diff --git a/crates/uv-python/src/downloads.rs b/crates/uv-python/src/downloads.rs
index 6cd74e998e87d..1975a5a49dd9f 100644
--- a/crates/uv-python/src/downloads.rs
+++ b/crates/uv-python/src/downloads.rs
@@ -1609,16 +1609,16 @@ fn parse_json_downloads(
             };
 
             let arch_str = match entry.arch.family.as_str() {
-                "armv5tel" => "armv5te".to_string(),
+                "armv5tel" => Cow::Borrowed("armv5te"),
                 // The `gc` variant of riscv64 is the common base instruction set and
                 // is the target in `python-build-standalone`
                 // See https://github.com/astral-sh/python-build-standalone/issues/504
-                "riscv64" => "riscv64gc".to_string(),
-                value => value.to_string(),
+                "riscv64" => Cow::Borrowed("riscv64gc"),
+                value => Cow::Borrowed(value),
             };
 
             let arch_str = if let Some(variant) = entry.arch.variant {
-                format!("{arch_str}_{variant}")
+                Cow::Owned(format!("{arch_str}_{variant}"))
             } else {
                 arch_str
             };