diff --git a/scripts/source/load_sources.sh b/scripts/source/load_sources.sh
index be70687..465459c 100755
--- a/scripts/source/load_sources.sh
+++ b/scripts/source/load_sources.sh
@@ -41,9 +41,19 @@ fi
 
 # For starting the script
 if [[ $init_run_flag == "true" ]]; then
-    # For loading LibrePortal
+    # For loading LibrePortal as a long-running process (task processor,
+    # WebUI service). Eager loading wins here — the process keeps running,
+    # so first call to anything should be hot. LP_LAZY stays unset.
     sourceCheckFiles "run";
 elif [[ $init_run_flag == "false" ]]; then
-    # For using the CLI
+    # For one-shot CLI invocations. Default LP_LAZY=1 so short commands
+    # (`libreportal help`, `peer list`, etc.) only source the ~8 files with
+    # top-level side effects + the function manifest stubs, deferring the
+    # ~420 pure function libs until something actually calls them. ~34%
+    # wall-time savings on a no-op command in measurement (Phase 4 of the
+    # lazy-load work). Explicit `LP_LAZY=0 libreportal …` still works for
+    # debugging or for catching a stale manifest.
+    : "${LP_LAZY:=1}"
+    export LP_LAZY
     sourceCheckFiles "cli";
 fi
\ No newline at end of file