diff --git a/anchor/runtime/__init__.py b/anchor/runtime/__init__.py
index 429290b..38cdd95 100644
--- a/anchor/runtime/__init__.py
+++ b/anchor/runtime/__init__.py
@@ -3,9 +3,10 @@
 
 Public API for the Anchor Interceptor SDK (Layer 1, V5.0.3).
 
-One import activates full runtime governance across ALL AI providers:
+Explicit activation is required to run runtime governance:
 
-    import anchor.runtime                        # auto-activates (BLOCK mode)
+    import anchor.runtime
+    anchor.runtime.activate(mode='block')        # auto-activates (BLOCK mode)
     # or:
     anchor.runtime.activate(mode='warn')         # warn but don't block
     anchor.runtime.activate(mode='audit')        # log only, no interruptions
@@ -84,6 +85,9 @@ def activate(
         logger.debug("[Anchor] Runtime already active, skipping re-activation.")
         return get_session_stats()
 
+    # Load custom providers from policy.anchor
+    _load_custom_providers_from_policy()
+
     mode_enum = InterceptorMode(mode.lower())
     _current_mode = mode_enum
     _session_stats = SessionStats()
@@ -258,13 +262,6 @@ def wrapper(*args, **kwargs):
     return decorator
 
 
-# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Auto-activate on import (BLOCK mode, no verbose)
-# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-_load_custom_providers_from_policy()
-activate()
-
-
 # Re-export for convenience
 __all__ = [
     "activate",
diff --git a/tests/runtime/test_runtime_interceptors.py b/tests/runtime/test_runtime_interceptors.py
index 0cfe7be..0feda71 100644
--- a/tests/runtime/test_runtime_interceptors.py
+++ b/tests/runtime/test_runtime_interceptors.py
@@ -38,9 +38,13 @@
 from anchor.runtime.interceptors.framework import activate_framework_patches, get_active_patches
 print("5. framework.py imports: OK")
 
-# 6: full runtime (auto-activated on import)
+# 6: full runtime (explicitly activated)
 import anchor.runtime as rt
 s = rt.get_session_stats()
-print(f"6. runtime/__init__.py: OK (status={s['status']}, mode={s.get('mode', '?')})")
+assert s["status"] == "inactive", f"Expected inactive on import, got {s['status']}"
+rt.activate()
+s2 = rt.get_session_stats()
+assert s2["status"] == "active", f"Expected active after activate(), got {s2['status']}"
+print(f"6. runtime/__init__.py: OK (status={s2['status']}, mode={s2.get('mode', '?')})")
 
 print("\nALL SMOKE TESTS PASSED")