diff --git a/ARCHITECTURE.md b/ARCHITECTURE.md
index 66099cc..010aabf 100644
--- a/ARCHITECTURE.md
+++ b/ARCHITECTURE.md
@@ -36,9 +36,10 @@ Django's ORM, and a **per-request** phase that records loads/accesses and emits
 ![phases.png](assets/architecture/phases.png)
 
 The two phases are decoupled: instrumentation makes the ORM *capable* of tracking, but
-nothing is actually recorded unless the middleware has opened a request scope. Outside a
-request (management commands, the shell, tests without the middleware) the patched code
-checks `collector.active` / `_state.warn_unused` and quietly does nothing.
+nothing is actually recorded unless a tracking scope has been opened — by the middleware
+(per HTTP request) or by `warn_unused` (per call or per `with` block). With no scope open
+(management commands, the shell, tests without either) the patched code checks
+`collector.active` / `_state.warn_unused` and quietly does nothing.
 
 ## Phase 1 — Startup instrumentation
 
@@ -116,8 +117,11 @@ reads of the cache are observable.
 
 ## Phase 2 — Per-request lifecycle
 
-`EagleWarnUnusedMiddleware` opens and closes a tracking scope around each request.
-Everything recorded in between lands in a thread-local `Collector`.
+`EagleWarnUnusedMiddleware` opens and closes a tracking scope around each request;
+`warn_unused` (`eagle/decorators.py`) does the same around a single function call or
+`with` block, for code that runs outside the request cycle. Both are thin wrappers over
+`begin_request()` / `end_request()`. Everything recorded in between lands in a
+thread-local `Collector`.
 
 ![img_1.png](assets/architecture/lifecycle.png)
 
@@ -210,6 +214,7 @@ subclass of `EagleWarning`), so you can route, filter, or escalate it with the s
 | `eagle/apps.py` | Startup entrypoint (`AppConfig.ready`); wires everything together. |
 | `eagle/config.py` | `is_enabled()` — reads `EAGLE_ENABLED`. |
 | `eagle/middleware.py` | Scopes tracking to a request; flushes warnings on response. |
+| `eagle/decorators.py` | `warn_unused` — scopes tracking around a single call or `with` block (outside the request cycle). |
 | `eagle/sinks.py` | Public `mark_considered` / `may_access` escape hatches. |
 | `eagle/exceptions.py` | `EagleWarning` / `UnusedRelatedAccess` warning categories. |
 | `eagle/instrumentation/scope.py` | Decides which apps/models to instrument. |
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7df2bdd..5179bf4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -123,6 +123,33 @@ on <Eagle instance>. Queryset marked at /app/views.py:42.
 
 Fix it by dropping the unused `select_related` / `prefetch_related`, or tell eagle the access is legitimate (see below).
 
+### Outside the request cycle — `warn_unused`
+
+The middleware only scopes tracking around HTTP requests. To get the same detection for code that runs elsewhere — a management command, a Celery task, a cron job, or any plain function — use `warn_unused` as a decorator:
+
+```python
+from eagle import warn_unused
+
+@warn_unused
+def refresh_eagles():
+    # select_related("location") joins the location table...
+    for eagle in Eagle.objects.select_related("location"):
+        process(eagle.height)  # ...but location is never read.
+```
+
+Or scope a single block by using the same name as a context manager:
+
+```python
+from eagle import warn_unused
+
+with warn_unused():
+    # select_related("location") joins the location table...
+    for eagle in Eagle.objects.select_related("location"):
+        process(eagle.height)  # ...but location is never read.
+```
+
+`warn_unused` begins tracking before the scoped code runs and ends it on exit — exactly as the middleware does for a request — so the wasted join above emits the same `UnusedRelatedAccess` warning. Tracking always ends, even if the scoped code raises, so a failure never leaks tracking state onto the thread. The decorator form works on sync and async callables and preserves wrapper metadata (`__name__`, `__doc__`), and either form is a transparent passthrough when `EAGLE_ENABLED` is falsy.
+
 ## Suppressing false positives
 
 eagle spots access by intercepting Django's relation descriptors, which fire on ordinary attribute access — so template rendering, conditional reads, and Python-level serializers (including DRF) are all tracked while they run. A warning is still a false positive in the following cases:
@@ -213,6 +240,7 @@ Everything you need is exported from the top-level `eagle` package:
 | Name | Type | Purpose |
 | --- | --- | --- |
 | `EagleWarnUnusedMiddleware` | middleware | Scopes tracking per request; emits warnings on response. |
+| `warn_unused` | decorator / context manager | Scopes tracking around a function call or `with` block; emits warnings on exit. |
 | `mark_considered` | function | Imperatively mark relations as accessed. |
 | `may_access` | decorator | Mark relations as accessed on normal return. |
 | `UnusedRelatedAccess` | warning | Category emitted for an unused eager load. |
diff --git a/eagle/__init__.py b/eagle/__init__.py
index 34d829a..7a79663 100644
--- a/eagle/__init__.py
+++ b/eagle/__init__.py
@@ -4,8 +4,10 @@
     "UnusedRelatedAccess",
     "mark_considered",
     "may_access",
+    "warn_unused",
 ]
 
+from eagle.decorators import warn_unused
 from eagle.exceptions import EagleWarning, UnusedRelatedAccess
 from eagle.middleware import EagleWarnUnusedMiddleware
 from eagle.sinks import mark_considered, may_access
diff --git a/eagle/decorators.py b/eagle/decorators.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..def380c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/eagle/decorators.py
@@ -0,0 +1,171 @@
+import functools
+import inspect
+from collections.abc import Callable
+from types import TracebackType
+from typing import ParamSpec, TypeVar, overload
+
+from eagle.config import is_enabled
+from eagle.unused import begin_request, end_request
+
+P = ParamSpec("P")
+R = TypeVar("R")
+
+
+def _wrap(fn: Callable[P, R]) -> Callable[P, R]:
+    """
+    Wrap *fn* so Eagle's unused-relation tracking is scoped to each call.
+
+    Begins tracking before *fn* runs and ends it in a ``finally`` so tracking
+    always ends even if *fn* raises. When ``EAGLE_ENABLED`` is falsy the wrapper
+    is a transparent passthrough. Coroutine functions are wrapped so tracking
+    spans the awaited call rather than ending the moment the coroutine is
+    created.
+
+    Args:
+        fn: The synchronous or asynchronous callable to scope tracking around.
+
+    Returns:
+        A wrapped callable that emits unused-relation warnings after each call.
+    """
+    if inspect.iscoroutinefunction(fn):
+
+        @functools.wraps(fn)
+        async def async_wrapper(*args: P.args, **kwargs: P.kwargs) -> R:
+            if not is_enabled():
+                return await fn(*args, **kwargs)
+            begin_request()
+            try:
+                return await fn(*args, **kwargs)
+            finally:
+                end_request()
+
+        return async_wrapper
+
+    @functools.wraps(fn)
+    def wrapper(*args: P.args, **kwargs: P.kwargs) -> R:
+        if not is_enabled():
+            return fn(*args, **kwargs)
+        begin_request()
+        try:
+            return fn(*args, **kwargs)
+        finally:
+            end_request()
+
+    return wrapper
+
+
+class _WarnUnusedScope:
+    """
+    Scope Eagle's unused-relation tracking to a ``with`` block or a call.
+
+    Returned by ``warn_unused()`` (no arguments) so the same name can be used as
+    a context manager (``with warn_unused(): ...``) or as a parenthesised
+    decorator (``@warn_unused()``). When ``EAGLE_ENABLED`` is falsy entering the
+    scope is a no-op, so nothing is tracked and nothing is warned.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self) -> None:
+        # Whether ``__enter__`` actually began tracking, so ``__exit__`` only
+        # ends a scope it started (and stays a no-op when Eagle is disabled).
+        self._active = False
+
+    # PYI034 suggests ``Self``, unavailable from ``typing`` on the py310 target.
+    def __enter__(self) -> "_WarnUnusedScope":  # noqa: PYI034
+        """
+        Begin tracking for the block, unless Eagle is disabled.
+
+        Returns:
+            This scope instance.
+        """
+        self._active = is_enabled()
+        if self._active:
+            begin_request()
+        return self
+
+    def __exit__(
+        self,
+        exc_type: type[BaseException] | None,
+        exc: BaseException | None,
+        tb: TracebackType | None,
+    ) -> bool:
+        """
+        End tracking, emitting warnings for relations loaded but never accessed.
+
+        Tracking ends even when the block raises, so a failing block never leaks
+        an active collector into later work on the same thread.
+
+        Args:
+            exc_type: Exception type raised in the block, if any.
+            exc: Exception instance raised in the block, if any.
+            tb: Traceback of the exception raised in the block, if any.
+
+        Returns:
+            False, so any exception raised inside the block propagates.
+        """
+        if self._active:
+            self._active = False
+            end_request()
+        return False
+
+    def __call__(self, fn: Callable[P, R]) -> Callable[P, R]:
+        """
+        Use the scope as a decorator, scoping tracking to each call of *fn*.
+
+        Args:
+            fn: The synchronous or asynchronous callable to scope tracking around.
+
+        Returns:
+            A wrapped callable that emits unused-relation warnings after each call.
+        """
+        return _wrap(fn)
+
+
+@overload
+def warn_unused(fn: Callable[P, R]) -> Callable[P, R]: ...
+
+
+@overload
+def warn_unused(fn: None = ...) -> _WarnUnusedScope: ...
+
+
+def warn_unused(fn: Callable[P, R] | None = None) -> Callable[P, R] | _WarnUnusedScope:
+    """
+    Scope Eagle's unused-relation tracking to a single call or ``with`` block.
+
+    Begins tracking before the scoped code runs and ends it afterwards -- exactly
+    as ``EagleWarnUnusedMiddleware`` does for a request/response cycle -- so any
+    relation eager-loaded with ``select_related``/``prefetch_related`` inside the
+    scope but never accessed surfaces as an ``UnusedRelatedAccess`` warning when
+    the scope ends. Use it to get request-style detection in code that runs
+    outside the request cycle: management commands, Celery tasks, or any plain
+    function, method, or block.
+
+    Supports three forms::
+
+        @warn_unused
+        def task(): ...
+
+        @warn_unused()
+        def task(): ...
+
+        with warn_unused():
+            ...
+
+    Tracking always ends even if the scoped code raises, so a failure never
+    leaks an active collector into later work on the same thread. When
+    ``EAGLE_ENABLED`` is falsy the scope is a transparent passthrough. The
+    decorator forms work for both synchronous and asynchronous callables and
+    preserve wrapper metadata (``__name__``, ``__doc__``).
+
+    Args:
+        fn: The callable to decorate when used as a bare ``@warn_unused``. Omit
+            it (passing nothing) to get a context manager / parenthesised
+            decorator instead.
+
+    Returns:
+        The wrapped callable when *fn* is given, otherwise a scope usable as a
+        context manager or decorator.
+    """
+    if fn is None:
+        return _WarnUnusedScope()
+    return _wrap(fn)
diff --git a/tests/base.py b/tests/base.py
index 33b2f84..677075e 100644
--- a/tests/base.py
+++ b/tests/base.py
@@ -27,13 +27,8 @@ class EagleWithLocation:
 
 
 @pytest.mark.django_db
-class BaseRequestTest:
-    """Base for tests that drive the eagle detail endpoint; an unused eager load surfaces as an error."""
-
-    @pytest.fixture
-    def api_client(self) -> APIClient:
-        """Return a DRF test client for calling the eagle endpoints."""
-        return APIClient()
+class EagleGraphMixin:
+    """Supplies the ``eagle_graph`` fixture to any test class that eager-loads eagle relations."""
 
     @pytest.fixture
     def eagle_graph(self, db: None) -> EagleGraph:
@@ -49,6 +44,15 @@ def eagle_graph(self, db: None) -> EagleGraph:
         )
 
 
+class BaseRequestTest(EagleGraphMixin):
+    """Base for tests that drive the eagle detail endpoint; an unused eager load surfaces as an error."""
+
+    @pytest.fixture
+    def api_client(self) -> APIClient:
+        """Return a DRF test client for calling the eagle endpoints."""
+        return APIClient()
+
+
 @pytest.mark.django_db
 class MayAccessHelperTestBase:
     """Base for tests of the may_access/mark_considered helpers run inside a tracking request."""
diff --git a/tests/test_warn_unused.py b/tests/test_warn_unused.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8d04160
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_warn_unused.py
@@ -0,0 +1,210 @@
+import asyncio
+
+import pytest
+from django.test import override_settings
+
+import eagle
+from eagle import UnusedRelatedAccess, unused, warn_unused
+from test_project.models import Eagle
+from tests.base import EagleGraph, EagleGraphMixin
+
+
+class TestWarnUnusedSync(EagleGraphMixin):
+    """The decorator scopes tracking to a single synchronous call, like the middleware does for a request."""
+
+    def test_unused_eager_load_warns(self, eagle_graph: EagleGraph):
+        pk = eagle_graph.eagle.pk
+
+        @warn_unused
+        def load_unused() -> None:
+            # Eager-load location but never read it: the join is wasted.
+            Eagle.objects.select_related("location").get(pk=pk)
+
+        with pytest.raises(UnusedRelatedAccess) as exc_info:
+            load_unused()
+        assert 'select_related("location")' in str(exc_info.value)
+
+    def test_accessed_eager_load_no_warning(self, eagle_graph: EagleGraph):
+        pk = eagle_graph.eagle.pk
+
+        @warn_unused
+        def load_and_access() -> object:
+            eagle = Eagle.objects.select_related("location").get(pk=pk)
+            return eagle.location
+
+        # The relation is read before the call returns, so ending the scope emits nothing.
+        assert load_and_access() == eagle_graph.location
+
+    def test_collector_inactive_after_call(self, eagle_graph: EagleGraph):
+        pk = eagle_graph.eagle.pk
+
+        @warn_unused
+        def load_and_access() -> None:
+            eagle = Eagle.objects.select_related("location").get(pk=pk)
+            _ = eagle.location
+
+        load_and_access()
+        assert unused.is_active() is False
+
+
+class TestWarnUnusedDisabled(EagleGraphMixin):
+    """When EAGLE_ENABLED is falsy the decorator is a transparent passthrough."""
+
+    @override_settings(EAGLE_ENABLED=False)
+    def test_disabled_is_passthrough_no_warning(self, eagle_graph: EagleGraph):
+        pk = eagle_graph.eagle.pk
+
+        @warn_unused
+        def load_unused() -> str:
+            Eagle.objects.select_related("location").get(pk=pk)
+            return "done"
+
+        assert load_unused() == "done"
+
+    @override_settings(EAGLE_ENABLED=False)
+    def test_disabled_does_not_activate_collector(self, eagle_graph: EagleGraph):
+        pk = eagle_graph.eagle.pk
+
+        @warn_unused
+        def load_unused() -> None:
+            Eagle.objects.select_related("location").get(pk=pk)
+
+        load_unused()
+        assert unused.is_active() is False
+
+
+class TestWarnUnusedExceptions:
+    """Tracking always ends, so a failing call never leaks an active collector onto the thread."""
+
+    def test_exception_propagates_and_no_leak(self):
+        class Boom(Exception):
+            pass
+
+        @warn_unused
+        def explode() -> None:
+            raise Boom
+
+        with pytest.raises(Boom):
+            explode()
+        assert unused.is_active() is False
+
+
+class TestWarnUnusedMetadata:
+    """The wrapper preserves the wrapped callable's identifying metadata."""
+
+    def test_preserves_wrapper_metadata(self):
+        @warn_unused
+        def documented(x: int) -> int:
+            """Return x unchanged."""
+            return x
+
+        assert documented.__name__ == "documented"
+        assert documented.__doc__ == "Return x unchanged."
+
+
+class TestWarnUnusedPublicExport:
+    """warn_unused is part of the public top-level API."""
+
+    def test_public_export(self):
+        assert eagle.warn_unused is warn_unused
+
+
+class TestWarnUnusedAsyncNoDb:
+    """The async branch wraps the awaited call without touching the database."""
+
+    def test_async_disabled_passthrough(self):
+        @warn_unused
+        async def doubler(x: int) -> int:
+            return x * 2
+
+        with override_settings(EAGLE_ENABLED=False):
+            assert asyncio.run(doubler(3)) == 6
+        assert unused.is_active() is False
+
+    def test_async_enabled_no_loads_returns_value(self):
+        @warn_unused
+        async def producer() -> int:
+            return 7
+
+        # Tracking begins and ends around the await; with no loads, nothing is warned.
+        assert asyncio.run(producer()) == 7
+        assert unused.is_active() is False
+
+
+class TestWarnUnusedContextManager(EagleGraphMixin):
+    """warn_unused() scopes tracking to a `with` block, like the decorator does for a call."""
+
+    def test_unused_eager_load_warns(self, eagle_graph: EagleGraph):
+        pk = eagle_graph.eagle.pk
+
+        with pytest.raises(UnusedRelatedAccess) as exc_info, warn_unused():
+            # Eager-load location but never read it: the join is wasted.
+            Eagle.objects.select_related("location").get(pk=pk)
+        assert 'select_related("location")' in str(exc_info.value)
+
+    def test_accessed_eager_load_no_warning(self, eagle_graph: EagleGraph):
+        pk = eagle_graph.eagle.pk
+
+        with warn_unused():
+            eagle = Eagle.objects.select_related("location").get(pk=pk)
+            # The relation is read before the block ends, so nothing is emitted.
+            assert eagle.location == eagle_graph.location
+
+    def test_collector_inactive_after_block(self, eagle_graph: EagleGraph):
+        pk = eagle_graph.eagle.pk
+
+        with warn_unused():
+            eagle = Eagle.objects.select_related("location").get(pk=pk)
+            _ = eagle.location
+
+        assert unused.is_active() is False
+
+
+class TestWarnUnusedContextManagerDisabled(EagleGraphMixin):
+    """When EAGLE_ENABLED is falsy entering the block is a no-op."""
+
+    @override_settings(EAGLE_ENABLED=False)
+    def test_disabled_is_passthrough_no_warning(self, eagle_graph: EagleGraph):
+        pk = eagle_graph.eagle.pk
+
+        with warn_unused():
+            Eagle.objects.select_related("location").get(pk=pk)
+
+        assert unused.is_active() is False
+
+
+class TestWarnUnusedContextManagerExceptions(EagleGraphMixin):
+    """Tracking always ends, so a failing block never leaks an active collector onto the thread."""
+
+    def test_exception_propagates_and_no_leak(self):
+        class Boom(Exception):
+            pass
+
+        with pytest.raises(Boom), warn_unused():
+            raise Boom
+
+        assert unused.is_active() is False
+
+
+class TestWarnUnusedParenthesisedDecorator(EagleGraphMixin):
+    """warn_unused() also works as a parenthesised decorator, like the bare form."""
+
+    def test_unused_eager_load_warns(self, eagle_graph: EagleGraph):
+        pk = eagle_graph.eagle.pk
+
+        @warn_unused()
+        def load_unused() -> None:
+            Eagle.objects.select_related("location").get(pk=pk)
+
+        with pytest.raises(UnusedRelatedAccess) as exc_info:
+            load_unused()
+        assert 'select_related("location")' in str(exc_info.value)
+
+    def test_preserves_wrapper_metadata(self):
+        @warn_unused()
+        def documented(x: int) -> int:
+            """Return x unchanged."""
+            return x
+
+        assert documented.__name__ == "documented"
+        assert documented.__doc__ == "Return x unchanged."