diff --git a/src/backend/executor/nodeAgg.c b/src/backend/executor/nodeAgg.c
index ef35da6ade6..0109aee1fd8 100644
--- a/src/backend/executor/nodeAgg.c
+++ b/src/backend/executor/nodeAgg.c
@@ -666,6 +666,9 @@ initialize_phase(AggState *aggstate, int newphase)
  * Fetch a tuple from either the outer plan (for phase 1) or from the sorter
  * populated by the previous phase.  Copy it to the sorter for the next phase
  * if any.
+ *
+ * Callers cannot rely on memory for tuple in returned slot remaining valid
+ * past any subsequently fetched tuple.
  */
 static TupleTableSlot *
 fetch_input_tuple(AggState *aggstate)
@@ -674,8 +677,8 @@ fetch_input_tuple(AggState *aggstate)
 
 	if (aggstate->sort_in)
 	{
-		if (!tuplesort_gettupleslot(aggstate->sort_in, true, aggstate->sort_slot,
-									NULL))
+		if (!tuplesort_gettupleslot(aggstate->sort_in, true, false,
+									aggstate->sort_slot, NULL))
 			return NULL;
 		slot = aggstate->sort_slot;
 	}
@@ -1409,7 +1412,7 @@ process_ordered_aggregate_multi(AggState *aggstate,
 		ExecClearTuple(slot2);
 
 	while (tuplesort_gettupleslot(pertrans->sortstates[aggstate->current_set],
-								  true, slot1, &newAbbrevVal))
+								  true, true, slot1, &newAbbrevVal))
 	{
 		/*
 		 * Extract the first numTransInputs columns as datums to pass to the
diff --git a/src/backend/executor/nodeSort.c b/src/backend/executor/nodeSort.c
index 591a31aa6ab..924b458df87 100644
--- a/src/backend/executor/nodeSort.c
+++ b/src/backend/executor/nodeSort.c
@@ -132,12 +132,13 @@ ExecSort(SortState *node)
 
 	/*
 	 * Get the first or next tuple from tuplesort. Returns NULL if no more
-	 * tuples.
+	 * tuples.  Note that we only rely on slot tuple remaining valid until the
+	 * next fetch from the tuplesort.
 	 */
 	slot = node->ss.ps.ps_ResultTupleSlot;
 	(void) tuplesort_gettupleslot(tuplesortstate,
 								  ScanDirectionIsForward(dir),
-								  slot, NULL);
+								  false, slot, NULL);
 	return slot;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/backend/utils/adt/orderedsetaggs.c b/src/backend/utils/adt/orderedsetaggs.c
index e462fbd539d..8502fcfc82e 100644
--- a/src/backend/utils/adt/orderedsetaggs.c
+++ b/src/backend/utils/adt/orderedsetaggs.c
@@ -1190,7 +1190,7 @@ hypothetical_rank_common(FunctionCallInfo fcinfo, int flag,
 	tuplesort_performsort(osastate->sortstate);
 
 	/* iterate till we find the hypothetical row */
-	while (tuplesort_gettupleslot(osastate->sortstate, true, slot, NULL))
+	while (tuplesort_gettupleslot(osastate->sortstate, true, true, slot, NULL))
 	{
 		bool		isnull;
 		Datum		d = slot_getattr(slot, nargs + 1, &isnull);
@@ -1353,7 +1353,8 @@ hypothetical_dense_rank_final(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS)
 	slot2 = extraslot;
 
 	/* iterate till we find the hypothetical row */
-	while (tuplesort_gettupleslot(osastate->sortstate, true, slot, &abbrevVal))
+	while (tuplesort_gettupleslot(osastate->sortstate, true, true, slot,
+								  &abbrevVal))
 	{
 		bool		isnull;
 		Datum		d = slot_getattr(slot, nargs + 1, &isnull);
diff --git a/src/backend/utils/sort/tuplesort.c b/src/backend/utils/sort/tuplesort.c
index 65cda52714b..5f62cd5962a 100644
--- a/src/backend/utils/sort/tuplesort.c
+++ b/src/backend/utils/sort/tuplesort.c
@@ -1852,7 +1852,8 @@ tuplesort_performsort(Tuplesortstate *state)
  * Internal routine to fetch the next tuple in either forward or back
  * direction into *stup.  Returns FALSE if no more tuples.
  * Returned tuple belongs to tuplesort memory context, and must not be freed
- * by caller.  Caller should not use tuple following next call here.
+ * by caller.  Note that fetched tuple is stored in memory that may be
+ * recycled by any future fetch.
  */
 static bool
 tuplesort_gettuple_common(Tuplesortstate *state, bool forward,
@@ -2101,12 +2102,15 @@ tuplesort_gettuple_common(Tuplesortstate *state, bool forward,
  * NULL value in leading attribute will set abbreviated value to zeroed
  * representation, which caller may rely on in abbreviated inequality check.
  *
- * The slot receives a copied tuple (sometimes allocated in caller memory
- * context) that will stay valid regardless of future manipulations of the
- * tuplesort's state.
+ * If copy is true, the slot receives a copied tuple that'll that will stay
+ * valid regardless of future manipulations of the tuplesort's state.  Memory
+ * is owned by the caller.  If copy is false, the slot will just receive a
+ * pointer to a tuple held within the tuplesort, which is more efficient, but
+ * only safe for callers that are prepared to have any subsequent manipulation
+ * of the tuplesort's state invalidate slot contents.
  */
 bool
-tuplesort_gettupleslot(Tuplesortstate *state, bool forward,
+tuplesort_gettupleslot(Tuplesortstate *state, bool forward, bool copy,
 					   TupleTableSlot *slot, Datum *abbrev)
 {
 	MemoryContext oldcontext = MemoryContextSwitchTo(state->sortcontext);
@@ -2123,8 +2127,10 @@ tuplesort_gettupleslot(Tuplesortstate *state, bool forward,
 		if (state->sortKeys->abbrev_converter && abbrev)
 			*abbrev = stup.datum1;
 
-		stup.tuple = heap_copy_minimal_tuple((MinimalTuple) stup.tuple);
-		ExecStoreMinimalTuple((MinimalTuple) stup.tuple, slot, true);
+		if (copy)
+			stup.tuple = heap_copy_minimal_tuple((MinimalTuple) stup.tuple);
+
+		ExecStoreMinimalTuple((MinimalTuple) stup.tuple, slot, copy);
 		return true;
 	}
 	else
@@ -2137,8 +2143,8 @@ tuplesort_gettupleslot(Tuplesortstate *state, bool forward,
 /*
  * Fetch the next tuple in either forward or back direction.
  * Returns NULL if no more tuples.  Returned tuple belongs to tuplesort memory
- * context, and must not be freed by caller.  Caller should not use tuple
- * following next call here.
+ * context, and must not be freed by caller.  Caller may not rely on tuple
+ * remaining valid after any further manipulation of tuplesort.
  */
 HeapTuple
 tuplesort_getheaptuple(Tuplesortstate *state, bool forward)
@@ -2157,8 +2163,8 @@ tuplesort_getheaptuple(Tuplesortstate *state, bool forward)
 /*
  * Fetch the next index tuple in either forward or back direction.
  * Returns NULL if no more tuples.  Returned tuple belongs to tuplesort memory
- * context, and must not be freed by caller.  Caller should not use tuple
- * following next call here.
+ * context, and must not be freed by caller.  Caller may not rely on tuple
+ * remaining valid after any further manipulation of tuplesort.
  */
 IndexTuple
 tuplesort_getindextuple(Tuplesortstate *state, bool forward)
diff --git a/src/include/utils/tuplesort.h b/src/include/utils/tuplesort.h
index 9719db42b94..14b9026fb7f 100644
--- a/src/include/utils/tuplesort.h
+++ b/src/include/utils/tuplesort.h
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ extern void tuplesort_putdatum(Tuplesortstate *state, Datum val,
 extern void tuplesort_performsort(Tuplesortstate *state);
 
 extern bool tuplesort_gettupleslot(Tuplesortstate *state, bool forward,
-					   TupleTableSlot *slot, Datum *abbrev);
+					   bool copy, TupleTableSlot *slot, Datum *abbrev);
 extern HeapTuple tuplesort_getheaptuple(Tuplesortstate *state, bool forward);
 extern IndexTuple tuplesort_getindextuple(Tuplesortstate *state, bool forward);
 extern bool tuplesort_getdatum(Tuplesortstate *state, bool forward,