diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/tests/test_vars.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/tests/test_vars.py
index 716da490b..76747193e 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/tests/test_vars.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/tests/test_vars.py
@@ -156,6 +156,12 @@ def test_generate_public_and_secret_vars(
     vars_text = stringify_all_vars(machine)
     flake_obj = Flake(str(flake.path))
     my_generator = Generator("my_generator", machine="my_machine", _flake=flake_obj)
+    shared_generator = Generator(
+        "my_shared_generator",
+        share=True,
+        machine="my_machine",
+        _flake=flake_obj,
+    )
     dependent_generator = Generator(
         "dependent_generator",
         machine="my_machine",
@@ -262,6 +268,36 @@ def test_generate_public_and_secret_vars(
         "my_generator value should NOT change after regenerating only my_shared_generator"
     )
 
+    # test that a dependent is generated on a clean slate even when no --regenerate is given
+    # remove all generated vars
+    in_repo_store.delete_store("my_machine")
+    sops_store.delete(shared_generator, "my_shared_value")
+    sops_store.delete_store("my_machine")
+    cli.run(
+        [
+            "vars",
+            "generate",
+            "--flake",
+            str(flake.path),
+            "my_machine",
+            "--generator",
+            "my_shared_generator",
+        ]
+    )
+    # check that both my_shared_generator and dependent_generator are generated
+    shared_value_clean = get_machine_var(
+        machine,
+        "my_shared_generator/my_shared_value",
+    ).printable_value
+    assert shared_value_clean.startswith("shared"), "Shared value should be generated"
+    assert sops_store.exists(dependent_generator, "my_secret"), (
+        "Dependent generator's secret should be generated"
+    )
+    secret_value_clean = sops_store.get(dependent_generator, "my_secret").decode()
+    assert secret_value_clean == shared_value_clean, (
+        "Dependent generator's secret should match the shared value"
+    )
+
 
 # TODO: it doesn't actually test if the group has access
 @pytest.mark.with_core
diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/vars/graph.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/vars/graph.py
index 1c4f4cb9b..d119c7ced 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/vars/graph.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/vars/graph.py
@@ -123,6 +123,9 @@ def requested_closure(
 
 # just enough to ensure that the list of selected generators are in a consistent state.
 # empty if nothing is missing.
+# Theoretically we could have a more minimal closure that does not include dependents of
+# the requested generators, but this would introduce the potential for previously
+# generated dependents being out of sync.
 def minimal_closure(
     requested_generators: list[GeneratorKey],
     generators: dict[GeneratorKey, Generator],
@@ -133,4 +136,6 @@ def minimal_closure(
     for gen_key in closure:
         if not generators[gen_key].exists:
             final_closure.add(gen_key)
+    # add dependents of final_closure
+    final_closure = add_dependents(final_closure, generators)
     return toposort_closure(final_closure, generators)