diff --git a/docs/advanced/releases.md b/docs/advanced/releases.md
index 3f77899d..d545ad04 100644
--- a/docs/advanced/releases.md
+++ b/docs/advanced/releases.md
@@ -160,11 +160,13 @@ Staging is performed by:
 
 - `tools/New-IdleModulePackage.ps1`
 
-This script copies the `IdLE` meta-module and required nested modules into a local `Modules/` folder and patches the staged
+This script copies the `IdLE` meta-module and baseline nested modules (`IdLE.Core`, `IdLE.Steps.Common`) into a local `Modules/` folder and patches the staged
 `IdLE.psd1` so `NestedModules` use in-package relative paths (e.g. `./Modules/IdLE.Core/IdLE.Core.psd1`).
 
+For details on baseline vs optional modules and the non-blocking import policy, see **[Installation Guide](../getting-started/installation.md#what-gets-imported)**.
+
 > This approach avoids repository restructuring while ensuring that `Install-Module IdLE` + `Import-Module IdLE` works
-> after installation.
+> reliably on any clean PowerShell 7 environment without external dependencies.
 
 ## Versioning and naming
 
diff --git a/docs/getting-started/installation.md b/docs/getting-started/installation.md
index 053ead88..ed837888 100644
--- a/docs/getting-started/installation.md
+++ b/docs/getting-started/installation.md
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ Install-Module -Name IdLE -Scope CurrentUser
 Import-Module IdLE
 ```
 
-> Note: The `IdLE` meta-module loads the bundled nested modules (e.g. `IdLE.Core`, built-in steps, and the mock provider
-> used by examples) from within the installed package.
+> Note: The `IdLE` module automatically imports the baseline modules (`IdLE.Core` and `IdLE.Steps.Common`).
+> Optional modules (providers, additional step modules) are shipped with the package but not auto-imported.
 
 ### Verify installation
 
@@ -61,9 +61,9 @@ Get-Command -Module IdLE.Core
 
 ## What gets imported
 
-### Default: `IdLE` meta-module (batteries included)
+### Default: `IdLE` meta-module (baseline)
 
-`IdLE` is the **batteries-included** entrypoint. Importing it loads:
+`IdLE` is the **baseline** entrypoint. Importing it automatically loads:
 
 - **IdLE.Core** — the workflow engine (step-agnostic)
 - **IdLE.Steps.Common** — first-party built-in steps (e.g. `IdLE.Step.EmitEvent`, `IdLE.Step.EnsureAttribute`)
@@ -71,7 +71,9 @@ Get-Command -Module IdLE.Core
 Built-in steps are **available to the engine by default**, but are intentionally **not exported into the global session state**.
 This keeps your PowerShell session clean while still allowing workflows to reference built-in steps by `Step.Type`.
 
-**When to use:** Most users and production scenarios.
+**Non-blocking guarantee:** `Import-Module IdLE` always succeeds on a clean PowerShell 7 environment without any external dependencies (RSAT, AD tools, third-party modules, etc.).
+
+**When to use:** All users and production scenarios.
 
 ### Advanced: Engine-only import
 
@@ -85,14 +87,21 @@ Import-Module ./src/IdLE.Core/IdLE.Core.psd1 -Force
 
 ---
 
-## Provider modules (optional)
+## Optional modules (shipped but not auto-imported)
+
+The `IdLE` package ships additional modules that are **not automatically imported**. These modules may have system-specific or tool-specific dependencies and are imported explicitly when needed:
 
-The core engine is provider-agnostic. Provider modules are **packaged with IdLE** but must be **imported separately** when needed.
+- **Provider modules:** `IdLE.Provider.AD`, `IdLE.Provider.EntraID`, `IdLE.Provider.ExchangeOnline`, `IdLE.Provider.DirectorySync.EntraConnect`
+- **Optional step modules:** `IdLE.Steps.DirectorySync`, `IdLE.Steps.Mailbox`
+- **Development/testing modules:** `IdLE.Provider.Mock`
 
-Example:
+Example (from source):
 
 ```powershell
-# From source
+# Import baseline (auto-imports Core and Steps.Common)
+Import-Module ./src/IdLE/IdLE.psd1 -Force
+
+# Import optional provider when needed
 Import-Module ./src/IdLE.Provider.AD/IdLE.Provider.AD.psd1 -Force
 ```
 
diff --git a/examples/Invoke-IdleDemo.ps1 b/examples/Invoke-IdleDemo.ps1
index 9e2e11b4..b3ebe188 100644
--- a/examples/Invoke-IdleDemo.ps1
+++ b/examples/Invoke-IdleDemo.ps1
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ function Select-DemoWorkflows {
 
 # Import modules from the repo (path-based import, no global installation required).
 Import-Module (Join-Path $PSScriptRoot '..\src\IdLE\IdLE.psd1') -Force -ErrorAction Stop
-Import-Module (Join-Path $PSScriptRoot '..\src\IdLE.Steps.Common\IdLE.Steps.Common.psd1') -Force -ErrorAction Stop
+# Mock provider is optional and must be imported explicitly (not auto-imported by IdLE)
 Import-Module (Join-Path $PSScriptRoot '..\src\IdLE.Provider.Mock\IdLE.Provider.Mock.psd1') -Force -ErrorAction Stop
 
 $available = @(Get-DemoWorkflows -Category $Category)
diff --git a/src/IdLE.Core/Public/Invoke-IdlePlanObject.ps1 b/src/IdLE.Core/Public/Invoke-IdlePlanObject.ps1
index e3409041..596b35f4 100644
--- a/src/IdLE.Core/Public/Invoke-IdlePlanObject.ps1
+++ b/src/IdLE.Core/Public/Invoke-IdlePlanObject.ps1
@@ -111,7 +111,42 @@ function Invoke-IdlePlanObject {
             )
         }
 
-        $cmd = Get-Command -Name ([string]$handlerName) -CommandType Function -ErrorAction Stop
+        # Resolve the handler command.
+        # The handler name can be:
+        # 1) A simple function name (e.g. "Invoke-IdleStepEmitEvent") - globally available
+        # 2) A module-qualified name (e.g. "IdLE.Steps.Common\Invoke-IdleStepEmitEvent") - from a nested module
+        #
+        # Module-qualified names are used for built-in steps that are loaded as nested modules
+        # and not exported globally to keep the session clean.
+
+        $cmd = $null
+
+        # Try simple lookup first (globally available commands)
+        $cmd = Get-Command -Name ([string]$handlerName) -CommandType Function -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
+
+        # If not found and name contains backslash, try module-qualified lookup
+        if ($null -eq $cmd -and ([string]$handlerName).Contains('\')) {
+            $parts = ([string]$handlerName).Split('\', 2)
+            if ($parts.Count -eq 2) {
+                $moduleName = $parts[0]
+                $commandName = $parts[1]
+
+                # Get-Module -All returns loaded modules (including nested/hidden modules)
+                # We use -All to find modules that are loaded but not in the global session state
+                $modules = @(Get-Module -Name $moduleName -All)
+                if ($modules.Count -gt 0) {
+                    $module = $modules[0]
+                    if ($null -ne $module.ExportedCommands -and $module.ExportedCommands.ContainsKey($commandName)) {
+                        $cmd = $module.ExportedCommands[$commandName]
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        if ($null -eq $cmd) {
+            throw [System.ArgumentException]::new("Step handler '$handlerName' for step type '$StepType' could not be resolved to a valid command.", 'Providers')
+        }
+
         return $cmd
     }
 
diff --git a/src/IdLE/IdLE.psd1 b/src/IdLE/IdLE.psd1
index 24951b81..77a3b171 100644
--- a/src/IdLE/IdLE.psd1
+++ b/src/IdLE/IdLE.psd1
@@ -9,10 +9,7 @@
 
     NestedModules = @(
         '..\IdLE.Core\IdLE.Core.psd1',
-        '..\IdLE.Steps.Common\IdLE.Steps.Common.psd1',
-        '..\IdLE.Steps.DirectorySync\IdLE.Steps.DirectorySync.psd1',
-        '..\IdLE.Provider.DirectorySync.EntraConnect\IdLE.Provider.DirectorySync.EntraConnect.psd1',
-        '..\IdLE.Provider.AD\IdLE.Provider.AD.psd1'
+        '..\IdLE.Steps.Common\IdLE.Steps.Common.psd1'
     )
 
     FunctionsToExport = @(
diff --git a/tests/ModuleSurface.Tests.ps1 b/tests/ModuleSurface.Tests.ps1
index 0e0f7ee3..b74009dd 100644
--- a/tests/ModuleSurface.Tests.ps1
+++ b/tests/ModuleSurface.Tests.ps1
@@ -156,6 +156,34 @@ Describe 'Module manifests and public surface' {
         ($idle.NestedModules | Where-Object Name -eq 'IdLE.Steps.Common') | Should -Not -BeNullOrEmpty
     }
 
+    It 'IdLE auto-imports only baseline modules (Core and Steps.Common), not optional modules' {
+        # Clean test state - remove baseline modules to ensure fresh import
+        # We don't remove optional modules to maintain test isolation (other tests may have them loaded)
+        Remove-Module IdLE, IdLE.Core, IdLE.Steps.Common -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
+        Import-Module $idlePsd1 -Force -ErrorAction Stop
+
+        $idle = Get-Module IdLE
+        $idle | Should -Not -BeNullOrEmpty
+
+        # Define expected baseline modules in one place
+        $baselineModules = @('IdLE.Core', 'IdLE.Steps.Common')
+
+        # Baseline modules should be auto-imported (explicit positive check)
+        foreach ($moduleName in $baselineModules) {
+            ($idle.NestedModules | Where-Object Name -eq $moduleName) | Should -Not -BeNullOrEmpty -Because "$moduleName should be auto-imported"
+        }
+
+        # Only baseline modules should be nested (count check ensures no extras)
+        @($idle.NestedModules).Count | Should -Be $baselineModules.Count
+
+        # Verify no optional modules are nested (generalized negative check using pattern)
+        # This pattern matches: IdLE.Provider.* or IdLE.Steps.* (except Steps.Common)
+        $nestedNames = @($idle.NestedModules | Select-Object -ExpandProperty Name)
+        $optionalModulePattern = '^IdLE\.(Provider\.|Steps\.(?!Common$))'
+        $unexpectedModules = $nestedNames | Where-Object { $_ -match $optionalModulePattern }
+        $unexpectedModules | Should -BeNullOrEmpty -Because "Optional modules should not be auto-imported"
+    }
+
     It 'Steps module exports the intended step functions' {
         Remove-Module IdLE.Steps.Common -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
         Import-Module $stepsPsd1 -Force -ErrorAction Stop