diff --git a/Lib/fractions.py b/Lib/fractions.py
--- a/Lib/fractions.py
+++ b/Lib/fractions.py
@@ -450,13 +450,20 @@
         """
         if isinstance(b, numbers.Rational):
             if b.denominator == 1:
+                # Since a normalized fraction to an integer power
+                # is also a normalized fraction, we can skip the
+                # GCD computation and build the fraction directly.
                 power = b.numerator
                 if power >= 0:
-                    return Fraction(a._numerator ** power,
-                                    a._denominator ** power)
+                    f = Fraction(0, 1)
+                    f._numerator = a._numerator ** power
+                    f._denominator = a._denominator ** power
+                    return f
                 else:
-                    return Fraction(a._denominator ** -power,
-                                    a._numerator ** -power)
+                    f = Fraction(0, 1)
+                    f._numerator = a._denominator ** -power
+                    f._denominator = a._numerator ** -power
+                    return f
             else:
                 # A fractional power will generally produce an
                 # irrational number.