diff --git a/UPGRADING b/UPGRADING
index a336173ffd8b0..06e2412983694 100644
--- a/UPGRADING
+++ b/UPGRADING
@@ -113,6 +113,14 @@ PHP 8.5 UPGRADE NOTES
     readline_callback_handler_install() have been changed to true, rather
     than bool.
 
+- Opcache:
+  . Introduce opcache.file_cache_read_only to support a read-only
+    `opcache.file_cache` directory, for use with read-only Docker containers.
+    Best used with `opcache.validate_timestamps=0`, `opcache.enable_file_override=1`
+    and `opcache.file_cache_consistency_checks=0`.
+    Note: A cache generated with a different build of PHP, a different file path,
+    or different settings (including which extensions are loaded), may be ignored.
+
 ========================================
 10. New Global Constants
 ========================================
diff --git a/ext/opcache/ZendAccelerator.c b/ext/opcache/ZendAccelerator.c
index 406c539f44a27..678a90ce05686 100644
--- a/ext/opcache/ZendAccelerator.c
+++ b/ext/opcache/ZendAccelerator.c
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@
 #include "zend_accelerator_util_funcs.h"
 #include "zend_accelerator_hash.h"
 #include "zend_file_cache.h"
+#include "zend_system_id.h"
 #include "ext/pcre/php_pcre.h"
 #include "ext/standard/basic_functions.h"
 
@@ -3300,6 +3301,54 @@ static zend_result accel_post_startup(void)
 #endif
 		accel_shared_globals = calloc(1, sizeof(zend_accel_shared_globals));
 	}
+
+	/* opcache.file_cache_read_only should only be enabled when all script files are read-only */
+	int file_cache_access_mode = 0;
+
+	if (ZCG(accel_directives).file_cache_read_only) {
+		zend_accel_error(ACCEL_LOG_INFO, "opcache.file_cache is in read-only mode");
+
+		if (!ZCG(accel_directives).file_cache) {
+			accel_startup_ok = false;
+			zend_accel_error_noreturn(ACCEL_LOG_FATAL, "opcache.file_cache_read_only is set without a proper setting of opcache.file_cache");
+			return SUCCESS;
+		}
+
+		/* opcache.file_cache is read only, so ensure the directory is readable */
+#ifndef ZEND_WIN32
+		file_cache_access_mode = R_OK | X_OK;
+#else
+		file_cache_access_mode = 04; // Read access
+#endif
+	} else {
+		/* opcache.file_cache isn't read only, so ensure the directory is writable */
+#ifndef ZEND_WIN32
+		file_cache_access_mode = R_OK | W_OK | X_OK;
+#else
+		file_cache_access_mode = 06; // Read and write access
+#endif
+	}
+
+	if ( ZCG(accel_directives).file_cache ) {
+		zend_accel_error(ACCEL_LOG_INFO, "opcache.file_cache running with PHP build ID: %s", zend_system_id);
+
+		zend_stat_t buf = {0};
+
+		if (!IS_ABSOLUTE_PATH(ZCG(accel_directives).file_cache, strlen(ZCG(accel_directives).file_cache)) ||
+			zend_stat(ZCG(accel_directives).file_cache, &buf) != 0 ||
+			!S_ISDIR(buf.st_mode) ||
+#ifndef ZEND_WIN32
+			access(ZCG(accel_directives).file_cache, file_cache_access_mode) != 0
+#else
+			_access(ZCG(accel_directives).file_cache, file_cache_access_mode) != 0
+#endif
+			) {
+			accel_startup_ok = false;
+			zend_accel_error_noreturn(ACCEL_LOG_FATAL, "opcache.file_cache must be a full path of an accessible directory");
+			return SUCCESS;
+		}
+	}
+
 #if ENABLE_FILE_CACHE_FALLBACK
 file_cache_fallback:
 #endif
diff --git a/ext/opcache/ZendAccelerator.h b/ext/opcache/ZendAccelerator.h
index 162892bf2c279..3f7eb3bdf008f 100644
--- a/ext/opcache/ZendAccelerator.h
+++ b/ext/opcache/ZendAccelerator.h
@@ -177,6 +177,7 @@ typedef struct _zend_accel_directives {
 	char          *lockfile_path;
 #endif
 	char          *file_cache;
+	bool      file_cache_read_only;
 	bool      file_cache_only;
 	bool      file_cache_consistency_checks;
 #if ENABLE_FILE_CACHE_FALLBACK
diff --git a/ext/opcache/tests/zzz_basic_logging.phpt b/ext/opcache/tests/zzz_basic_logging.phpt
index 7490fadc62ef6..a53c6a8db9de1 100644
--- a/ext/opcache/tests/zzz_basic_logging.phpt
+++ b/ext/opcache/tests/zzz_basic_logging.phpt
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ outputs the correct logging at the highest log_verbosity_level
 --INI--
 opcache.enable=1
 opcache.enable_cli=1
+opcache.file_cache=
 opcache.file_cache_only=0
 opcache.error_log=
 opcache.log_verbosity_level=4
diff --git a/ext/opcache/zend_accelerator_module.c b/ext/opcache/zend_accelerator_module.c
index 2ed8155eff773..1b62b757b87d2 100644
--- a/ext/opcache/zend_accelerator_module.c
+++ b/ext/opcache/zend_accelerator_module.c
@@ -165,20 +165,6 @@ static ZEND_INI_MH(OnUpdateFileCache)
 	if (new_value) {
 		if (!ZSTR_LEN(new_value)) {
 			new_value = NULL;
-		} else {
-			zend_stat_t buf = {0};
-
-		    if (!IS_ABSOLUTE_PATH(ZSTR_VAL(new_value), ZSTR_LEN(new_value)) ||
-			    zend_stat(ZSTR_VAL(new_value), &buf) != 0 ||
-			    !S_ISDIR(buf.st_mode) ||
-#ifndef ZEND_WIN32
-				access(ZSTR_VAL(new_value), R_OK | W_OK | X_OK) != 0) {
-#else
-				_access(ZSTR_VAL(new_value), 06) != 0) {
-#endif
-				zend_accel_error(ACCEL_LOG_WARNING, "opcache.file_cache must be a full path of accessible directory.\n");
-				new_value = NULL;
-			}
 		}
 	}
 	OnUpdateString(entry, new_value, mh_arg1, mh_arg2, mh_arg3, stage);
@@ -312,6 +298,7 @@ ZEND_INI_BEGIN()
 #endif
 
 	STD_PHP_INI_ENTRY("opcache.file_cache"                    , NULL  , PHP_INI_SYSTEM, OnUpdateFileCache, accel_directives.file_cache,                    zend_accel_globals, accel_globals)
+	STD_PHP_INI_BOOLEAN("opcache.file_cache_read_only"          , "0"   , PHP_INI_SYSTEM, OnUpdateBool,    accel_directives.file_cache_read_only,          zend_accel_globals, accel_globals)
 	STD_PHP_INI_BOOLEAN("opcache.file_cache_only"               , "0"   , PHP_INI_SYSTEM, OnUpdateBool,	   accel_directives.file_cache_only,               zend_accel_globals, accel_globals)
 	STD_PHP_INI_BOOLEAN("opcache.file_cache_consistency_checks" , "1"   , PHP_INI_SYSTEM, OnUpdateBool,	   accel_directives.file_cache_consistency_checks, zend_accel_globals, accel_globals)
 #if ENABLE_FILE_CACHE_FALLBACK
@@ -823,6 +810,7 @@ ZEND_FUNCTION(opcache_get_configuration)
 #endif
 
 	add_assoc_string(&directives, "opcache.file_cache",                    ZCG(accel_directives).file_cache ? ZCG(accel_directives).file_cache : "");
+	add_assoc_bool(&directives,   "opcache.file_cache_read_only",          ZCG(accel_directives).file_cache_read_only);
 	add_assoc_bool(&directives,   "opcache.file_cache_only",               ZCG(accel_directives).file_cache_only);
 	add_assoc_bool(&directives,   "opcache.file_cache_consistency_checks", ZCG(accel_directives).file_cache_consistency_checks);
 #if ENABLE_FILE_CACHE_FALLBACK
diff --git a/ext/opcache/zend_file_cache.c b/ext/opcache/zend_file_cache.c
index 736d644516a04..fe54c477cea77 100644
--- a/ext/opcache/zend_file_cache.c
+++ b/ext/opcache/zend_file_cache.c
@@ -1100,6 +1100,10 @@ int zend_file_cache_script_store(zend_persistent_script *script, bool in_shm)
 	}
 #endif
 
+	if (ZCG(accel_directives).file_cache_read_only) {
+		return FAILURE;
+	}
+
 	filename = zend_file_cache_get_bin_file_path(script->script.filename);
 
 	if (zend_file_cache_mkdir(filename, strlen(ZCG(accel_directives).file_cache)) != SUCCESS) {
@@ -1843,7 +1847,9 @@ zend_persistent_script *zend_file_cache_script_load(zend_file_handle *file_handl
 		zend_accel_error(ACCEL_LOG_WARNING, "opcache cannot read from file '%s' (info)\n", filename);
 		zend_file_cache_flock(fd, LOCK_UN);
 		close(fd);
-		zend_file_cache_unlink(filename);
+		if (!ZCG(accel_directives).file_cache_read_only) {
+			zend_file_cache_unlink(filename);
+		}
 		efree(filename);
 		return NULL;
 	}
@@ -1853,7 +1859,9 @@ zend_persistent_script *zend_file_cache_script_load(zend_file_handle *file_handl
 		zend_accel_error(ACCEL_LOG_WARNING, "opcache cannot read from file '%s' (wrong header)\n", filename);
 		zend_file_cache_flock(fd, LOCK_UN);
 		close(fd);
-		zend_file_cache_unlink(filename);
+		if (!ZCG(accel_directives).file_cache_read_only) {
+			zend_file_cache_unlink(filename);
+		}
 		efree(filename);
 		return NULL;
 	}
@@ -1861,7 +1869,9 @@ zend_persistent_script *zend_file_cache_script_load(zend_file_handle *file_handl
 		zend_accel_error(ACCEL_LOG_WARNING, "opcache cannot read from file '%s' (wrong \"system_id\")\n", filename);
 		zend_file_cache_flock(fd, LOCK_UN);
 		close(fd);
-		zend_file_cache_unlink(filename);
+		if (!ZCG(accel_directives).file_cache_read_only) {
+			zend_file_cache_unlink(filename);
+		}
 		efree(filename);
 		return NULL;
 	}
@@ -1873,7 +1883,9 @@ zend_persistent_script *zend_file_cache_script_load(zend_file_handle *file_handl
 			zend_accel_error(ACCEL_LOG_WARNING, "opcache cannot unlock file '%s'\n", filename);
 		}
 		close(fd);
-		zend_file_cache_unlink(filename);
+		if (!ZCG(accel_directives).file_cache_read_only) {
+			zend_file_cache_unlink(filename);
+		}
 		efree(filename);
 		return NULL;
 	}
@@ -1891,7 +1903,9 @@ zend_persistent_script *zend_file_cache_script_load(zend_file_handle *file_handl
 		zend_accel_error(ACCEL_LOG_WARNING, "opcache cannot read from file '%s' (mem)\n", filename);
 		zend_file_cache_flock(fd, LOCK_UN);
 		close(fd);
-		zend_file_cache_unlink(filename);
+		if (!ZCG(accel_directives).file_cache_read_only) {
+			zend_file_cache_unlink(filename);
+		}
 		zend_arena_release(&CG(arena), checkpoint);
 		efree(filename);
 		return NULL;
@@ -1905,7 +1919,9 @@ zend_persistent_script *zend_file_cache_script_load(zend_file_handle *file_handl
 	if (ZCG(accel_directives).file_cache_consistency_checks &&
 	    (actual_checksum = zend_adler32(ADLER32_INIT, mem, info.mem_size + info.str_size)) != info.checksum) {
 		zend_accel_error(ACCEL_LOG_WARNING, "corrupted file '%s' excepted checksum: 0x%08x actual checksum: 0x%08x\n", filename, info.checksum, actual_checksum);
-		zend_file_cache_unlink(filename);
+		if (!ZCG(accel_directives).file_cache_read_only) {
+			zend_file_cache_unlink(filename);
+		}
 		zend_arena_release(&CG(arena), checkpoint);
 		efree(filename);
 		return NULL;
@@ -1997,6 +2013,10 @@ zend_persistent_script *zend_file_cache_script_load(zend_file_handle *file_handl
 
 void zend_file_cache_invalidate(zend_string *full_path)
 {
+	if (ZCG(accel_directives).file_cache_read_only) {
+		return;
+	}
+	
 	char *filename;
 
 	filename = zend_file_cache_get_bin_file_path(full_path);
diff --git a/php.ini-development b/php.ini-development
index 5adb11d215697..31353facdb394 100644
--- a/php.ini-development
+++ b/php.ini-development
@@ -1766,6 +1766,15 @@ ldap.max_links = -1
 ; SHM reset. The default "" disables file based caching.
 ;opcache.file_cache=
 
+; Enables or disables read-only mode for the second level cache directory.
+; It should improve performance for read-only containers,
+; when the cache is pre-warmed and packaged alongside the application.
+; Best used with `opcache.validate_timestamps=0`, `opcache.enable_file_override=1`
+; and `opcache.file_cache_consistency_checks=0`.
+; Note: A cache generated with a different build of PHP, a different file path,
+; or different settings (including which extensions are loaded), may be ignored.
+;opcache.file_cache_read_only=0
+
 ; Enables or disables opcode caching in shared memory.
 ;opcache.file_cache_only=0
 
diff --git a/php.ini-production b/php.ini-production
index e4ffc1084b13a..e4fbd6e785f86 100644
--- a/php.ini-production
+++ b/php.ini-production
@@ -1768,6 +1768,15 @@ ldap.max_links = -1
 ; SHM reset. The default "" disables file based caching.
 ;opcache.file_cache=
 
+; Enables or disables read-only mode for the second level cache directory.
+; It should improve performance for read-only containers,
+; when the cache is pre-warmed and packaged alongside the application.
+; Best used with `opcache.validate_timestamps=0`, `opcache.enable_file_override=1`
+; and `opcache.file_cache_consistency_checks=0`.
+; Note: A cache generated with a different build of PHP, a different file path,
+; or different settings (including which extensions are loaded), may be ignored.
+;opcache.file_cache_read_only=0
+
 ; Enables or disables opcode caching in shared memory.
 ;opcache.file_cache_only=0