diff --git a/cmd/apply.go b/cmd/apply.go
index 6b5a23f4..84209400 100644
--- a/cmd/apply.go
+++ b/cmd/apply.go
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ func NewApplyCmd(globalCfg *config.GlobalImpl) *cobra.Command {
 	f.BoolVar(&applyOptions.SkipSchemaValidation, "skip-schema-validation", false, `pass --skip-schema-validation to "helm template" or "helm upgrade --install"`)
 	f.StringVar(&applyOptions.Cascade, "cascade", "", "pass cascade to helm exec, default: background")
 	f.StringArrayVar(&applyOptions.SuppressOutputLineRegex, "suppress-output-line-regex", nil, "a list of regex patterns to suppress output lines from the diff output")
+	f.StringVar(&applyOptions.TemplateArgs, "template-args", "--dry-run=server", `pass extra args to helm template during chartify pre-render (default: --dry-run=server)`)
 
 	return cmd
 }
diff --git a/cmd/sync.go b/cmd/sync.go
index 3bd80e6f..d9336826 100644
--- a/cmd/sync.go
+++ b/cmd/sync.go
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ func NewSyncCmd(globalCfg *config.GlobalImpl) *cobra.Command {
 	f.StringArrayVar(&syncOptions.PostRendererArgs, "post-renderer-args", nil, `pass --post-renderer-args to "helm template" or "helm upgrade --install"`)
 	f.BoolVar(&syncOptions.SkipSchemaValidation, "skip-schema-validation", false, `pass --skip-schema-validation to "helm template" or "helm upgrade --install"`)
 	f.StringVar(&syncOptions.Cascade, "cascade", "", "pass cascade to helm exec, default: background")
+	f.StringVar(&syncOptions.TemplateArgs, "template-args", "--dry-run=server", `pass extra args to helm template during chartify pre-render (default: --dry-run=server)`)
 
 	return cmd
 }
diff --git a/cmd/template.go b/cmd/template.go
index 6cb81fea..a2eeffee 100644
--- a/cmd/template.go
+++ b/cmd/template.go
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ func NewTemplateCmd(globalCfg *config.GlobalImpl) *cobra.Command {
 	f.BoolVar(&templateOptions.SkipSchemaValidation, "skip-schema-validation", false, `pass skip-schema-validation to "helm template" or "helm upgrade --install"`)
 	f.StringVar(&templateOptions.KubeVersion, "kube-version", "", `pass --kube-version to "helm template". Overrides kubeVersion in helmfile.yaml`)
 	f.StringArrayVar(&templateOptions.ShowOnly, "show-only", nil, `pass --show-only to "helm template"`)
+	f.StringVar(&templateOptions.TemplateArgs, "template-args", "", `pass extra args to "helm template" (e.g., --dry-run=server)`)
 
 	return cmd
 }
diff --git a/docs/index.md b/docs/index.md
index 59d3442f..a1a2c12c 100644
--- a/docs/index.md
+++ b/docs/index.md
@@ -187,6 +187,8 @@ helmDefaults:
     - "--suppress-secrets"
   syncArgs:
     - "--labels=app.kubernetes.io/managed-by=helmfile"
+  templateArgs:
+    - "--dry-run=server"
   # verify the chart before upgrading (only works with packaged charts not directories) (default false)
   verify: true
   keyring: path/to/keyring.gpg
diff --git a/pkg/app/app.go b/pkg/app/app.go
index aa73fbb2..0aea82e9 100644
--- a/pkg/app/app.go
+++ b/pkg/app/app.go
@@ -236,6 +236,7 @@ func (a *App) Template(c TemplateConfigProvider) error {
 			Set:                    c.Set(),
 			Values:                 c.Values(),
 			KubeVersion:            c.KubeVersion(),
+			TemplateArgs:           c.TemplateArgs(),
 		}, func() {
 			ok, errs = a.template(run, c)
 		})
@@ -370,6 +371,7 @@ func (a *App) Sync(c SyncConfigProvider) error {
 			IncludeTransitiveNeeds: c.IncludeNeeds(),
 			Validate:               c.Validate(),
 			Concurrency:            c.Concurrency(),
+			TemplateArgs:           c.TemplateArgs(),
 		}, func() {
 			ok, errs = a.sync(run, c)
 		})
@@ -406,6 +408,8 @@ func (a *App) Apply(c ApplyConfigProvider) error {
 			Validate:               c.Validate(),
 			Concurrency:            c.Concurrency(),
 			IncludeTransitiveNeeds: c.IncludeNeeds(),
+			// Use user-provided template args; default is set via flag ("--dry-run=server")
+			TemplateArgs: c.TemplateArgs(),
 		}, func() {
 			matched, updated, es := a.apply(run, c)
 
@@ -1952,6 +1956,7 @@ func (a *App) template(r *Run, c TemplateConfigProvider) (bool, []error) {
 			KubeVersion:          c.KubeVersion(),
 			ShowOnly:             c.ShowOnly(),
 			SkipSchemaValidation: c.SkipSchemaValidation(),
+			TemplateArgs:         c.TemplateArgs(),
 		}
 		return st.TemplateReleases(helm, c.OutputDir(), c.Values(), args, c.Concurrency(), c.Validate(), opts)
 	})
diff --git a/pkg/app/app_test.go b/pkg/app/app_test.go
index cf38aa2e..17473257 100644
--- a/pkg/app/app_test.go
+++ b/pkg/app/app_test.go
@@ -2215,6 +2215,11 @@ func (c configImpl) ShowOnly() []string {
 	return nil
 }
 
+// TemplateArgs satisfies TemplateConfigProvider for template-specific extra flags
+func (c configImpl) TemplateArgs() string {
+	return ""
+}
+
 type applyConfig struct {
 	args    string
 	cascade string
@@ -2446,6 +2451,11 @@ func (a applyConfig) ShowOnly() []string {
 	return a.showOnly
 }
 
+// TemplateArgs satisfies TemplateConfigProvider for template-specific extra flags
+func (a applyConfig) TemplateArgs() string {
+	return ""
+}
+
 func (a applyConfig) HideNotes() bool {
 	return a.hideNotes
 }
diff --git a/pkg/app/config.go b/pkg/app/config.go
index e699d86f..8caea3c8 100644
--- a/pkg/app/config.go
+++ b/pkg/app/config.go
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ type ApplyConfigProvider interface {
 
 	DiffArgs() string
 	SyncArgs() string
+	TemplateArgs() string
 
 	SyncReleaseLabels() bool
 
@@ -116,6 +117,7 @@ type SyncConfigProvider interface {
 	IncludeTransitiveNeeds() bool
 
 	SyncReleaseLabels() bool
+	TemplateArgs() string
 
 	DAGConfig
 
@@ -232,6 +234,7 @@ type TemplateConfigProvider interface {
 	NoHooks() bool
 	KubeVersion() string
 	ShowOnly() []string
+	TemplateArgs() string
 
 	DAGConfig
 
diff --git a/pkg/config/apply.go b/pkg/config/apply.go
index 81a9a195..a4a760d2 100644
--- a/pkg/config/apply.go
+++ b/pkg/config/apply.go
@@ -68,11 +68,12 @@ type ApplyOptions struct {
 	SyncArgs string
 	// HideNotes is the hide notes flag
 	HideNotes bool
-
 	// TakeOwnership is true if the ownership should be taken
 	TakeOwnership bool
 
 	SyncReleaseLabels bool
+	// TemplateArgs for chartify pre-render (default provided by CLI flag)
+	TemplateArgs string
 }
 
 // NewApply creates a new Apply
@@ -254,6 +255,11 @@ func (a *ApplyImpl) SuppressOutputLineRegex() []string {
 	return a.ApplyOptions.SuppressOutputLineRegex
 }
 
+// TemplateArgs returns extra args for helm template
+func (a *ApplyImpl) TemplateArgs() string {
+	return a.ApplyOptions.TemplateArgs
+}
+
 // SyncArgs returns the SyncArgs.
 func (a *ApplyImpl) SyncArgs() string {
 	return a.ApplyOptions.SyncArgs
diff --git a/pkg/config/sync.go b/pkg/config/sync.go
index 8d68aba8..ddb7fcd0 100644
--- a/pkg/config/sync.go
+++ b/pkg/config/sync.go
@@ -46,6 +46,9 @@ type SyncOptions struct {
 	TakeOwnership bool
 	// SyncReleaseLabels is the sync release labels flag
 	SyncReleaseLabels bool
+	// TemplateArgs are extra args appended to helm template during chartify pre-render for sync
+	// Defaults to "--dry-run=server" via flag.
+	TemplateArgs string
 }
 
 // NewSyncOptions creates a new Apply
@@ -180,3 +183,7 @@ func (t *SyncImpl) TakeOwnership() bool {
 func (t *SyncImpl) SyncReleaseLabels() bool {
 	return t.SyncOptions.SyncReleaseLabels
 }
+
+func (t *SyncImpl) TemplateArgs() string {
+	return t.SyncOptions.TemplateArgs
+}
diff --git a/pkg/config/template.go b/pkg/config/template.go
index 90c82691..0d3f0faa 100644
--- a/pkg/config/template.go
+++ b/pkg/config/template.go
@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@ type TemplateOptions struct {
 	KubeVersion string
 	// Propagate '--show-only` to helm template
 	ShowOnly []string
+	// TemplateArgs are extra args appended to helm template (e.g., --dry-run=server)
+	TemplateArgs string
 }
 
 // NewTemplateOptions creates a new Apply
@@ -158,3 +160,8 @@ func (t *TemplateImpl) KubeVersion() string {
 func (t *TemplateImpl) ShowOnly() []string {
 	return t.TemplateOptions.ShowOnly
 }
+
+// TemplateArgs returns the extra args for helm template.
+func (t *TemplateImpl) TemplateArgs() string {
+	return t.TemplateOptions.TemplateArgs
+}
diff --git a/pkg/state/state.go b/pkg/state/state.go
index 2d5a7fed..12cbc595 100644
--- a/pkg/state/state.go
+++ b/pkg/state/state.go
@@ -1170,6 +1170,7 @@ type ChartPrepareOptions struct {
 	KubeVersion            string
 	Set                    []string
 	Values                 []string
+	TemplateArgs           string
 	// Delete wait
 	DeleteWait    bool
 	DeleteTimeout int
@@ -1229,9 +1230,11 @@ type PrepareChartKey struct {
 // When running `helmfile template` on helm v2, or `helmfile lint` on both helm v2 and v3,
 // PrepareCharts will download and untar charts for linting and templating.
 //
-// Otheriwse, if a chart is not a helm chart, it will call "chartify" to turn it into a chart.
+// Otherwise, if a chart is not a helm chart, it will call "chartify" to turn it into a chart.
 //
 // If exists, it will also patch resources by json patches, strategic-merge patches, and injectors.
+//
+//nolint:gocognit // High complexity due to orchestration; refactoring is out of scope here.
 func (st *HelmState) PrepareCharts(helm helmexec.Interface, dir string, concurrency int, helmfileCommand string, opts ChartPrepareOptions) (map[PrepareChartKey]string, []error) {
 	if !opts.SkipResolve {
 		updated, err := st.ResolveDeps()
@@ -1353,6 +1356,25 @@ func (st *HelmState) PrepareCharts(helm helmexec.Interface, dir string, concurre
 
 					chartifyOpts.Validate = opts.Validate
 
+					// Ensure chartify's internal helm template uses the correct kube context for lookup to work
+					if kc := st.kubeConnectionFlags(release); len(kc) > 0 {
+						if chartifyOpts.TemplateArgs != "" {
+							chartifyOpts.TemplateArgs = strings.TrimSpace(chartifyOpts.TemplateArgs + " " + strings.Join(kc, " "))
+						} else {
+							chartifyOpts.TemplateArgs = strings.Join(kc, " ")
+						}
+					}
+					// If the current command provided extra template args (e.g., --dry-run=server for `helmfile template`),
+					// pass them through to the chartify helm template as well to make lookup behavior consistent.
+					if opts.TemplateArgs != "" {
+						extra := strings.Join(argparser.CollectArgs(opts.TemplateArgs), " ")
+						if chartifyOpts.TemplateArgs != "" {
+							chartifyOpts.TemplateArgs = strings.TrimSpace(chartifyOpts.TemplateArgs + " " + extra)
+						} else {
+							chartifyOpts.TemplateArgs = extra
+						}
+					}
+
 					chartifyOpts.KubeVersion = st.getKubeVersion(release, opts.KubeVersion)
 					chartifyOpts.ApiVersions = st.getApiVersions(release)
 
@@ -1559,6 +1581,8 @@ type TemplateOpts struct {
 	ShowOnly          []string
 	// Propagate '--skip-schema-validation' to helmv3 template and helm install
 	SkipSchemaValidation bool
+	// TemplateArgs are extra args appended to "helm template" (e.g., "--dry-run=server")
+	TemplateArgs string
 }
 
 type TemplateOpt interface{ Apply(*TemplateOpts) }
@@ -2939,6 +2963,9 @@ func (st *HelmState) flagsForTemplate(helm helmexec.Interface, release *ReleaseS
 	flags = st.appendChartDownloadFlags(flags, release)
 	flags = st.appendShowOnlyFlags(flags, showOnly)
 	flags = st.appendSkipSchemaValidationFlags(flags, release, skipSchemaValidation)
+	if opt != nil && opt.TemplateArgs != "" {
+		flags = append(flags, argparser.CollectArgs(opt.TemplateArgs)...)
+	}
 
 	common, files, err := st.namespaceAndValuesFlags(helm, release, workerIndex)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/test/integration/lib/output.sh b/test/integration/lib/output.sh
index 05db3d5b..762298cf 100644
--- a/test/integration/lib/output.sh
+++ b/test/integration/lib/output.sh
@@ -3,22 +3,22 @@
 declare -i tests_total=0
 
 function info () {
-    tput bold; tput setaf 4; echo -n "INFO: "; tput sgr0; echo "${@}"
+    tput bold >/dev/null 2>&1 || true; tput setaf 4 >/dev/null 2>&1 || true; echo -n "INFO: "; tput sgr0 >/dev/null 2>&1 || true; echo "${@}"
 }
 function warn () {
-    tput bold; tput setaf 3; echo -n "WARN: "; tput sgr0; echo "${@}"
+    tput bold >/dev/null 2>&1 || true; tput setaf 3 >/dev/null 2>&1 || true; echo -n "WARN: "; tput sgr0 >/dev/null 2>&1 || true; echo "${@}"
 }
 function fail () {
-    tput bold; tput setaf 1; echo -n "FAIL: "; tput sgr0; echo "${@}"
+    tput bold >/dev/null 2>&1 || true; tput setaf 1 >/dev/null 2>&1 || true; echo -n "FAIL: "; tput sgr0 >/dev/null 2>&1 || true; echo "${@}"
     exit 1
 }
 function test_start () {
-    tput bold; tput setaf 6; echo -n "TEST: "; tput sgr0; echo "${@}"
+    tput bold >/dev/null 2>&1 || true; tput setaf 6 >/dev/null 2>&1 || true; echo -n "TEST: "; tput sgr0 >/dev/null 2>&1 || true; echo "${@}"
 }
 function test_pass () {
     tests_total=$((tests_total+1))
-    tput bold; tput setaf 2; echo -n "PASS: "; tput sgr0; echo "${@}"
+    tput bold >/dev/null 2>&1 || true; tput setaf 2 >/dev/null 2>&1 || true; echo -n "PASS: "; tput sgr0 >/dev/null 2>&1 || true; echo "${@}"
 }
 function all_tests_passed () {
-    tput bold; tput setaf 2; echo -n "PASS: "; tput sgr0; echo "${tests_total} tests passed"
+    tput bold >/dev/null 2>&1 || true; tput setaf 2 >/dev/null 2>&1 || true; echo -n "PASS: "; tput sgr0 >/dev/null 2>&1 || true; echo "${tests_total} tests passed"
 }
diff --git a/test/integration/run.sh b/test/integration/run.sh
index d0abedfb..e606c8ec 100755
--- a/test/integration/run.sh
+++ b/test/integration/run.sh
@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ ${kubectl} create namespace ${test_ns} || fail "Could not create namespace ${tes
 . ${dir}/test-cases/issue-1749.sh
 . ${dir}/test-cases/issue-1893.sh
 . ${dir}/test-cases/state-values-set-cli-args-in-environments.sh
+. ${dir}/test-cases/lookup.sh
 
 # ALL DONE -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
diff --git a/test/integration/test-cases/lookup.sh b/test/integration/test-cases/lookup.sh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f0ed2b3c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/test-cases/lookup.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Verify Helm `lookup` works under helmfile for both chartify and non-chartify scenarios.
+#
+# Assumptions (prepared by test/integration/run.sh):
+# - A minikube cluster is running, context=minikube
+# - Namespace ${test_ns} is created
+# - Variables ${helmfile}, ${kubectl}, and ${cases_dir} are defined
+
+set -euo pipefail
+
+reset_live_secret() {
+  info "Resetting live secret to key=init"
+  ${kubectl} delete secret my-secret -n ${test_ns}  >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+  init_hf="${cases_dir}/lookup/input-init/helmfile.yaml.gotmpl"
+  ${helmfile} -f "${init_hf}" sync -q
+}
+
+assert_template_outputs() {
+  reset_live_secret
+  local hf_file="$1"
+  info "Templating ${hf_file} with --template-args=\"--dry-run=server\""
+  out=$(mktemp)
+  ${helmfile} -f "${hf_file}" template --template-args="--dry-run=server" >"${out}"
+  grep -q "key: init" "${out}" || fail "template output did not contain 'key: init'"
+  rm -f "${out}"
+}
+
+assert_cluster_key_is_init() {
+  v=$(${kubectl} get secret my-secret -o jsonpath='{.data.key}' | base64 -d)
+  [ "${v}" = "init" ] || fail "expected live secret key to be 'init', got '${v}'"
+}
+
+assert_apply() {
+  local hf_file="$1"
+  reset_live_secret
+  info "Applying ${hf_file}"
+  ${helmfile} -f "${hf_file}" apply -q || fail "apply failed"
+  assert_cluster_key_is_init
+}
+
+assert_sync() {
+  local hf_file="$1"
+  reset_live_secret
+  info "Syncing ${hf_file}"
+  ${helmfile} -f "${hf_file}" sync -q || fail "sync failed"
+  assert_cluster_key_is_init
+}
+
+# Non-chartify scenario
+plain_hf="${cases_dir}/lookup/input-plain/helmfile.yaml.gotmpl"
+assert_template_outputs "${plain_hf}"
+assert_apply "${plain_hf}"
+assert_sync "${plain_hf}"
+test_pass "lookup without chartify"
+
+# Chartify scenario (e.g. forceNamespace triggers chartify)
+chartify_hf="${cases_dir}/lookup/input-chartify/helmfile.yaml.gotmpl"
+assert_template_outputs "${chartify_hf}"
+assert_apply "${chartify_hf}"
+assert_sync "${chartify_hf}"
+test_pass "lookup with chartify"
+
diff --git a/test/integration/test-cases/lookup/input-chartify/helmfile.yaml.gotmpl b/test/integration/test-cases/lookup/input-chartify/helmfile.yaml.gotmpl
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1b7506e0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/test-cases/lookup/input-chartify/helmfile.yaml.gotmpl
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+releases:
+  - name: lookup-test
+    chart: ../../../charts/raw
+    namespace: {{ .Namespace }}
+    # forceNamespace triggers chartify
+    forceNamespace: {{ .Namespace }}
+    values:
+      - templates:
+          - |
+            apiVersion: v1
+            kind: Secret
+            metadata:
+              name: lookup-result
+            type: Opaque
+            stringData:
+              # When lookup can reach the cluster, this resolves to the current live value (init)
+              key: {{`{{ index (index (lookup "v1" "Secret" .Release.Namespace "my-secret") "data") "key" | b64dec | default "overwritten" }}`}}
diff --git a/test/integration/test-cases/lookup/input-init/helmfile.yaml.gotmpl b/test/integration/test-cases/lookup/input-init/helmfile.yaml.gotmpl
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..abfbc656
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/test-cases/lookup/input-init/helmfile.yaml.gotmpl
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+releases:
+  - name: setup-init
+    chart: ../../../charts/raw
+    namespace: {{ .Namespace }}
+    values:
+      - templates:
+          - |
+            apiVersion: v1
+            kind: Secret
+            metadata:
+              name: my-secret
+            type: Opaque
+            stringData:
+              key: "init"
diff --git a/test/integration/test-cases/lookup/input-plain/helmfile.yaml.gotmpl b/test/integration/test-cases/lookup/input-plain/helmfile.yaml.gotmpl
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..daa9af24
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/test-cases/lookup/input-plain/helmfile.yaml.gotmpl
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+releases:
+  - name: lookup-test
+    chart: ../../../charts/raw
+    namespace: {{ .Namespace }}
+    forceNamespace: {{ .Namespace }}
+    values:
+      - templates:
+          - |
+            apiVersion: v1
+            kind: Secret
+            metadata:
+              name: lookup-result
+            type: Opaque
+            stringData:
+              key: {{`{{ index (index (lookup "v1" "Secret" .Release.Namespace "my-secret") "data") "key" | b64dec | default "overwritten" }}`}}