diff --git a/src/dask_awkward/lib/inspect.py b/src/dask_awkward/lib/inspect.py
index 53c1ea8e..3f63fc22 100644
--- a/src/dask_awkward/lib/inspect.py
+++ b/src/dask_awkward/lib/inspect.py
@@ -177,36 +177,39 @@ def report_necessary_columns(
     seen_names = set()
 
     name_to_necessary_columns: dict[str, frozenset | None] = {}
-    for obj in collections:
-        dsk = obj.__dask_graph__()
-        keys = obj.__dask_keys__()
-        projection_data = o._prepare_buffer_projection(dsk, keys)
-
-        # If the projection failed, or there are no input layers
-        if projection_data is None:
-            # Ensure that we have a record of the seen layers, if they're inputs
-            for name, layer in dsk.items():
-                if isinstance(layer, AwkwardInputLayer):
-                    seen_names.add(name)
-            continue
-
-        # Unpack projection information
-        layer_to_reports, layer_to_projection_state = projection_data
-        for name, report in layer_to_reports.items():
-            layer = dsk.layers[name]
-            if not (isinstance(layer, AwkwardInputLayer) and layer.is_columnar):
+    with o.typetracer_nochecks():
+        for obj in collections:
+            dsk = obj.__dask_graph__()
+            keys = obj.__dask_keys__()
+            projection_data = o._prepare_buffer_projection(dsk, keys)
+
+            # If the projection failed, or there are no input layers
+            if projection_data is None:
+                # Ensure that we have a record of the seen layers, if they're inputs
+                for name, layer in dsk.items():
+                    if isinstance(layer, AwkwardInputLayer):
+                        seen_names.add(name)
                 continue
 
-            existing_columns = name_to_necessary_columns.setdefault(name, frozenset())
+            # Unpack projection information
+            layer_to_reports, layer_to_projection_state = projection_data
+            for name, report in layer_to_reports.items():
+                layer = dsk.layers[name]
+                if not (isinstance(layer, AwkwardInputLayer) and layer.is_columnar):
+                    continue
 
-            assert existing_columns is not None
-            # Update set of touched keys
-            name_to_necessary_columns[name] = (
-                existing_columns
-                | layer.necessary_columns(
-                    report=report, state=layer_to_projection_state[name]
+                existing_columns = name_to_necessary_columns.setdefault(
+                    name, frozenset()
+                )
+
+                assert existing_columns is not None
+                # Update set of touched keys
+                name_to_necessary_columns[name] = (
+                    existing_columns
+                    | layer.necessary_columns(
+                        report=report, state=layer_to_projection_state[name]
+                    )
                 )
-            )
 
     # Populate result with names of seen layers
     for k in seen_names:
diff --git a/src/dask_awkward/lib/optimize.py b/src/dask_awkward/lib/optimize.py
index 41612edd..a1ab9d6a 100644
--- a/src/dask_awkward/lib/optimize.py
+++ b/src/dask_awkward/lib/optimize.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 from dask.local import get_sync
 
 from dask_awkward.layers import AwkwardBlockwiseLayer, AwkwardInputLayer
+from dask_awkward.lib.utils import typetracer_nochecks
 from dask_awkward.utils import first
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -45,7 +46,8 @@ def all_optimizations(dsk: Mapping, keys: Sequence[Key], **_: Any) -> Mapping:
         dsk = HighLevelGraph.from_collections(str(id(dsk)), dsk, dependencies=())
 
     # Perform dask-awkward specific optimizations.
-    dsk = optimize(dsk, keys=keys)
+    with typetracer_nochecks():
+        dsk = optimize(dsk, keys=keys)
     # Perform Blockwise optimizations for HLG input
     dsk = optimize_blockwise(dsk, keys=keys)
     # fuse nearby layers
diff --git a/src/dask_awkward/lib/utils.py b/src/dask_awkward/lib/utils.py
index a25b3dd5..7b067386 100644
--- a/src/dask_awkward/lib/utils.py
+++ b/src/dask_awkward/lib/utils.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 __all__ = ("trace_form_structure", "buffer_keys_required_to_compute_shapes")
 
 from collections.abc import Callable, Iterable, Iterator, Mapping, MutableMapping
+from contextlib import contextmanager
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, TypedDict, TypeVar
 
 import awkward as ak
@@ -164,3 +165,16 @@ def impl(form: Form, key: str) -> None:
     form = ak.forms.from_dict(form.to_dict())
     impl(form, key)
     return form
+
+
+@contextmanager
+def typetracer_nochecks():
+    from awkward._nplikes.typetracer import TypeTracerArray
+
+    oldval = getattr(TypeTracerArray, "runtime_typechecks", None)
+    TypeTracerArray.runtime_typechecks = False
+    yield
+    if oldval is not None:
+        TypeTracerArray.runtime_typechecks = oldval
+    else:
+        del TypeTracerArray.runtime_typechecks
diff --git a/tests/test_utils.py b/tests/test_utils.py
index 3d31a964..3d1b38c7 100644
--- a/tests/test_utils.py
+++ b/tests/test_utils.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 import pytest
 
+from dask_awkward.lib.utils import typetracer_nochecks
 from dask_awkward.utils import (
     LazyInputsDict,
     field_access_to_front,
@@ -78,3 +79,12 @@ def test_field_access_to_front(pairs):
     res = field_access_to_front(pairs[0])
     assert res[0] == pairs[1]
     assert res[1] == pairs[2]
+
+
+def test_nocheck_context():
+    from awkward._nplikes.typetracer import TypeTracerArray
+
+    assert getattr(TypeTracerArray, "runtime_typechecks", True)
+    with typetracer_nochecks():
+        assert not TypeTracerArray.runtime_typechecks
+    assert getattr(TypeTracerArray, "runtime_typechecks", True)