diff --git a/python/sglang/srt/mem_cache/hiradix_cache.py b/python/sglang/srt/mem_cache/hiradix_cache.py
index 50ed72ae4..313e3e8b6 100644
--- a/python/sglang/srt/mem_cache/hiradix_cache.py
+++ b/python/sglang/srt/mem_cache/hiradix_cache.py
@@ -1278,19 +1278,8 @@ class HiRadixCache(RadixCache):
             "[CP-L3] enabled rank=%d/%d payloads=%s disk_dir=%s",
             cp_rank, cp_size, list(accessors), self.cp_l3_store.disk_dir,
         )
-        # CP-HiCache metrics (L2 pooled allocator + L3 store): gated on enable_metrics ALONE (the mainline
-        # storage metrics are dead under CP). Created once; per-rank via tp_rank. Pushed from check_hicache_events.
-        if getattr(params, "enable_metrics", False) and self.cp_hicache_metrics is None:
-            from sglang.srt.observability.metrics_collector import CpHiCacheMetricsCollector
-
-            cc = self.cache_controller
-            labels = {
-                "tp_rank": cc.tp_rank, "dp_rank": cc.dp_rank,
-                "pp_rank": cc.pp_rank, "pp_size": cc.pp_size,
-            }
-            if self.extra_metric_labels:
-                labels.update(self.extra_metric_labels)
-            self.cp_hicache_metrics = CpHiCacheMetricsCollector(labels)
+        # (CP-HiCache metrics are created lazily in _cp_maybe_collect_metrics, gated on L2 pooling -- so they
+        # cover PURE-L2-without-L3 too, not just this L3 path.)
 
     @staticmethod
     def _cp_l3_single_slab_mmap(allocator, payload_kind: str):
@@ -3841,24 +3830,34 @@ class HiRadixCache(RadixCache):
         )
 
     def _cp_maybe_collect_metrics(self) -> None:
-        """Push L2 (pooled allocator) + L3 (store) usage to Prometheus, rate-limited (~1s, per-rank wall-clock;
-        metrics need no rank-uniformity). Off the data path; cheap (occupancy snapshot + queue sizes + counters)."""
-        collector = self.cp_hicache_metrics
-        if collector is None:
+        """Push L2 (pooled allocator) + L3 (store, if present) usage to Prometheus, rate-limited (~1s, per-rank
+        wall-clock; metrics need no rank-uniformity). LAZILY creates the collector on first emit, gated on L2
+        pooling being on (the allocator exists) -- so it covers PURE-L2 (no L3) as well as L2+L3. Off the data
+        path; cheap (occupancy snapshot + queue sizes + counters)."""
+        if not self._enable_metrics_flag:
             return
+        allocator = getattr(self.cache_controller, "cp_shared_l2_page_allocator", None)
+        if allocator is None:
+            return  # L2 pooling not on -> nothing to report
         now = time.monotonic()
         if now - self._cp_metrics_last_emit < 1.0:
             return
         self._cp_metrics_last_emit = now
-        allocator = getattr(self.cache_controller, "cp_shared_l2_page_allocator", None)
-        l2_occ = (
-            allocator.occupancy_by_payload()
-            if allocator is not None and hasattr(allocator, "occupancy_by_payload")
-            else None
-        )
-        l2_stats = allocator.stats() if allocator is not None and hasattr(allocator, "stats") else None
+        if self.cp_hicache_metrics is None:
+            from sglang.srt.observability.metrics_collector import CpHiCacheMetricsCollector
+
+            cc = self.cache_controller
+            labels = {
+                "tp_rank": cc.tp_rank, "dp_rank": cc.dp_rank,
+                "pp_rank": cc.pp_rank, "pp_size": cc.pp_size,
+            }
+            if self.extra_metric_labels:
+                labels.update(self.extra_metric_labels)
+            self.cp_hicache_metrics = CpHiCacheMetricsCollector(labels)
+        l2_occ = allocator.occupancy_by_payload() if hasattr(allocator, "occupancy_by_payload") else None
+        l2_stats = allocator.stats() if hasattr(allocator, "stats") else None
         l3_stats = self.cp_l3_store.stats() if self.cp_l3_store is not None else None
-        collector.collect(l2_occupancy=l2_occ, l2_stats=l2_stats, l3_stats=l3_stats)
+        self.cp_hicache_metrics.collect(l2_occupancy=l2_occ, l2_stats=l2_stats, l3_stats=l3_stats)
 
     def _cp_maybe_log_lane_stats(self) -> None:
         """E1 lane-imbalance probe (read-only, measurement only).