diff --git a/python/ray/runtime_context.py b/python/ray/runtime_context.py
index 2dfff96eb3f5f..64bee3fc7cf79 100644
--- a/python/ray/runtime_context.py
+++ b/python/ray/runtime_context.py
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ def _get_actor_call_stats(self):
 
 
 @PublicAPI(stability="beta")
-@client_mode_hook(auto_init=True)
+@client_mode_hook(auto_init=False)
 def get_runtime_context():
     """Get the runtime context of the current driver/worker.
 
diff --git a/python/ray/tests/test_runtime_context.py b/python/ray/tests/test_runtime_context.py
index 66c7df1fc7e41..8ce983da2085a 100644
--- a/python/ray/tests/test_runtime_context.py
+++ b/python/ray/tests/test_runtime_context.py
@@ -220,6 +220,14 @@ async def func(self):
     assert max(result["AysncActor.func"]["pending"] for result in results) == 3
 
 
+# get_runtime_context() can be called outside of Ray so it should not start
+# Ray automatically.
+def test_no_auto_init(shutdown_only):
+    assert not ray.is_initialized()
+    ray.get_runtime_context()
+    assert not ray.is_initialized()
+
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     import pytest
     sys.exit(pytest.main(["-v", __file__]))