diff --git a/mesonbuild/compilers/c.py b/mesonbuild/compilers/c.py
index fe5a9ca14..2d70d7279 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/compilers/c.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/compilers/c.py
@@ -653,12 +653,13 @@ class CCompiler(Compiler):
         args = self._get_compiler_check_args(env, extra_args, dependencies,
                                              mode='preprocess').to_native()
         with self.compile(code.format(**fargs), args, 'preprocess', cdata=env.coredata) as p:
+            cached = p.cached
             if p.returncode != 0:
                 raise EnvironmentException('Could not get define {!r}'.format(dname))
         # Get the preprocessed value after the delimiter,
         # minus the extra newline at the end and
         # merge string literals.
-        return CCompiler.concatenate_string_literals(p.stdo.split(delim + '\n')[-1][:-1])
+        return CCompiler.concatenate_string_literals(p.stdo.split(delim + '\n')[-1][:-1]), cached
 
     def get_return_value(self, fname, rtype, prefix, env, extra_args, dependencies):
         if rtype == 'string':
@@ -1202,7 +1203,7 @@ class CCompiler(Compiler):
         if not (for_windows(env.is_cross_build(), env) or
                 for_cygwin(env.is_cross_build(), env)):
             if name in ['dllimport', 'dllexport']:
-                return False
+                return False, False
 
         # Clang and GCC both return warnings if the __attribute__ is undefined,
         # so set -Werror
@@ -1707,7 +1708,7 @@ class VisualStudioCCompiler(CCompiler):
     def has_func_attribute(self, name, env):
         # MSVC doesn't have __attribute__ like Clang and GCC do, so just return
         # false without compiling anything
-        return name in ['dllimport', 'dllexport']
+        return name in ['dllimport', 'dllexport'], False
 
     def get_argument_syntax(self):
         return 'msvc'
diff --git a/mesonbuild/compilers/cuda.py b/mesonbuild/compilers/cuda.py
index 21fa4984f..51a1300f9 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/compilers/cuda.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/compilers/cuda.py
@@ -146,8 +146,9 @@ class CudaCompiler(Compiler):
         return super().get_compiler_check_args() + []
 
     def has_header_symbol(self, hname, symbol, prefix, env, extra_args=None, dependencies=None):
-        if super().has_header_symbol(hname, symbol, prefix, env, extra_args, dependencies):
-            return True
+        result, cached = super().has_header_symbol(hname, symbol, prefix, env, extra_args, dependencies)
+        if result:
+            return True, cached
         if extra_args is None:
             extra_args = []
         fargs = {'prefix': prefix, 'header': hname, 'symbol': symbol}
diff --git a/mesonbuild/compilers/d.py b/mesonbuild/compilers/d.py
index e8257d345..a5f72d856 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/compilers/d.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/compilers/d.py
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@ class DCompiler(Compiler):
         args = self._get_compiler_check_args(env, extra_args, dependencies, mode)
 
         with self.compile(code, args, mode, cdata=env.coredata) as p:
-            return p.returncode == 0
+            return p.returncode == 0, p.cached
 
     def has_multi_arguments(self, args, env):
         return self.compiles('int i;\n', env, extra_args=args)
diff --git a/mesonbuild/dependencies/boost.py b/mesonbuild/dependencies/boost.py
index 381824c79..6e06847e3 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/dependencies/boost.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/dependencies/boost.py
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ class BoostDependency(ExternalDependency):
 
     def detect_headers_and_version(self):
         try:
-            version = self.clib_compiler.get_define('BOOST_LIB_VERSION', '#include <boost/version.hpp>', self.env, self.get_compile_args(), [])
+            version = self.clib_compiler.get_define('BOOST_LIB_VERSION', '#include <boost/version.hpp>', self.env, self.get_compile_args(), [])[0]
         except mesonlib.EnvironmentException:
             return
         except TypeError:
diff --git a/mesonbuild/dependencies/misc.py b/mesonbuild/dependencies/misc.py
index d266a3737..77ea6ef05 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/dependencies/misc.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/dependencies/misc.py
@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ class OpenMPDependency(ExternalDependency):
         self.is_found = False
         try:
             openmp_date = self.clib_compiler.get_define(
-                '_OPENMP', '', self.env, self.clib_compiler.openmp_flags(), [self])
+                '_OPENMP', '', self.env, self.clib_compiler.openmp_flags(), [self])[0]
         except mesonlib.EnvironmentException as e:
             mlog.debug('OpenMP support not available in the compiler')
             mlog.debug(e)
diff --git a/mesonbuild/interpreter.py b/mesonbuild/interpreter.py
index b0311a4b9..c4092f224 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/interpreter.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/interpreter.py
@@ -1309,10 +1309,11 @@ class CompilerHolder(InterpreterObject):
             raise InterpreterException('Prefix argument of get_define() must be a string.')
         extra_args = functools.partial(self.determine_args, kwargs)
         deps, msg = self.determine_dependencies(kwargs)
-        value = self.compiler.get_define(element, prefix, self.environment,
-                                         extra_args=extra_args,
-                                         dependencies=deps)
-        mlog.log('Fetching value of define', mlog.bold(element, True), msg, value)
+        value, cached = self.compiler.get_define(element, prefix, self.environment,
+                                                 extra_args=extra_args,
+                                                 dependencies=deps)
+        cached = '(cached)' if cached else ''
+        mlog.log('Fetching value of define', mlog.bold(element, True), msg, value, cached)
         return value
 
     @permittedKwargs({