diff --git a/crates/omnigraph-cli/src/main.rs b/crates/omnigraph-cli/src/main.rs
index dab83d1..62fff60 100644
--- a/crates/omnigraph-cli/src/main.rs
+++ b/crates/omnigraph-cli/src/main.rs
@@ -1251,28 +1251,31 @@ async fn open_local_db_with_policy(graph: &ResolvedCliGraph) -> Result<Omnigraph
     }
 }
 
+/// Actor resolution for cluster operations. Cluster FACTS stay unlayered
+/// (cluster.yaml only), but the operator's identity is a per-operator fact —
+/// the per-operator config's permanent job. An explicit --as never touches
+/// any config (containers and CI stay config-free); without it, the standard
+/// cwd omnigraph.yaml search supplies `cli.actor`, and a malformed config
+/// fails loudly rather than silently dropping attribution. Deliberately
+/// `load_config`, NOT `load_cli_config`: the latter also loads
+/// `auth.env_file` into the process env — a second thing, violating the
+/// documented "exactly one thing" contract.
+fn resolve_cluster_actor(cli_as: Option<&str>) -> Result<Option<String>> {
+    if let Some(actor) = cli_as {
+        return Ok(Some(actor.to_string()));
+    }
+    let config = load_config(None).wrap_err(
+        "resolving the default actor from the per-operator omnigraph.yaml (pass --as <ACTOR> to skip this lookup)",
+    )?;
+    Ok(config.cli.actor.clone())
+}
+
 /// Resolve the CLI's effective actor identity for engine-layer policy
 /// (MR-722). Precedence: `--as <ACTOR>` (top-level flag) overrides
 /// `cli.actor` from `omnigraph.yaml`; both unset returns `None`. When
 /// policy is configured and this returns `None`, the engine-layer
 /// footgun guard intentionally denies — silent bypass via "I forgot the
 /// actor" is what the guard prevents.
-/// Actor resolution for cluster operations. Cluster FACTS stay unlayered
-/// (cluster.yaml only), but the operator's identity is a per-operator fact —
-/// the per-operator config's permanent job. An explicit --as never touches
-/// any config (containers and CI stay config-free); without it, the standard
-/// cwd omnigraph.yaml search supplies `cli.actor`, and a malformed config
-/// fails loudly rather than silently dropping attribution.
-fn resolve_cluster_actor(cli_as: Option<&str>) -> Result<Option<String>> {
-    if let Some(actor) = cli_as {
-        return Ok(Some(actor.to_string()));
-    }
-    let config = load_cli_config(None).wrap_err(
-        "resolving the default actor from the per-operator omnigraph.yaml (pass --as <ACTOR> to skip this lookup)",
-    )?;
-    Ok(config.cli.actor.clone())
-}
-
 fn resolve_cli_actor<'a>(cli_as: Option<&'a str>, config: &'a OmnigraphConfig) -> Option<&'a str> {
     cli_as.or(config.cli.actor.as_deref())
 }
diff --git a/crates/omnigraph-cli/tests/cli.rs b/crates/omnigraph-cli/tests/cli.rs
index 00582a7..ab3c23b 100644
--- a/crates/omnigraph-cli/tests/cli.rs
+++ b/crates/omnigraph-cli/tests/cli.rs
@@ -4339,22 +4339,19 @@ fn cluster_apply_uses_cli_actor_from_local_config() {
         "cli:\n  actor: act-local\n",
     )
     .unwrap();
-    let run = |extra: &[&str]| {
-        let mut command = cli();
-        command.current_dir(temp.path());
-        for arg in extra {
-            command.arg(arg);
-        }
-        let output = command
-            .arg("cluster")
-            .arg("import")
-            .arg("--config")
-            .arg(temp.path())
-            .arg("--json")
-            .output()
-            .unwrap();
-        assert!(output.status.success(), "{output:?}");
-        // apply, capturing the echoed actor
+    // Phase 1: import once (setup, not under test).
+    let output = cli()
+        .current_dir(temp.path())
+        .arg("cluster")
+        .arg("import")
+        .arg("--config")
+        .arg(temp.path())
+        .output()
+        .unwrap();
+    assert!(output.status.success(), "{output:?}");
+
+    // Phase 2: apply alone, capturing the echoed actor (idempotent re-runs).
+    let apply = |extra: &[&str]| {
         let mut command = cli();
         command.current_dir(temp.path());
         for arg in extra {
@@ -4372,24 +4369,8 @@ fn cluster_apply_uses_cli_actor_from_local_config() {
             serde_json::from_str(String::from_utf8_lossy(&output.stdout).trim()).unwrap();
         json["actor"].clone()
     };
-    assert_eq!(run(&[]), "act-local", "cli.actor is the no-flag default");
-
-    // A fresh dir (state already imported above): the flag wins over config.
-    let mut command = cli();
-    command.current_dir(temp.path());
-    let output = command
-        .arg("--as")
-        .arg("andrew")
-        .arg("cluster")
-        .arg("apply")
-        .arg("--config")
-        .arg(temp.path())
-        .arg("--json")
-        .output()
-        .unwrap();
-    let json: serde_json::Value =
-        serde_json::from_str(String::from_utf8_lossy(&output.stdout).trim()).unwrap();
-    assert_eq!(json["actor"], "andrew", "--as overrides cli.actor");
+    assert_eq!(apply(&[]), "act-local", "cli.actor is the no-flag default");
+    assert_eq!(apply(&["--as", "andrew"]), "andrew", "--as overrides cli.actor");
 }
 
 #[test]