 Object messageArg) throws InvalidRequestException
     {
         if (!expression)
-            throw invalidRequest(messageTemplate, messageArgs);
+            throw invalidRequest(messageTemplate, messageArg);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Checks that the specified expression is <code>true</code>. If not an {@code InvalidRequestException} will
+     * be thrown.
+     *
+     * @param expression the expression to test
+     * @param messageTemplate the template used to build the error message
+     * @param arg1 the first message argument
+     * @param arg2 the second message argument
+     * @throws InvalidRequestException if the specified expression is {@code false}.
+     */
+    public static void checkTrue(boolean expression,
+                                 String messageTemplate,
+                                 Object arg1,
+                                 Object arg2) throws InvalidRequestException
+    {
+        if (!expression)
+            throw invalidRequest(messageTemplate, arg1, arg2);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Checks that the specified expression is <code>true</code>. If not an {@code InvalidRequestException} will
+     * be thrown.
+     *
+     * @param expression the expression to test
+     * @param messageTemplate the template used to build the error message
+     * @param arg1 the first message argument
+     * @param arg2 the second message argument
+     * @param arg3 the third message argument
+     * @throws InvalidRequestException if the specified expression is {@code false}.
+     */
+    public static void checkTrue(boolean expression,
+                                 String messageTemplate,
+                                 Object arg1,
+                                 Object arg2,
+                                 Object arg3) throws InvalidRequestException
+    {
+        if (!expression)
+            throw invalidRequest(messageTemplate, arg1, arg2, arg3);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Checks that the specified collections is NOT <code>empty</code>.
+     * If it is an {@code InvalidRequestException} will be thrown.
+     *
+     * @param collection the collection to test
+     * @param messageTemplate the template used to build the error message
+     * @param messageArg the message argument
+     * @return the collection
+     * @throws InvalidRequestException if the specified collection is <code>empty</code>.
+     */
+    public static <T extends Collection<E>, E> T checkNotEmpty(T collection,
+                                                               String messageTemplate,
+                                                               Object messageArg)
+                                                               throws InvalidRequestException
+    {
+        checkTrue(!collection.isEmpty(), messageTemplate, messageArg);
+        return collection;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Checks that the specified collections is NOT <code>empty</code>.
+     * If it is an {@code InvalidRequestException} will be thrown.
+     *
+     * @param collection the collection to test
+     * @param messageTemplate the template used to build the error message
+     * @param arg1 the first message argument
+     * @param arg2 the second message argument
+     * @return the collection
+     * @throws InvalidRequestException if the specified collection is <code>empty</code>.
+     */
+    public static <T extends Collection<E>, E> T checkNotEmpty(T collection,
+                                                               String messageTemplate,
+                                                               Object arg1,
+                                                               Object arg2)
+                                                               throws InvalidRequestException
+    {
+        checkTrue(!collection.isEmpty(), messageTemplate, arg1, arg2);
+        return collection;
     }
 
     /**
@@ -96,24 +190,60 @@ public final class RequestValidations
     }
 
     /**
-     * Checks that the specified expression is <code>false</code>. If not an <code>InvalidRequestException</code> will
+     * Checks that the specified expression is {@code false}. If not an {@code InvalidRequestException} will
      * be thrown.
      *
      * @param expression the expression to test
      * @param messageTemplate the template used to build the error message
-     * @param messageArgs the message arguments
+     * @param messageArg the message argument
      * @throws InvalidRequestException if the specified expression is <code>true</code>.
      */
     public static void checkFalse(boolean expression,
                                   String messageTemplate,
-                                  Object... messageArgs)
-                                  throws InvalidRequestException
+                                  Object messageArg) throws InvalidRequestException
     {
-        checkTrue(!expression, messageTemplate, messageArgs);
+        checkTrue(!expression, messageTemplate, messageArg);
     }
 
     /**
-     * Checks that the specified expression is <code>false</code>. If not an <code>InvalidRequestException</code> will
+     * Checks that the specified expression is {@code false}. If not an {@code InvalidRequestException} will
+     * be thrown.
+     *
+     * @param expression the expression to test
+     * @param messageTemplate the template used to build the error message
+     * @param arg1 the first message argument
+     * @param arg2 the second message argument
+     * @throws InvalidRequestException if the specified expression is <code>true</code>.
+     */
+    public static void checkFalse(boolean expression,
+                                  String messageTemplate,
+                                  Object arg1,
+                                  Object arg2) throws InvalidRequestException
+    {
+        checkTrue(!expression, messageTemplate, arg1, arg2);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Checks that the specified expression is {@code false}. If not an {@code InvalidRequestException} will
+     * be thrown.
+     *
+     * @param expression the expression to test
+     * @param messageTemplate the template used to build the error message
+     * @param arg1 the first message argument
+     * @param arg2 the second message argument
+     * @param arg3 the third message argument
+     * @throws InvalidRequestException if the specified expression is <code>true</code>.
+     */
+    public static void checkFalse(boolean expression,
+                                  String messageTemplate,
+                                  Object arg1,
+                                  Object arg2,
+                                  Object arg3) throws InvalidRequestException
+    {
+        checkTrue(!expression, messageTemplate, arg1, arg2, arg3);
+    }
+    /**
+     * Checks that the specified expression is {@code false}. If not an {@code InvalidRequestException} will
      * be thrown.
      *
      * @param expression the expression to test
@@ -126,91 +256,114 @@ public final class RequestValidations
     }
 
     /**
-     * Checks that the specified object is NOT <code>null</code>.
-     * If it is an <code>InvalidRequestException</code> will be throws.
-     *
-     * @param object the object to test
-     * @param messageTemplate the template used to build the error message
-     * @param messageArgs the message arguments
-     * @return the object
-     * @throws InvalidRequestException if the specified object is <code>null</code>.
-     */
-    public static <T> T checkNotNull(T object, String messageTemplate, Object... messageArgs)
-            throws InvalidRequestException
-    {
-        checkTrue(object != null, messageTemplate, messageArgs);
-        return object;
-    }
-
-    /**
-     * Checks that the specified collections is NOT <code>empty</code>.
-     * If it is an <code>InvalidRequestException</code> will be throws.
-     *
-     * @param collection the collection to test
-     * @param messageTemplate the template used to build the error message
-     * @param messageArgs the message arguments
-     * @return the collection
-     * @throws InvalidRequestException if the specified collection is <code>empty</code>.
-     */
-    public static <T extends Collection<E>, E> T checkNotEmpty(T collection, String messageTemplate, Object... messageArgs)
-            throws InvalidRequestException
-    {
-        checkTrue(!collection.isEmpty(), messageTemplate, messageArgs);
-        return collection;
-    }
-
-    /**
-     * Checks that the specified bind marker value is set to a meaningful value.
-     * If it is not a <code>InvalidRequestException</code> will be thrown.
-     *
-     * @param b the <code>ByteBuffer</code> to test
-     * @param messageTemplate the template used to build the error message
-     * @param messageArgs the message arguments
-     * @throws InvalidRequestException if the specified bind marker value is not set to a meaningful value.
-     */
-    public static void checkBindValueSet(ByteBuffer b, String messageTemplate, Object... messageArgs)
-            throws InvalidRequestException
-    {
-        checkTrue(b != ByteBufferUtil.UNSET_BYTE_BUFFER, messageTemplate, messageArgs);
-    }
-
-    /**
-     * Checks that the specified object is <code>null</code>.
-     * If it is not an <code>InvalidRequestException</code> will be throws.
-     *
-     * @param object the object to test
-     * @param messageTemplate the template used to build the error message
-     * @param messageArgs the message arguments
-     * @return the object
-     * @throws InvalidRequestException if the specified object is not <code>null</code>.
-     */
-    public static <T> T checkNull(T object, String messageTemplate, Object... messageArgs)
-            throws InvalidRequestException
-    {
-        checkTrue(object == null, messageTemplate, messageArgs);
-        return object;
-    }
-
-    /**
-     * Checks that the specified object is <code>null</code>.
-     * If it is not an <code>InvalidRequestException</code> will be throws.
+     * Checks that the specified object is NOT {@code null}.
+     * If it is an {@code InvalidRequestException} will be thrown.
      *
      * @param object the object to test
      * @param message the error message
      * @return the object
-     * @throws InvalidRequestException if the specified object is not <code>null</code>.
+     * @throws InvalidRequestException if the specified object is {@code null}.
      */
-    public static <T> T checkNull(T object, String message) throws InvalidRequestException
+    public static <T> T checkNotNull(T object, String message) throws InvalidRequestException
     {
-        return checkNull(object, message, EMPTY_OBJECT_ARRAY);
+        checkTrue(object != null, message);
+        return object;
     }
 
     /**
-     * Returns an <code>InvalidRequestException</code> with the specified message.
+     * Checks that the specified object is NOT {@code null}.
+     * If it is an {@code InvalidRequestException} will be thrown.
+     *
+     * @param object the object to test
+     * @param messageTemplate the template used to build the error message
+     * @param messageArg the message argument
+     * @return the object
+     * @throws InvalidRequestException if the specified object is {@code null}.
+     */
+    public static <T> T checkNotNull(T object, String messageTemplate, Object messageArg) throws InvalidRequestException
+    {
+        checkTrue(object != null, messageTemplate, messageArg);
+        return object;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Checks that the specified object is NOT {@code null}.
+     * If it is an {@code InvalidRequestException} will be thrown.
+     *
+     * @param object the object to test
+     * @param messageTemplate the template used to build the error message
+     * @param arg1 the first message argument
+     * @param arg2 the second message argument
+     * @return the object
+     * @throws InvalidRequestException if the specified object is {@code null}.
+     */
+    public static <T> T checkNotNull(T object,
+                                     String messageTemplate,
+                                     Object arg1,
+                                     Object arg2) throws InvalidRequestException
+    {
+        checkTrue(object != null, messageTemplate, arg1, arg2);
+        return object;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Checks that the specified bind marker value is set to a meaningful value.
+     * If it is not a {@code InvalidRequestException} will be thrown.
+     *
+     * @param b the <code>ByteBuffer</code> to test
+     * @param messageTemplate the template used to build the error message
+     * @param messageArg the message argument
+     * @throws InvalidRequestException if the specified bind marker value is not set to a meaningful value.
+     */
+    public static void checkBindValueSet(ByteBuffer b, String messageTemplate, Object messageArg) throws InvalidRequestException
+    {
+        checkTrue(b != ByteBufferUtil.UNSET_BYTE_BUFFER, messageTemplate, messageArg);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Checks that the specified object is {@code null}.
+     * If it is not an {@code InvalidRequestException} will be thrown.
+     *
+     * @param object the object to test
+     * @param messageTemplate the template used to build the error message
+     * @param messageArg the message argument
+     * @throws InvalidRequestException if the specified object is not {@code null}.
+     */
+    public static void checkNull(Object object, String messageTemplate, Object messageArg) throws InvalidRequestException
+    {
+        checkTrue(object == null, messageTemplate, messageArg);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Checks that the specified object is {@code null}.
+     * If it is not an {@code InvalidRequestException} will be thrown.
+     *
+     * @param object the object to test
+     * @param message the error message
+     * @throws InvalidRequestException if the specified object is not {@code null}.
+     */
+    public static void checkNull(Object object, String message) throws InvalidRequestException
+    {
+        checkTrue(object == null, message);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns an {@code InvalidRequestException} with the specified message.
+     *
+     * @param message the error message
+     * @return an {@code InvalidRequestException} with the specified message.
+     */
+    public static InvalidRequestException invalidRequest(String message)
+    {
+        return new InvalidRequestException(message);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns an {@code InvalidRequestException} with the specified message.
      *
      * @param messageTemplate the template used to build the error message
      * @param messageArgs the message arguments
-     * @return an <code>InvalidRequestException</code> with the specified message.
+     * @return an {@code InvalidRequestException} with the specified message.
      */
     public static InvalidRequestException invalidRequest(String messageTemplate, Object... messageArgs)
     {