diff --git a/activerecord/lib/active_record/attribute_methods/dirty.rb b/activerecord/lib/active_record/attribute_methods/dirty.rb
index 948249a6fd..8c58e63931 100644
--- a/activerecord/lib/active_record/attribute_methods/dirty.rb
+++ b/activerecord/lib/active_record/attribute_methods/dirty.rb
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ def clear_changes_information
         clear_mutation_trackers
       end
 
-      def raw_write_attribute(attr_name, *)
+      def write_attribute_without_type_cast(attr_name, *)
         result = super
         clear_attribute_change(attr_name)
         result
diff --git a/activerecord/lib/active_record/attribute_methods/primary_key.rb b/activerecord/lib/active_record/attribute_methods/primary_key.rb
index b9b2acff37..081aad434d 100644
--- a/activerecord/lib/active_record/attribute_methods/primary_key.rb
+++ b/activerecord/lib/active_record/attribute_methods/primary_key.rb
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ def id
       # Sets the primary key value.
       def id=(value)
         sync_with_transaction_state
-        write_attribute(self.class.primary_key, value) if self.class.primary_key
+        _write_attribute(self.class.primary_key, value) if self.class.primary_key
       end
 
       # Queries the primary key value.
diff --git a/activerecord/lib/active_record/attribute_methods/write.rb b/activerecord/lib/active_record/attribute_methods/write.rb
index 75c5a1a600..54b673c72e 100644
--- a/activerecord/lib/active_record/attribute_methods/write.rb
+++ b/activerecord/lib/active_record/attribute_methods/write.rb
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ def define_method_attribute=(name)
             generated_attribute_methods.module_eval <<-STR, __FILE__, __LINE__ + 1
               def __temp__#{safe_name}=(value)
                 name = ::ActiveRecord::AttributeMethods::AttrNames::ATTR_#{safe_name}
-                write_attribute(name, value)
+                _write_attribute(name, value)
               end
               alias_method #{(name + '=').inspect}, :__temp__#{safe_name}=
               undef_method :__temp__#{safe_name}=
@@ -36,20 +36,26 @@ def write_attribute(attr_name, value)
         end
 
         name = self.class.primary_key if name == "id".freeze && self.class.primary_key
-        @attributes.write_from_user(name, value)
-        value
+        _write_attribute(name, value)
       end
 
-      def raw_write_attribute(attr_name, value) # :nodoc:
-        name = attr_name.to_s
-        @attributes.write_cast_value(name, value)
+      # This method exists to avoid the expensive primary_key check internally, without
+      # breaking compatibility with the write_attribute API
+      def _write_attribute(attr_name, value) # :nodoc:
+        @attributes.write_from_user(attr_name.to_s, value)
         value
       end
 
       private
+        def write_attribute_without_type_cast(attr_name, value)
+          name = attr_name.to_s
+          @attributes.write_cast_value(name, value)
+          value
+        end
+
         # Handle *= for method_missing.
         def attribute=(attribute_name, value)
-          write_attribute(attribute_name, value)
+          _write_attribute(attribute_name, value)
         end
     end
   end
diff --git a/activerecord/lib/active_record/inheritance.rb b/activerecord/lib/active_record/inheritance.rb
index 5776807507..1753322274 100644
--- a/activerecord/lib/active_record/inheritance.rb
+++ b/activerecord/lib/active_record/inheritance.rb
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ def initialize_internals_callback
       def ensure_proper_type
         klass = self.class
         if klass.finder_needs_type_condition?
-          write_attribute(klass.inheritance_column, klass.sti_name)
+          _write_attribute(klass.inheritance_column, klass.sti_name)
         end
       end
   end
diff --git a/activerecord/lib/active_record/persistence.rb b/activerecord/lib/active_record/persistence.rb
index b2dba5516e..a9509e562a 100644
--- a/activerecord/lib/active_record/persistence.rb
+++ b/activerecord/lib/active_record/persistence.rb
@@ -333,7 +333,7 @@ def update_columns(attributes)
       updated_count = self.class.unscoped.where(self.class.primary_key => id).update_all(attributes)
 
       attributes.each do |k, v|
-        raw_write_attribute(k, v)
+        write_attribute_without_type_cast(k, v)
       end
 
       updated_count == 1
diff --git a/activerecord/lib/active_record/timestamp.rb b/activerecord/lib/active_record/timestamp.rb
index dc4540eea6..26eea0bc24 100644
--- a/activerecord/lib/active_record/timestamp.rb
+++ b/activerecord/lib/active_record/timestamp.rb
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ def _create_record
 
         all_timestamp_attributes_in_model.each do |column|
           if !attribute_present?(column)
-            write_attribute(column, current_time)
+            _write_attribute(column, current_time)
           end
         end
       end
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ def _update_record(*args, touch: true, **options)
 
         timestamp_attributes_for_update_in_model.each do |column|
           next if will_save_change_to_attribute?(column)
-          write_attribute(column, current_time)
+          _write_attribute(column, current_time)
         end
       end
       super(*args)