diff --git a/src/prov/model.py b/src/prov/model.py
index 186ac43..5df3b60 100644
--- a/src/prov/model.py
+++ b/src/prov/model.py
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@
 PROV-JSON: https://openprovenance.org/prov-json/
 """
 from collections import defaultdict
-from copy import deepcopy
 import datetime
 import io
 import itertools
@@ -1177,8 +1176,8 @@ def valid_qualified_name(self, qname):
                     # reuse the existing namespace
                     new_qname = existing_ns[local_part]
             else:
-                # Do not reuse the namespace object
-                ns = self.add_namespace(deepcopy(namespace))
+                # Do not reuse the namespace object, making an identical copy
+                ns = self.add_namespace(Namespace(namespace.prefix, namespace.uri))
                 # minting the same Qualified Name from the namespace's copy
                 new_qname = ns[qname.localpart]
             # returning the new qname