if all partials AbstractZero don't call frule

src/stage1/forward.jl

@@ -109,14 +109,22 @@ function shuffle_base(r)
 end
 
 function (::∂☆internal{1})(args::AbstractTangentBundle{1}...)
-    r = frule(DiffractorRuleConfig(), map(first_partial, args), map(primal, args)...)
+    r = _frule(map(first_partial, args), map(primal, args)...)
     if r === nothing
         return ∂☆recurse{1}()(args...)
     else
         return shuffle_base(r)
     end
 end
 
+_frule(partials, primals...) = frule(DiffractorRuleConfig(), partials, primals...)
+function _frule(::NTuple{<:Any, AbstractZero}, f, primal_args...)
+    # frules are linear in partials, so zero maps to zero, no need to evaluate the frule
+    # If all partials are immutable AbstractZero subtyoes we know we don't have to worry about a mutating frule either
+    r = f(primal_args...)
+    return r, zero_tangent(r)
+end
+
 function ChainRulesCore.frule_via_ad(::DiffractorRuleConfig, partials, args...)
     bundles = map((p,a) -> ExplicitTangentBundle{1}(a, (p,)), partials, args)
     result = ∂☆internal{1}()(bundles...)