diff --git a/sanic/sanic.py b/sanic/sanic.py
index 08c637fe..98bea9f9 100644
--- a/sanic/sanic.py
+++ b/sanic/sanic.py
@@ -98,12 +98,14 @@ class Sanic:
         try:
             # Middleware process_request
             response = None
-            for middleware in self.request_middleware:
-                response = middleware(request)
-                if isawaitable(response):
-                    response = await response
-                if response is not None:
-                    break
+            # The if improves speed.  I don't know why
+            if self.request_middleware:
+                for middleware in self.request_middleware:
+                    response = middleware(request)
+                    if isawaitable(response):
+                        response = await response
+                    if response is not None:
+                        break
 
             # No middleware results
             if response is None:
@@ -118,13 +120,14 @@ class Sanic:
                     response = await response
 
                 # Middleware process_response
-                for middleware in self.response_middleware:
-                    _response = middleware(request, response)
-                    if isawaitable(_response):
-                        _response = await _response
-                    if _response is not None:
-                        response = _response
-                        break
+                if self.response_middleware:
+                    for middleware in self.response_middleware:
+                        _response = middleware(request, response)
+                        if isawaitable(_response):
+                            _response = await _response
+                        if _response is not None:
+                            response = _response
+                            break
 
         except Exception as e:
             try:
diff --git a/tests/performance/sanic/simple_server.py b/tests/performance/sanic/simple_server.py
index 443402db..5d92364d 100644
--- a/tests/performance/sanic/simple_server.py
+++ b/tests/performance/sanic/simple_server.py
@@ -14,8 +14,4 @@ app = Sanic("test")
 async def test(request):
     return json({ "test": True })
 
-@app.route("/file")
-async def test(request):
-    return json({ "test": True, "files": request.files, "fields": request.form })
-
 app.run(host="0.0.0.0", port=sys.argv[1])
\ No newline at end of file