diff --git a/packages/cli/src/registry/validation.startup.test.ts b/packages/cli/src/registry/validation.startup.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..87c95083d6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/cli/src/registry/validation.startup.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+import { expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+
+const compiles = vi.hoisted(() => ({ count: 0 }));
+
+vi.mock("ajv/dist/2020.js", async (importOriginal) => {
+  const real = await importOriginal<typeof import("ajv/dist/2020.js")>();
+  const compile = real.Ajv2020.prototype.compile;
+  real.Ajv2020.prototype.compile = function (this: unknown, ...args: unknown[]) {
+    compiles.count += 1;
+    return Reflect.apply(compile, this, args);
+  } as typeof compile;
+  return { ...real };
+});
+
+it("compiles the registry schemas on first use, not when the module is imported", async () => {
+  const { validRegistryItem } = await import("./validation.js");
+  expect(compiles.count).toBe(0);
+
+  validRegistryItem({}, "demo", "hyperframes:component");
+  expect(compiles.count).toBe(2);
+
+  validRegistryItem({}, "demo", "hyperframes:component");
+  expect(compiles.count).toBe(2);
+});
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/registry/validation.ts b/packages/cli/src/registry/validation.ts
index cad89a406e..974924ae5a 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/registry/validation.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/registry/validation.ts
@@ -3,9 +3,14 @@ import registrySchema from "@hyperframes/core/schemas/registry.json";
 import itemSchema from "@hyperframes/core/schemas/registry-item.json";
 import type { RegistryManifest, RegistryItem, ItemType } from "@hyperframes/core";
 
-const ajv = new Ajv2020({ strict: false, validateFormats: false });
-const manifestShape = ajv.compile<RegistryManifest>(registrySchema);
-const itemShape = ajv.compile<RegistryItem>(itemSchema);
+function compileShapes() {
+  const ajv = new Ajv2020({ strict: false, validateFormats: false });
+  return {
+    manifest: ajv.compile<RegistryManifest>(registrySchema),
+    item: ajv.compile<RegistryItem>(itemSchema),
+  };
+}
+let shapesCompiledOnFirstUse: ReturnType<typeof compileShapes> | undefined;
 
 export function validRegistryName(name: string): boolean {
   return name.length <= 128 && /^[a-z0-9](?:[a-z0-9-]*[a-z0-9])?$/.test(name);
@@ -13,7 +18,7 @@ export function validRegistryName(name: string): boolean {
 
 export function validRegistryManifest(value: unknown): value is RegistryManifest {
   return (
-    manifestShape(value) &&
+    (shapesCompiledOnFirstUse ??= compileShapes()).manifest(value) &&
     value.items.length <= 10_000 &&
     value.items.every((item) => validRegistryName(item.name))
   );
@@ -25,7 +30,7 @@ export function validRegistryItem(
   type: ItemType,
 ): value is RegistryItem {
   return (
-    itemShape(value) &&
+    (shapesCompiledOnFirstUse ??= compileShapes()).item(value) &&
     value.name === name &&
     value.type === type &&
     validRegistryName(value.name) &&