diff --git a/cmd/cli/commands/bench.go b/cmd/cli/commands/bench.go
index f5a90c23..c8b9a546 100644
--- a/cmd/cli/commands/bench.go
+++ b/cmd/cli/commands/bench.go
@@ -83,11 +83,6 @@ measuring the tokens per second (TPS) that the model can generate.`,
 				return handleClientError(err, "Failed to inspect model")
 			}
 
-			// Ensure model runner is available
-			if _, err := ensureStandaloneRunnerAvailable(cmd.Context(), asPrinter(cmd), false); err != nil {
-				return fmt.Errorf("unable to initialize standalone model runner: %w", err)
-			}
-
 			if !jsonOutput {
 				fmt.Printf("Prompt: %s\n", prompt)
 				fmt.Printf("Duration: %v per concurrency level\n", duration)
diff --git a/cmd/cli/commands/compose.go b/cmd/cli/commands/compose.go
index d71ebef4..fc2a44e4 100644
--- a/cmd/cli/commands/compose.go
+++ b/cmd/cli/commands/compose.go
@@ -53,13 +53,13 @@ func newUpCommand() *cobra.Command {
 
 			sendInfo("Initializing model runner...")
 			kind := modelRunner.EngineKind()
-			standalone, err := ensureStandaloneRunnerAvailable(cmd.Context(), nil, false)
+			runner, err := getStandaloneRunner(cmd.Context())
 			if err != nil {
-				_ = sendErrorf("Failed to initialize standalone model runner: %v", err)
-				return fmt.Errorf("Failed to initialize standalone model runner: %w", err)
+				_ = sendErrorf("Failed to get standalone model runner info: %v", err)
+				return fmt.Errorf("Failed to get standalone model runner info: %w", err)
 			} else if ((kind == types.ModelRunnerEngineKindMoby || kind == types.ModelRunnerEngineKindCloud) &&
-				standalone == nil) ||
-				(standalone != nil && (standalone.gatewayIP == "" || standalone.gatewayPort == 0)) {
+				runner == nil) ||
+				(runner != nil && (runner.gatewayIP == "" || runner.gatewayPort == 0)) {
 				return errors.New("unable to determine standalone runner endpoint")
 			}
 
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ func newUpCommand() *cobra.Command {
 			case types.ModelRunnerEngineKindCloud:
 				fallthrough
 			case types.ModelRunnerEngineKindMoby:
-				_ = setenv("URL", "http://"+net.JoinHostPort(standalone.gatewayIP, strconv.Itoa(int(standalone.gatewayPort)))+"/engines/v1/")
+				_ = setenv("URL", "http://"+net.JoinHostPort(runner.gatewayIP, strconv.Itoa(int(runner.gatewayPort)))+"/engines/v1/")
 			default:
 				return fmt.Errorf("unhandled engine kind: %v", kind)
 			}
diff --git a/cmd/cli/commands/inspect.go b/cmd/cli/commands/inspect.go
index 3d715c84..ff877398 100644
--- a/cmd/cli/commands/inspect.go
+++ b/cmd/cli/commands/inspect.go
@@ -18,9 +18,6 @@ func newInspectCmd() *cobra.Command {
 		Short: "Display detailed information on one model",
 		Args:  requireExactArgs(1, "inspect", "MODEL"),
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
-			if _, err := ensureStandaloneRunnerAvailable(cmd.Context(), asPrinter(cmd), false); err != nil {
-				return fmt.Errorf("unable to initialize standalone model runner: %w", err)
-			}
 			if openai && remote {
 				return fmt.Errorf("--remote flag cannot be used with --openai flag")
 			}
diff --git a/cmd/cli/commands/install-runner.go b/cmd/cli/commands/install-runner.go
index ef9a1363..597ffd39 100644
--- a/cmd/cli/commands/install-runner.go
+++ b/cmd/cli/commands/install-runner.go
@@ -163,6 +163,53 @@ func ensureStandaloneRunnerAvailable(ctx context.Context, printer standalone.Sta
 	return inspectStandaloneRunner(container), nil
 }
 
+// withStandaloneRunner wraps a command's RunE to ensure the standalone runner
+// is available before executing the command. This is a no-op in unsupported
+// contexts (e.g., Docker Desktop) or if automatic installations have been disabled.
+func withStandaloneRunner(cmd *cobra.Command) *cobra.Command {
+	if cmd.RunE == nil {
+		return cmd
+	}
+	originalRunE := cmd.RunE
+	cmd.RunE = func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+		if _, err := ensureStandaloneRunnerAvailable(cmd.Context(), asPrinter(cmd), false); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("unable to initialize standalone model runner: %w", err)
+		}
+		return originalRunE(cmd, args)
+	}
+	return cmd
+}
+
+// getStandaloneRunner returns the standalone runner info by finding the controller container.
+// This is useful for commands that need runner details after withStandaloneRunner has run.
+// Returns nil for non-standalone contexts (e.g., Docker Desktop).
+func getStandaloneRunner(ctx context.Context) (*standaloneRunner, error) {
+	// Only standalone contexts have a runner container to inspect.
+	engineKind := modelRunner.EngineKind()
+	standaloneSupported := engineKind == types.ModelRunnerEngineKindMoby ||
+		engineKind == types.ModelRunnerEngineKindCloud
+	if !standaloneSupported {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+
+	if dockerCLI == nil {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+
+	dockerClient, err := desktop.DockerClientForContext(dockerCLI, dockerCLI.CurrentContext())
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to create Docker client: %w", err)
+	}
+	containerID, _, ctr, err := standalone.FindControllerContainer(ctx, dockerClient)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unable to find standalone model runner: %w", err)
+	}
+	if containerID == "" {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+	return inspectStandaloneRunner(ctr), nil
+}
+
 // runnerOptions holds common configuration for install/start/reinstall commands
 type runnerOptions struct {
 	port            uint16
diff --git a/cmd/cli/commands/pull.go b/cmd/cli/commands/pull.go
index 09d8474b..6de1676f 100644
--- a/cmd/cli/commands/pull.go
+++ b/cmd/cli/commands/pull.go
@@ -1,11 +1,8 @@
 package commands
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
-
 	"github.com/docker/model-runner/cmd/cli/commands/completion"
 	"github.com/docker/model-runner/cmd/cli/desktop"
-
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 )
 
@@ -15,9 +12,6 @@ func newPullCmd() *cobra.Command {
 		Short: "Pull a model from Docker Hub or HuggingFace to your local environment",
 		Args:  requireExactArgs(1, "pull", "MODEL"),
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
-			if _, err := ensureStandaloneRunnerAvailable(cmd.Context(), asPrinter(cmd), false); err != nil {
-				return fmt.Errorf("unable to initialize standalone model runner: %w", err)
-			}
 			return pullModel(cmd, desktopClient, args[0])
 		},
 		ValidArgsFunction: completion.NoComplete,
diff --git a/cmd/cli/commands/push.go b/cmd/cli/commands/push.go
index 86452d6c..a2c5bcff 100644
--- a/cmd/cli/commands/push.go
+++ b/cmd/cli/commands/push.go
@@ -1,11 +1,8 @@
 package commands
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
-
 	"github.com/docker/model-runner/cmd/cli/commands/completion"
 	"github.com/docker/model-runner/cmd/cli/desktop"
-
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 )
 
@@ -15,9 +12,6 @@ func newPushCmd() *cobra.Command {
 		Short: "Push a model to Docker Hub",
 		Args:  requireExactArgs(1, "push", "MODEL"),
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
-			if _, err := ensureStandaloneRunnerAvailable(cmd.Context(), asPrinter(cmd), false); err != nil {
-				return fmt.Errorf("unable to initialize standalone model runner: %w", err)
-			}
 			return pushModel(cmd, desktopClient, args[0])
 		},
 		ValidArgsFunction: completion.NoComplete,
diff --git a/cmd/cli/commands/requests.go b/cmd/cli/commands/requests.go
index 76175c3b..f5632ca9 100644
--- a/cmd/cli/commands/requests.go
+++ b/cmd/cli/commands/requests.go
@@ -25,10 +25,6 @@ func newRequestsCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			return nil
 		},
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
-			if _, err := ensureStandaloneRunnerAvailable(cmd.Context(), asPrinter(cmd), false); err != nil {
-				return fmt.Errorf("unable to initialize standalone model runner: %w", err)
-			}
-
 			responseBody, cancel, err := desktopClient.Requests(model, follow, includeExisting)
 			if err != nil {
 				errMsg := "Failed to get requests"
diff --git a/cmd/cli/commands/rm.go b/cmd/cli/commands/rm.go
index 752b7445..bbcf0d37 100644
--- a/cmd/cli/commands/rm.go
+++ b/cmd/cli/commands/rm.go
@@ -1,10 +1,7 @@
 package commands
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
-
 	"github.com/docker/model-runner/cmd/cli/commands/completion"
-
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 )
 
@@ -16,9 +13,6 @@ func newRemoveCmd() *cobra.Command {
 		Short: "Remove local models downloaded from Docker Hub",
 		Args:  requireMinArgs(1, "rm", "[MODEL...]"),
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
-			if _, err := ensureStandaloneRunnerAvailable(cmd.Context(), asPrinter(cmd), false); err != nil {
-				return fmt.Errorf("unable to initialize standalone model runner: %w", err)
-			}
 			response, err := desktopClient.Remove(args, force)
 			if response != "" {
 				cmd.Print(response)
diff --git a/cmd/cli/commands/root.go b/cmd/cli/commands/root.go
index 37e691e3..72c2e7d6 100644
--- a/cmd/cli/commands/root.go
+++ b/cmd/cli/commands/root.go
@@ -84,26 +84,29 @@ func NewRootCmd(cli *command.DockerCli) *cobra.Command {
 		globalOptions.InstallFlags(rootCmd.Flags())
 	}
 
-	// Add subcommands.
+	// Runner management commands - these manage the runner itself and don't need automatic runner initialization.
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(
 		newVersionCmd(),
+		newInstallRunner(),
+		newUninstallRunner(),
+		newStartRunner(),
+		newStopRunner(),
+		newRestartRunner(),
+		newReinstallRunner(),
+	)
+
+	// Commands that require a running model runner. These are wrapped to ensure the standalone runner is available.
+	for _, cmd := range []*cobra.Command{
 		newStatusCmd(),
 		newPullCmd(),
 		newPushCmd(),
 		newPackagedCmd(),
 		newListCmd(),
 		newLogsCmd(),
-		newRunCmd(),
 		newRemoveCmd(),
 		newInspectCmd(),
 		newComposeCmd(),
 		newTagCmd(),
-		newInstallRunner(),
-		newUninstallRunner(),
-		newStartRunner(),
-		newStopRunner(),
-		newRestartRunner(),
-		newReinstallRunner(),
 		newConfigureCmd(),
 		newPSCmd(),
 		newDFCmd(),
@@ -111,6 +114,12 @@ func NewRootCmd(cli *command.DockerCli) *cobra.Command {
 		newRequestsCmd(),
 		newPurgeCmd(),
 		newBenchCmd(),
-	)
+	} {
+		rootCmd.AddCommand(withStandaloneRunner(cmd))
+	}
+
+	// run command handles standalone runner initialization itself (needs debug flag)
+	rootCmd.AddCommand(newRunCmd())
+
 	return rootCmd
 }
diff --git a/cmd/cli/commands/run.go b/cmd/cli/commands/run.go
index 125d982a..a3bb764b 100644
--- a/cmd/cli/commands/run.go
+++ b/cmd/cli/commands/run.go
@@ -586,6 +586,10 @@ func newRunCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			}
 		},
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+			if _, err := ensureStandaloneRunnerAvailable(cmd.Context(), asPrinter(cmd), debug); err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("unable to initialize standalone model runner: %w", err)
+			}
+
 			model := args[0]
 			prompt := ""
 			argsLen := len(args)
@@ -675,10 +679,6 @@ func newRunCmd() *cobra.Command {
 				return nil
 			}
 
-			if _, err := ensureStandaloneRunnerAvailable(cmd.Context(), asPrinter(cmd), debug); err != nil {
-				return fmt.Errorf("unable to initialize standalone model runner: %w", err)
-			}
-
 			_, err := desktopClient.Inspect(model, false)
 			if err != nil {
 				if !errors.Is(err, desktop.ErrNotFound) {
diff --git a/cmd/cli/commands/status.go b/cmd/cli/commands/status.go
index 20ff5f9d..8f994fb6 100644
--- a/cmd/cli/commands/status.go
+++ b/cmd/cli/commands/status.go
@@ -21,9 +21,9 @@ func newStatusCmd() *cobra.Command {
 		Use:   "status",
 		Short: "Check if the Docker Model Runner is running",
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
-			runner, err := ensureStandaloneRunnerAvailable(cmd.Context(), asPrinter(cmd), false)
+			runner, err := getStandaloneRunner(cmd.Context())
 			if err != nil {
-				return fmt.Errorf("unable to initialize standalone model runner: %w", err)
+				return fmt.Errorf("unable to get standalone model runner info: %w", err)
 			}
 			status := desktopClient.Status()
 			if status.Error != nil {
diff --git a/cmd/cli/commands/tag.go b/cmd/cli/commands/tag.go
index da321b1e..b8c6e0ea 100644
--- a/cmd/cli/commands/tag.go
+++ b/cmd/cli/commands/tag.go
@@ -17,9 +17,6 @@ func newTagCmd() *cobra.Command {
 		Short: "Tag a model",
 		Args:  requireExactArgs(2, "tag", "SOURCE TARGET"),
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
-			if _, err := ensureStandaloneRunnerAvailable(cmd.Context(), asPrinter(cmd), false); err != nil {
-				return fmt.Errorf("unable to initialize standalone model runner: %w", err)
-			}
 			return tagModel(cmd, desktopClient, args[0], args[1])
 		},
 		ValidArgsFunction: completion.ModelNames(getDesktopClient, 1),