diff --git a/examples/entrypoint/experiment.py b/examples/entrypoint/experiment.py
index 875d32b6..3e341957 100644
--- a/examples/entrypoint/experiment.py
+++ b/examples/entrypoint/experiment.py
@@ -104,4 +104,4 @@ def train_models_experiment(
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
-    run.cli.main(train_models_experiment)
+    run.cli.main(train_models_experiment, default_executor=local_executor())
diff --git a/nemo_run/cli/api.py b/nemo_run/cli/api.py
index 760f29b5..a738cd96 100644
--- a/nemo_run/cli/api.py
+++ b/nemo_run/cli/api.py
@@ -1232,10 +1232,28 @@ def parse_fn(self, fn: T, args: List[str], **default_kwargs) -> Partial[T]:
         Returns:
             Partial[T]: A Partial object representing the parsed function and arguments.
         """
-        output = LazyEntrypoint(fn, factory=self.factory, yaml=self.yaml, overwrites=args)
-        out = output.resolve()
+        lazy = LazyEntrypoint(
+            fn,
+            factory=self.factory,
+            yaml=self.yaml,
+            overwrites=args,
+        )
 
-        return out
+        # Resolve exactly once and always pass the current RunContext
+        # NOTE: `LazyEntrypoint.resolve` calls `parse_factory` if
+        # `lazy._factory_` is a string.  `parse_cli_args` that follows inside
+        # `resolve` used to see the **same** string and call `parse_factory`
+        # a second time.  We temporarily clear `_factory_` right after the
+        # first resolution so that it cannot be triggered again.
+
+        _orig_factory = lazy._factory_
+        try:
+            result = lazy.resolve(ctx=self)
+        finally:
+            # Restore for potential further use
+            lazy._factory_ = _orig_factory
+
+        return result
 
     def _parse_partial(self, fn: Callable, args: List[str], **default_args) -> Partial[T]:
         """
diff --git a/nemo_run/cli/lazy.py b/nemo_run/cli/lazy.py
index 8bf00c38..ab303a91 100644
--- a/nemo_run/cli/lazy.py
+++ b/nemo_run/cli/lazy.py
@@ -7,9 +7,10 @@
 import shlex
 import sys
 from dataclasses import dataclass, field
+import inspect
 from pathlib import Path
 from types import ModuleType
-from typing import Any, Callable, Iterator
+from typing import Any, Callable, Iterator, Optional, TYPE_CHECKING
 
 from fiddle import Buildable, daglish
 from fiddle._src import signatures
@@ -19,6 +20,9 @@
 
 from nemo_run.config import Partial
 
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from nemo_run.cli.cli_parser import RunContext
+
 
 @contextlib.contextmanager
 def lazy_imports(fallback_to_lazy: bool = False) -> Iterator[None]:
@@ -142,7 +146,7 @@ def __init__(
         if remaining_overwrites:
             self._add_overwrite(*remaining_overwrites)
 
-    def resolve(self) -> Partial:
+    def resolve(self, ctx: Optional["RunContext"] = None) -> Partial:
         from nemo_run.cli.cli_parser import parse_cli_args, parse_factory
 
         fn = self._target_
@@ -160,12 +164,26 @@ def resolve(self) -> Partial:
             if isinstance(fn, LazyTarget):
                 fn = fn.target
 
+        _fn = fn
+        if hasattr(fn, "__fn_or_cls__"):
+            _fn = fn.__fn_or_cls__
+
+        sig = inspect.signature(_fn)
+        param_names = sig.parameters.keys()
+
         dotlist = dictconfig_to_dot_list(
             _args_to_dictconfig(self._args_), has_factory=self._factory_ is not None
         )
         _args = [f"{name}{op}{value}" for name, op, value in dotlist]
 
-        return parse_cli_args(fn, _args)
+        out = parse_cli_args(fn, _args)
+
+        if "ctx" in param_names:
+            if not ctx:
+                raise ValueError("ctx is required for this function")
+            out.ctx = ctx
+
+        return out
 
     def __getattr__(self, item: str) -> "LazyEntrypoint":
         """