diff --git a/TUnit.Engine/Building/TestBuilder.cs b/TUnit.Engine/Building/TestBuilder.cs
index 38cf785996..628c8e6449 100644
--- a/TUnit.Engine/Building/TestBuilder.cs
+++ b/TUnit.Engine/Building/TestBuilder.cs
@@ -766,10 +766,10 @@ private async Task<IDataSourceAttribute[]> GetDataSourcesAsync(IDataSourceAttrib
             return [NoDataSource.Instance];
         }
 
-        // Initialize all data sources to ensure properties are injected
+        // Inject properties into data sources during discovery (IAsyncInitializer deferred to execution)
         foreach (var dataSource in dataSources)
         {
-            await _objectLifecycleService.EnsureInitializedAsync(dataSource);
+            await _objectLifecycleService.InjectPropertiesAsync(dataSource);
         }
 
         return dataSources;
@@ -783,16 +783,15 @@ private async Task<IDataSourceAttribute[]> GetDataSourcesAsync(IDataSourceAttrib
         IDataSourceAttribute dataSource,
         DataGeneratorMetadata dataGeneratorMetadata)
     {
-        // Ensure the data source is fully initialized before getting data rows
-        // This includes property injection and IAsyncInitializer.InitializeAsync
-        var initializedDataSource = await _objectLifecycleService.EnsureInitializedAsync(
+        // Inject properties into data source during discovery (IAsyncInitializer deferred to execution)
+        var propertyInjectedDataSource = await _objectLifecycleService.InjectPropertiesAsync(
             dataSource,
             dataGeneratorMetadata.TestBuilderContext.Current.StateBag,
             dataGeneratorMetadata.TestInformation,
             dataGeneratorMetadata.TestBuilderContext.Current.Events);
 
-        // Now get data rows from the initialized data source
-        await foreach (var dataRow in initializedDataSource.GetDataRowsAsync(dataGeneratorMetadata))
+        // Now get data rows from the property-injected data source
+        await foreach (var dataRow in propertyInjectedDataSource.GetDataRowsAsync(dataGeneratorMetadata))
         {
             yield return dataRow;
         }
@@ -1017,14 +1016,13 @@ private async Task<TestDetails> CreateFailedTestDetails(TestMetadata metadata, s
 
     private async Task<Attribute[]> InitializeAttributesAsync(Attribute[] attributes)
     {
-        // Initialize any attributes that need property injection or implement IAsyncInitializer
-        // This ensures they're fully initialized before being used
+        // Inject properties into data source attributes during discovery
+        // IAsyncInitializer.InitializeAsync is deferred to execution time
         foreach (var attribute in attributes)
         {
             if (attribute is IDataSourceAttribute dataSource)
             {
-                // Data source attributes need to be initialized with property injection
-                await _objectLifecycleService.EnsureInitializedAsync(dataSource);
+                await _objectLifecycleService.InjectPropertiesAsync(dataSource);
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/TUnit.Engine/Services/ObjectLifecycleService.cs b/TUnit.Engine/Services/ObjectLifecycleService.cs
index f554d07ea0..33d50d9b08 100644
--- a/TUnit.Engine/Services/ObjectLifecycleService.cs
+++ b/TUnit.Engine/Services/ObjectLifecycleService.cs
@@ -207,6 +207,30 @@ await EnsureInitializedAsync(
 
     #region Phase 3: Object Initialization
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Injects properties into an object without calling IAsyncInitializer.
+    /// Used during test discovery to prepare data sources without triggering async initialization.
+    /// </summary>
+    public async ValueTask<T> InjectPropertiesAsync<T>(
+        T obj,
+        ConcurrentDictionary<string, object?>? objectBag = null,
+        MethodMetadata? methodMetadata = null,
+        TestContextEvents? events = null) where T : notnull
+    {
+        if (obj == null)
+        {
+            throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(obj));
+        }
+
+        objectBag ??= new ConcurrentDictionary<string, object?>();
+        events ??= new TestContextEvents();
+
+        // Only inject properties, do not call IAsyncInitializer
+        await PropertyInjector.InjectPropertiesAsync(obj, objectBag, methodMetadata, events);
+
+        return obj;
+    }
+
     /// <summary>
     /// Ensures an object is fully initialized (property injection + IAsyncInitializer).
     /// Thread-safe with fast-path for already-initialized objects.
diff --git a/TUnit.TestProject/Bugs/3992/IAsyncInitializerDiscoveryTests.cs b/TUnit.TestProject/Bugs/3992/IAsyncInitializerDiscoveryTests.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b0c579b0ac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/TUnit.TestProject/Bugs/3992/IAsyncInitializerDiscoveryTests.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+using TUnit.Core.Interfaces;
+using TUnit.TestProject.Attributes;
+
+namespace TUnit.TestProject.Bugs._3992;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Regression test for issue #3992: IAsyncInitializer should not run during test discovery.
+/// Verifies that IAsyncInitializer.InitializeAsync() is only called during test execution,
+/// not during the discovery phase.
+/// </summary>
+[EngineTest(ExpectedResult.Pass)]
+public class IAsyncInitializerDiscoveryTests
+{
+    private static int _initializationCount = 0;
+
+    public class DataSourceWithAsyncInit : IAsyncInitializer
+    {
+        public bool IsInitialized { get; private set; }
+
+        public Task InitializeAsync()
+        {
+            Interlocked.Increment(ref _initializationCount);
+            IsInitialized = true;
+            Console.WriteLine($"InitializeAsync called (count: {_initializationCount})");
+            return Task.CompletedTask;
+        }
+    }
+
+    [Test]
+    [ClassDataSource<DataSourceWithAsyncInit>]
+    public async Task DataSource_InitializeAsync_OnlyCalledDuringExecution(DataSourceWithAsyncInit dataSource)
+    {
+        // Verify that the data source was initialized
+        await Assert.That(dataSource.IsInitialized).IsTrue();
+
+        // Verify that InitializeAsync was called (at least once during execution)
+        await Assert.That(_initializationCount).IsGreaterThan(0);
+
+        Console.WriteLine($"Test execution confirmed: InitializeAsync was called {_initializationCount} time(s)");
+    }
+}