diff --git a/src/lfx/src/lfx/custom/custom_component/custom_component.py b/src/lfx/src/lfx/custom/custom_component/custom_component.py
index 61afb41696..444ff7d71a 100644
--- a/src/lfx/src/lfx/custom/custom_component/custom_component.py
+++ b/src/lfx/src/lfx/custom/custom_component/custom_component.py
@@ -456,24 +456,26 @@ class CustomComponent(BaseComponent):
         """Returns the variable for the current user with the specified name.
 
         Raises:
-            ValueError: If the user id is not set.
+            ValueError: If the user id is not set and variable not found in context.
 
         Returns:
             The variable for the current user with the specified name.
         """
-        if hasattr(self, "_user_id") and not self.user_id:
-            msg = f"User id is not set for {self.__class__.__name__}"
-            raise ValueError(msg)
-
         # Check graph context for request-level variable overrides first
+        # This allows run_flow to work without user_id when variables are passed
         if hasattr(self, "graph") and self.graph and hasattr(self.graph, "context"):
             context = self.graph.context
             if context and "request_variables" in context:
                 request_variables = context["request_variables"]
                 if name in request_variables:
-                    logger.debug(f"Found context override for variable '{name}': {request_variables[name]}")
+                    logger.debug(f"Found context override for variable '{name}'")
                     return request_variables[name]
 
+        # Only check user_id when we need to access the database
+        if hasattr(self, "_user_id") and not self.user_id:
+            msg = f"User id is not set for {self.__class__.__name__}"
+            raise ValueError(msg)
+
         variable_service = get_variable_service()  # Get service instance
         # Retrieve and decrypt the variable by name for the current user
         if isinstance(self.user_id, str):