diff --git a/projects/plugins/protect/changelog/update-protect-optimistically-scanning b/projects/plugins/protect/changelog/update-protect-optimistically-scanning
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..35a9a6afb5f74
--- /dev/null
+++ b/projects/plugins/protect/changelog/update-protect-optimistically-scanning
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+Significance: minor
+Type: changed
+
+Improves optimistic scanning
diff --git a/projects/plugins/protect/src/js/data/scan/use-scan-status-query.ts b/projects/plugins/protect/src/js/data/scan/use-scan-status-query.ts
index e01d5fcfb1213..848b4395e6baf 100644
--- a/projects/plugins/protect/src/js/data/scan/use-scan-status-query.ts
+++ b/projects/plugins/protect/src/js/data/scan/use-scan-status-query.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { useConnection } from '@automattic/jetpack-connection';
-import { useQuery, UseQueryResult } from '@tanstack/react-query';
+import { useQuery, UseQueryResult, useQueryClient } from '@tanstack/react-query';
 import camelize from 'camelize';
 import API from '../../api';
 import {
@@ -10,6 +10,31 @@ import {
 import { ScanStatus } from '../../types/scans';
 import { QUERY_SCAN_STATUS_KEY } from './../../constants';
 
+export const isRequestedScanNotStarted = ( status: ScanStatus ) => {
+	if ( status.status !== 'idle' ) {
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	const lastRequestedScanTimestamp = Number( localStorage.getItem( 'last_requested_scan' ) );
+
+	if ( ! lastRequestedScanTimestamp ) {
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	if ( lastRequestedScanTimestamp < Date.now() - 5 * 60 * 1000 ) {
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	const lastCheckedTimestamp = new Date( status.lastChecked + ' UTC' ).getTime();
+
+	const isScanCompleted = lastCheckedTimestamp > lastRequestedScanTimestamp;
+	if ( isScanCompleted ) {
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	return true;
+};
+
 export const isScanInProgress = ( status: ScanStatus ) => {
 	// If there has never been a scan, and the scan status is idle or unavailable, then we must still be getting set up.
 	const scanIsInitializing =
@@ -32,6 +57,7 @@ export const isScanInProgress = ( status: ScanStatus ) => {
 export default function useScanStatusQuery( {
 	usePolling,
 }: { usePolling?: boolean } = {} ): UseQueryResult< ScanStatus > {
+	const queryClient = useQueryClient();
 	const { isRegistered } = useConnection( {
 		autoTrigger: false,
 		from: 'protect',
@@ -41,7 +67,18 @@ export default function useScanStatusQuery( {
 
 	return useQuery( {
 		queryKey: [ QUERY_SCAN_STATUS_KEY ],
-		queryFn: API.getScanStatus,
+		queryFn: async () => {
+			// Fetch scan status data from the API
+			const data = await API.getScanStatus();
+
+			// Return cached data if conditions are met
+			if ( isRequestedScanNotStarted( data ) ) {
+				return queryClient.getQueryData( [ QUERY_SCAN_STATUS_KEY ] );
+			}
+
+			// If cached data is not applicable or expired, return the fresh API data
+			return data;
+		},
 		initialData: camelize( window?.jetpackProtectInitialState?.status ),
 		enabled: isRegistered,
 		refetchInterval( query ) {
diff --git a/projects/plugins/protect/src/js/data/scan/use-start-scan-mutation.ts b/projects/plugins/protect/src/js/data/scan/use-start-scan-mutation.ts
index 8f65b0410f83d..ba2433e99620f 100644
--- a/projects/plugins/protect/src/js/data/scan/use-start-scan-mutation.ts
+++ b/projects/plugins/protect/src/js/data/scan/use-start-scan-mutation.ts
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ export default function useStartScanMutation(): UseMutationResult {
 				...currentStatus,
 				status: SCAN_STATUS_OPTIMISTICALLY_SCANNING,
 			} ) );
+
+			localStorage.setItem( 'last_requested_scan', Date.now().toString() );
 		},
 		onError() {
 			// The scan failed to enqueue, invalidate the scan status query to reset the current status.