diff --git a/dope/__init__.py b/dope/__init__.py
index 905d635..95f1ff1 100644
--- a/dope/__init__.py
+++ b/dope/__init__.py
@@ -1,25 +1,15 @@
-from dope.core.settings import Settings
+from dope.core.settings import Settings, get_settings
 from dope.core.utils import (
-    load_settings_from_yaml,
     locate_global_config,
     locate_local_config_file,
 )
 from dope.models.constants import CONFIG_FILENAME
 
+# Locate config file for reference (doesn't load settings yet)
 config_filepath = locate_local_config_file(CONFIG_FILENAME) or locate_global_config(CONFIG_FILENAME)
 
-# Always create settings object - agent will be None if no config
-settings = Settings()
-if config_filepath:
-    try:
-        settings = Settings(**load_settings_from_yaml(config_filepath))
-    except Exception as e:
-        # Config exists but is invalid - this is an error
-        import sys
+# DEPRECATED: Module-level settings object for backward compatibility
+# Use get_settings() instead to get cached settings
+settings = None
 
-        from rich import print as rprint
-
-        rprint(f"[red]❌ Config file invalid: {config_filepath}[/red]")
-        rprint(f"[yellow]Error: {e}[/yellow]")
-        rprint("[blue]Run 'dope config init --force' to recreate[/blue]")
-        sys.exit(1)
+__all__ = ["Settings", "get_settings", "settings", "config_filepath"]
diff --git a/dope/core/settings.py b/dope/core/settings.py
index e756f2c..ee62116 100644
--- a/dope/core/settings.py
+++ b/dope/core/settings.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+from functools import lru_cache
 from pathlib import Path
 
 from platformdirs import user_cache_dir
@@ -50,3 +51,55 @@ class Settings(BaseSettings):
     git: CodeRepoSettings = CodeRepoSettings()
     agent: AgentSettings | None = None
     model_config = SettingsConfigDict(env_file=".env", env_nested_delimiter="__")
+
+
+@lru_cache(maxsize=1)
+def get_settings() -> Settings:
+    """Get cached application settings.
+
+    This function loads settings from configuration files (local or global) on first call,
+    then returns the cached instance on subsequent calls. This pattern:
+    - Avoids circular import issues by deferring imports until function call
+    - Prevents repeated file I/O and YAML parsing
+    - Makes testing easier (can clear cache with get_settings.cache_clear())
+    - Provides single source of truth for settings access
+
+    Returns:
+        Settings: The cached settings instance.
+
+    Raises:
+        SystemExit: If configuration file exists but is invalid.
+
+    Example:
+        >>> settings = get_settings()
+        >>> settings.agent.provider
+        Provider.OPENAI
+    """
+    from dope.core.utils import (  # Delayed import to avoid circular dependency
+        load_settings_from_yaml,
+        locate_global_config,
+        locate_local_config_file,
+    )
+    from dope.models.constants import CONFIG_FILENAME
+
+    config_filepath = locate_local_config_file(CONFIG_FILENAME) or locate_global_config(
+        CONFIG_FILENAME
+    )
+
+    # Always create settings object - agent will be None if no config
+    settings = Settings()
+    if config_filepath:
+        try:
+            settings = Settings(**load_settings_from_yaml(config_filepath))
+        except Exception as e:
+            # Config exists but is invalid - this is an error
+            import sys
+
+            from rich import print as rprint
+
+            rprint(f"[red]❌ Config file invalid: {config_filepath}[/red]")
+            rprint(f"[yellow]Error: {e}[/yellow]")
+            rprint("[blue]Run 'dope config init --force' to recreate[/blue]")
+            sys.exit(1)
+
+    return settings
diff --git a/dope/core/utils.py b/dope/core/utils.py
index 9957df8..4ca5aeb 100644
--- a/dope/core/utils.py
+++ b/dope/core/utils.py
@@ -21,9 +21,10 @@ def require_config():
 
     from rich import print as rprint
 
-    from dope import settings  # pylint: disable=cyclic-import
+    from dope.core.settings import get_settings
 
-    if settings is None:
+    settings = get_settings()
+    if settings.agent is None:
         rprint("[red]❌ No configuration found[/red]")
         rprint("[blue]💡 Run 'dope config init' to set up[/blue]")
         sys.exit(1)
diff --git a/dope/llms/model_factory.py b/dope/llms/model_factory.py
index d51dfb2..b0d88dc 100644
--- a/dope/llms/model_factory.py
+++ b/dope/llms/model_factory.py
@@ -5,12 +5,13 @@
 from pydantic_ai.providers.azure import AzureProvider
 from pydantic_ai.providers.openai import OpenAIProvider
 
-from dope import settings
+from dope.core.settings import get_settings
 from dope.models.enums import Provider
 
 
 @lru_cache
 def _get_openai_provider(provider):
+    settings = get_settings()
     if not settings.agent:
         raise ValueError("Agent settings not configured")
     if provider == Provider.AZURE:
diff --git a/dope/services/changer/changer_agents.py b/dope/services/changer/changer_agents.py
index 26033b7..01a8697 100644
--- a/dope/services/changer/changer_agents.py
+++ b/dope/services/changer/changer_agents.py
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@
 
 from pydantic_ai import Agent, RunContext
 
-from dope import settings
 from dope.consumers.git_consumer import GitConsumer
+from dope.core.settings import get_settings
 from dope.llms.model_factory import get_model
 from dope.services.changer.prompts import CHANGE_DOC_PROMPT
 
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ class Deps:
 @lru_cache(maxsize=1)
 def get_changer_agent() -> Agent[Deps, str]:
     """Get the changer agent (lazy-initialized and cached)."""
+    settings = get_settings()
     if settings.agent is None:
         raise RuntimeError("Agent configuration not found. Run 'dope config init' first.")
     agent = Agent(
diff --git a/dope/services/describer/describer_agents.py b/dope/services/describer/describer_agents.py
index 44d272b..7e8e92c 100644
--- a/dope/services/describer/describer_agents.py
+++ b/dope/services/describer/describer_agents.py
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@
 
 from pydantic_ai import Agent, RunContext
 
-from dope import settings
 from dope.consumers.git_consumer import GitConsumer
+from dope.core.settings import get_settings
 from dope.llms.model_factory import get_model
 from dope.models.domain.code import CodeChanges
 from dope.models.domain.doc import DocSummary
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ class Deps:
 @lru_cache(maxsize=1)
 def get_code_change_agent() -> Agent[Deps, CodeChanges]:
     """Get the code change agent (lazy-initialized and cached)."""
+    settings = get_settings()
     if settings.agent is None:
         raise RuntimeError("Agent configuration not found. Run 'dope config init' first.")
     agent = Agent(
@@ -56,6 +57,7 @@ def get_code_file_content(_ctx: RunContext[Deps], code_filepath: str) -> str:
 @lru_cache(maxsize=1)
 def get_doc_summarization_agent() -> Agent[None, DocSummary]:
     """Get the doc summarization agent (lazy-initialized and cached)."""
+    settings = get_settings()
     if settings.agent is None:
         raise RuntimeError("Agent configuration not found. Run 'dope config init' first.")
     agent = Agent(model=get_model(settings.agent.provider, "gpt-4.1-mini"), output_type=DocSummary)
diff --git a/dope/services/scoper/scoper_agents.py b/dope/services/scoper/scoper_agents.py
index a778a06..4750e02 100644
--- a/dope/services/scoper/scoper_agents.py
+++ b/dope/services/scoper/scoper_agents.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 from pydantic_ai import Agent
 
-from dope import settings
+from dope.core.settings import get_settings
 from dope.llms.model_factory import get_model
 from dope.models.domain.scope_template import AlignedScope, ProjectTier
 from dope.services.scoper.prompts import (
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 @lru_cache(maxsize=1)
 def get_project_complexity_agent() -> Agent[None, ProjectTier]:
     """Get the project complexity agent (lazy-initialized and cached)."""
+    settings = get_settings()
     if settings.agent is None:
         raise RuntimeError("Agent configuration not found. Run 'dope config init' first.")
     agent = Agent(model=get_model(settings.agent.provider, "gpt-4.1-mini"), output_type=ProjectTier)
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@ def _add_complexity_prompt() -> str:
 @lru_cache(maxsize=1)
 def get_scope_creator_agent() -> Agent[None, dict[str, str]]:
     """Get the scope creator agent (lazy-initialized and cached)."""
+    settings = get_settings()
     if settings.agent is None:
         raise RuntimeError("Agent configuration not found. Run 'dope config init' first.")
     agent = Agent(model=get_model(settings.agent.provider, "gpt-4.1"), output_type=dict[str, str])
@@ -43,6 +45,7 @@ def _add_scope_creator_prompt() -> str:
 @lru_cache(maxsize=1)
 def get_doc_aligner_agent() -> Agent[None, AlignedScope]:
     """Get the doc aligner agent (lazy-initialized and cached)."""
+    settings = get_settings()
     if settings.agent is None:
         raise RuntimeError("Agent configuration not found. Run 'dope config init' first.")
     agent = Agent(model=get_model(settings.agent.provider, "gpt-4.1"), output_type=AlignedScope)
diff --git a/dope/services/suggester/suggester_agents.py b/dope/services/suggester/suggester_agents.py
index 18dec15..3616cd0 100644
--- a/dope/services/suggester/suggester_agents.py
+++ b/dope/services/suggester/suggester_agents.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 from pydantic_ai import Agent
 
-from dope import settings
+from dope.core.settings import get_settings
 from dope.llms.model_factory import get_model
 from dope.models.domain.doc import DocSuggestions
 from dope.services.suggester.prompts import SYSTEM_PROMPT
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 @lru_cache(maxsize=1)
 def get_suggester_agent() -> Agent[None, DocSuggestions]:
     """Get the suggester agent (lazy-initialized and cached)."""
+    settings = get_settings()
     if settings.agent is None:
         raise RuntimeError("Agent configuration not found. Run 'dope config init' first.")
     model = get_model(settings.agent.provider, "o4-mini")
diff --git a/tests/unit/settings_test.py b/tests/unit/settings_test.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ea5c3da
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/settings_test.py
@@ -0,0 +1,91 @@
+"""Tests for settings module and get_settings() caching behavior."""
+
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import pytest
+
+from dope.core.settings import Settings, get_settings
+
+
+def test_get_settings_returns_settings_instance():
+    """Test that get_settings() returns a Settings instance."""
+    settings = get_settings()
+    assert isinstance(settings, Settings)
+
+
+def test_get_settings_caches_result():
+    """Test that get_settings() returns the same instance on repeated calls."""
+    settings1 = get_settings()
+    settings2 = get_settings()
+    assert settings1 is settings2
+
+
+def test_get_settings_cache_can_be_cleared():
+    """Test that cache can be cleared to reload settings."""
+    settings1 = get_settings()
+    get_settings.cache_clear()
+    settings2 = get_settings()
+    # After cache clear, should get a new instance
+    assert settings1 is not settings2
+    assert isinstance(settings2, Settings)
+
+
+def test_settings_has_required_attributes():
+    """Test that settings has expected attributes."""
+    settings = get_settings()
+    assert hasattr(settings, "state_directory")
+    assert hasattr(settings, "docs")
+    assert hasattr(settings, "git")
+    assert hasattr(settings, "agent")
+
+
+def test_settings_state_directory_is_path():
+    """Test that state_directory is a Path object."""
+    settings = get_settings()
+    assert isinstance(settings.state_directory, Path)
+
+
+def test_settings_docs_settings():
+    """Test that docs settings are properly initialized."""
+    settings = get_settings()
+    assert hasattr(settings.docs, "doc_filetypes")
+    assert hasattr(settings.docs, "exclude_dirs")
+    assert hasattr(settings.docs, "docs_root")
+
+
+def test_settings_git_settings():
+    """Test that git settings are properly initialized."""
+    settings = get_settings()
+    assert hasattr(settings.git, "default_branch")
+    assert hasattr(settings.git, "code_repo_root")
+
+
+def test_settings_agent_can_be_none():
+    """Test that agent settings can be None when not configured."""
+    # This test may fail if there's a valid config file
+    # Cache clear to ensure fresh load
+    get_settings.cache_clear()
+    settings = get_settings()
+    # Agent might be None or configured depending on test environment
+    assert settings.agent is None or hasattr(settings.agent, "provider")
+
+
+def test_settings_immutability_not_enforced():
+    """Test that settings can be modified (not frozen)."""
+    settings = get_settings()
+    # Should be able to modify settings
+    original_branch = settings.git.default_branch
+    settings.git.default_branch = "test-branch"
+    assert settings.git.default_branch == "test-branch"
+    # Restore original
+    settings.git.default_branch = original_branch
+
+
+def test_multiple_imports_same_cached_instance():
+    """Test that multiple imports get the same cached instance."""
+    from dope.core.settings import get_settings as get_settings_import1
+    from dope.core.settings import get_settings as get_settings_import2
+
+    settings1 = get_settings_import1()
+    settings2 = get_settings_import2()
+    assert settings1 is settings2