diff --git a/tvix/eval/src/lib.rs b/tvix/eval/src/lib.rs
index c6bef65c7..deb48b500 100644
--- a/tvix/eval/src/lib.rs
+++ b/tvix/eval/src/lib.rs
@@ -104,6 +104,11 @@ pub struct Evaluation<'code, 'co, 'ro> {
     /// able to read the files specified as arguments to `import`.
     pub enable_import: bool,
 
+    /// Determines whether the returned value should be strictly
+    /// evaluated, that is whether its list and attribute set elements
+    /// should be forced recursively.
+    pub strict: bool,
+
     /// (optional) Nix search path, e.g. the value of `NIX_PATH` used
     /// for resolving items on the search path (such as `<nixpkgs>`).
     pub nix_path: Option<String>,
@@ -161,6 +166,7 @@ impl<'code, 'co, 'ro> Evaluation<'code, 'co, 'ro> {
             src_builtins: vec![],
             io_handle: Box::new(DummyIO {}),
             enable_import: false,
+            strict: false,
             nix_path: None,
             compiler_observer: None,
             runtime_observer: None,
@@ -256,7 +262,15 @@ impl<'code, 'co, 'ro> Evaluation<'code, 'co, 'ro> {
             .unwrap_or_default();
 
         let runtime_observer = self.runtime_observer.take().unwrap_or(&mut noop_observer);
-        let vm_result = run_lambda(nix_path, self.io_handle, runtime_observer, globals, lambda);
+
+        let vm_result = run_lambda(
+            nix_path,
+            self.io_handle,
+            runtime_observer,
+            globals,
+            lambda,
+            self.strict,
+        );
 
         match vm_result {
             Ok(mut runtime_result) => {
diff --git a/tvix/eval/src/tests/mod.rs b/tvix/eval/src/tests/mod.rs
index b998600cd..f800baf05 100644
--- a/tvix/eval/src/tests/mod.rs
+++ b/tvix/eval/src/tests/mod.rs
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ fn eval_test(code_path: &str, expect_success: bool) {
     }
 
     let mut eval = crate::Evaluation::new_impure(&code, Some(code_path.into()));
+    eval.strict = true;
     eval.builtins.extend(mock_builtins::builtins());
 
     let result = eval.evaluate();
@@ -100,6 +101,7 @@ fn identity(code_path: &str) {
     let code = std::fs::read_to_string(code_path).expect("should be able to read test code");
 
     let mut eval = crate::Evaluation::new(&code, None);
+    eval.strict = true;
     eval.io_handle = Box::new(crate::StdIO);
 
     let result = eval.evaluate();
diff --git a/tvix/eval/src/vm/mod.rs b/tvix/eval/src/vm/mod.rs
index 0fb1f9cd8..13158619c 100644
--- a/tvix/eval/src/vm/mod.rs
+++ b/tvix/eval/src/vm/mod.rs
@@ -1190,6 +1190,7 @@ pub fn run_lambda(
     observer: &mut dyn RuntimeObserver,
     globals: Rc<GlobalsMap>,
     lambda: Rc<Lambda>,
+    strict: bool,
 ) -> EvalResult<RuntimeResult> {
     // Retain the top-level span of the expression in this lambda, as
     // synthetic "calls" in deep_force will otherwise not have a span
@@ -1207,9 +1208,11 @@ pub fn run_lambda(
         root_span.into(),
     );
 
-    // Synthesise a frame that will instruct the VM to deep-force the final
-    // value before returning it.
-    vm.enqueue_generator("final_deep_force", root_span.into(), final_deep_force);
+    // When evaluating strictly, synthesise a frame that will instruct
+    // the VM to deep-force the final value before returning it.
+    if strict {
+        vm.enqueue_generator("final_deep_force", root_span.into(), final_deep_force);
+    }
 
     vm.frames.push(Frame::CallFrame {
         span: root_span.into(),
diff --git a/tvix/eval/tests/nix_oracle.rs b/tvix/eval/tests/nix_oracle.rs
index e241a26f8..b3ef08f87 100644
--- a/tvix/eval/tests/nix_oracle.rs
+++ b/tvix/eval/tests/nix_oracle.rs
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ fn nix_eval(expr: &str) -> String {
 fn compare_eval(expr: &str) {
     let nix_result = nix_eval(expr);
     let mut eval = tvix_eval::Evaluation::new(expr, None);
+    eval.strict = true;
     eval.io_handle = Box::new(tvix_eval::StdIO);
 
     let tvix_result = eval
diff --git a/tvix/serde/src/de.rs b/tvix/serde/src/de.rs
index 0285c386c..43efc71c6 100644
--- a/tvix/serde/src/de.rs
+++ b/tvix/serde/src/de.rs
@@ -33,7 +33,8 @@ where
     T: serde::Deserialize<'code>,
 {
     // First step is to evaluate the Nix code ...
-    let eval = tvix_eval::Evaluation::new(src, None);
+    let mut eval = tvix_eval::Evaluation::new(src, None);
+    eval.strict = true;
     let source = eval.source_map();
     let result = eval.evaluate();