diff --git a/src/replicate/_module_client.py b/src/replicate/_module_client.py
index 817c605..a3e8ab4 100644
--- a/src/replicate/_module_client.py
+++ b/src/replicate/_module_client.py
@@ -88,13 +88,17 @@ def _run(*args, **kwargs):
         return _load_client().run(*args, **kwargs)
 
     def _use(ref, *, hint=None, streaming=False, use_async=False, **kwargs):
+        from .lib._predictions_use import use
+
         if use_async:
             # For async, we need to use AsyncReplicate instead
             from ._client import AsyncReplicate
 
-            client = AsyncReplicate()
-            return client.use(ref, hint=hint, streaming=streaming, **kwargs)
-        return _load_client().use(ref, hint=hint, streaming=streaming, **kwargs)
+            return use(AsyncReplicate, ref, hint=hint, streaming=streaming, **kwargs)
+
+        from ._client import Replicate
+
+        return use(Replicate, ref, hint=hint, streaming=streaming, **kwargs)
 
     run = _run
     use = _use
diff --git a/src/replicate/lib/_predictions_use.py b/src/replicate/lib/_predictions_use.py
index 606bbee..1cd085c 100644
--- a/src/replicate/lib/_predictions_use.py
+++ b/src/replicate/lib/_predictions_use.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
     Any,
     Dict,
     List,
+    Type,
     Tuple,
     Union,
     Generic,
@@ -436,15 +437,18 @@ class Function(Generic[Input, Output]):
     A wrapper for a Replicate model that can be called as a function.
     """
 
-    _client: Client
     _ref: str
     _streaming: bool
 
-    def __init__(self, client: Client, ref: str, *, streaming: bool) -> None:
-        self._client = client
+    def __init__(self, client: Type[Client], ref: str, *, streaming: bool) -> None:
+        self._client_class = client
         self._ref = ref
         self._streaming = streaming
 
+    @property
+    def _client(self) -> Client:
+        return self._client_class()
+
     def __call__(self, *args: Input.args, **inputs: Input.kwargs) -> Output:
         return self.create(*args, **inputs).output()
 
@@ -666,16 +670,19 @@ class AsyncFunction(Generic[Input, Output]):
     An async wrapper for a Replicate model that can be called as a function.
     """
 
-    _client: AsyncClient
     _ref: str
     _streaming: bool
     _openapi_schema: Optional[Dict[str, Any]] = None
 
-    def __init__(self, client: AsyncClient, ref: str, *, streaming: bool) -> None:
-        self._client = client
+    def __init__(self, client: Type[AsyncClient], ref: str, *, streaming: bool) -> None:
+        self._client_class = client
         self._ref = ref
         self._streaming = streaming
 
+    @property
+    def _client(self) -> AsyncClient:
+        return self._client_class()
+
     @cached_property
     def _parsed_ref(self) -> Tuple[str, str, Optional[str]]:
         return ModelVersionIdentifier.parse(self._ref)
@@ -804,7 +811,7 @@ async def openapi_schema(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
 
 @overload
 def use(
-    client: Client,
+    client: Type[Client],
     ref: Union[str, FunctionRef[Input, Output]],
     *,
     hint: Optional[Callable[Input, Output]] = None,
@@ -814,7 +821,7 @@ def use(
 
 @overload
 def use(
-    client: Client,
+    client: Type[Client],
     ref: Union[str, FunctionRef[Input, Output]],
     *,
     hint: Optional[Callable[Input, Output]] = None,
@@ -824,7 +831,7 @@ def use(
 
 @overload
 def use(
-    client: AsyncClient,
+    client: Type[AsyncClient],
     ref: Union[str, FunctionRef[Input, Output]],
     *,
     hint: Optional[Callable[Input, Output]] = None,
@@ -834,7 +841,7 @@ def use(
 
 @overload
 def use(
-    client: AsyncClient,
+    client: Type[AsyncClient],
     ref: Union[str, FunctionRef[Input, Output]],
     *,
     hint: Optional[Callable[Input, Output]] = None,
@@ -843,7 +850,7 @@ def use(
 
 
 def use(
-    client: Union[Client, AsyncClient],
+    client: Union[Type[Client], Type[AsyncClient]],
     ref: Union[str, FunctionRef[Input, Output]],
     *,
     hint: Optional[Callable[Input, Output]] = None,  # pylint: disable=unused-argument # noqa: ARG001 # required for type inference
@@ -868,7 +875,7 @@ def use(
     except AttributeError:
         pass
 
-    if isinstance(client, AsyncClient):
+    if issubclass(client, AsyncClient):
         # TODO: Fix type inference for AsyncFunction return type
         return AsyncFunction(client, str(ref), streaming=streaming)  # type: ignore[return-value]
 
diff --git a/tests/test_simple_lazy.py b/tests/test_simple_lazy.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..312c9fe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_simple_lazy.py
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+"""Test lazy client creation in replicate.use()."""
+
+import os
+import sys
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
+
+
+def test_use_does_not_raise_without_token():
+    """Test that replicate.use() works even when no API token is available."""
+    sys.path.insert(0, "src")
+
+    with patch.dict(os.environ, {}, clear=True):
+        with patch.dict(sys.modules, {"cog": None}):
+            import replicate
+
+            # Should not raise an exception
+            model = replicate.use("test/model")  # type: ignore[misc]
+            assert model is not None
+
+
+def test_cog_current_scope():
+    """Test that cog.current_scope().context is read on each client creation."""
+    sys.path.insert(0, "src")
+
+    mock_context = MagicMock()
+    mock_context.items.return_value = [("REPLICATE_API_TOKEN", "test-token-1")]
+
+    mock_scope = MagicMock()
+    mock_scope.context = mock_context
+
+    mock_cog = MagicMock()
+    mock_cog.current_scope.return_value = mock_scope
+
+    with patch.dict(os.environ, {}, clear=True):
+        with patch.dict(sys.modules, {"cog": mock_cog}):
+            import replicate
+
+            model = replicate.use("test/model")  # type: ignore[misc]
+
+            # Access the client property - this should trigger client creation and cog.current_scope call
+            _ = model._client
+
+            assert mock_cog.current_scope.call_count == 1
+
+            # Change the token and access client again - should trigger another call
+            mock_context.items.return_value = [("REPLICATE_API_TOKEN", "test-token-2")]
+
+            # Create a new model to trigger another client creation
+            model2 = replicate.use("test/model2")  # type: ignore[misc]
+            _ = model2._client
+
+            assert mock_cog.current_scope.call_count == 2