diff --git a/crates/cargo-oxide/src/commands/context.rs b/crates/cargo-oxide/src/commands/context.rs
index 7ec0f9a85b..100cc5d01e 100644
--- a/crates/cargo-oxide/src/commands/context.rs
+++ b/crates/cargo-oxide/src/commands/context.rs
@@ -97,8 +97,8 @@ pub fn resolve_context() -> Context {
 /// only located via [`backend::backend_so_candidate`], never built and never
 /// cloned, and an invalid `.cargo/cuda-oxide.toml` degrades to defaults with
 /// a warning instead of exiting (so `doctor` can report it as a failed
-/// check). Passive commands such as `doctor` and `clean` must remain usable
-/// without triggering backend setup or network access.
+/// check). Passive commands such as `doctor`, `clean`, `list` and `fmt` must
+/// remain usable without triggering backend setup or network access.
 /// `run`/`build`/`pipeline`/`setup` still build the backend on demand.
 pub fn resolve_passive_context() -> Context {
     if let Some(workspace_root) = backend::find_workspace_root() {
diff --git a/crates/cargo-oxide/src/main.rs b/crates/cargo-oxide/src/main.rs
index 8f1b2ef349..32bfa3eec8 100644
--- a/crates/cargo-oxide/src/main.rs
+++ b/crates/cargo-oxide/src/main.rs
@@ -1035,7 +1035,12 @@ fn main() {
             commands::list_examples(&ctx, json);
         }
         Commands::Fmt { check } => {
-            let ctx = commands::resolve_context();
+            // Formatting compiles no device code. `format_all` reads only
+            // `workspace_root`, `codegen_crate` and `examples_dir`, which the
+            // passive resolver fills in identically, so eager resolution only
+            // added a backend build -- and a clone on a fresh checkout -- ahead
+            // of the first file being formatted.
+            let ctx = commands::resolve_passive_context();
             commands::format_all(&ctx, check);
         }
         Commands::New { name, async_mode } => {