diff --git a/tests/unit/ast/test_natspec.py b/tests/unit/ast/test_natspec.py
index 0b860e562e..710b7a9312 100644
--- a/tests/unit/ast/test_natspec.py
+++ b/tests/unit/ast/test_natspec.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import pytest
 
 from vyper import ast as vy_ast
+from vyper.compiler import compile_code
 from vyper.compiler.phases import CompilerData
 from vyper.exceptions import NatSpecSyntaxException
 
@@ -65,10 +66,10 @@ def parse_natspec(code):
 
 
 def test_documentation_example_output():
-    userdoc, devdoc = parse_natspec(test_code)
+    natspec = parse_natspec(test_code)
 
-    assert userdoc == expected_userdoc
-    assert devdoc == expected_devdoc
+    assert natspec.userdoc == expected_userdoc
+    assert natspec.devdoc == expected_devdoc
 
 
 def test_no_tags_implies_notice():
@@ -84,13 +85,13 @@ def foo():
     pass
     """
 
-    userdoc, devdoc = parse_natspec(code)
+    natspec = parse_natspec(code)
 
-    assert userdoc == {
+    assert natspec.userdoc == {
         "methods": {"foo()": {"notice": "This one too!"}},
         "notice": "Because there is no tag, this docstring is handled as a notice.",
     }
-    assert not devdoc
+    assert natspec.devdoc == {}
 
 
 def test_whitespace():
@@ -111,9 +112,9 @@ def test_whitespace():
 @author Mr No-linter
                 '''
 """
-    _, devdoc = parse_natspec(code)
+    natspec = parse_natspec(code)
 
-    assert devdoc == {
+    assert natspec.devdoc == {
         "author": "Mr No-linter",
         "details": "Whitespace gets cleaned up, people can use awful formatting. We don't mind!",
     }
@@ -131,9 +132,9 @@ def foo(bar: int128, baz: uint256, potato: bytes32):
     pass
     """
 
-    _, devdoc = parse_natspec(code)
+    natspec = parse_natspec(code)
 
-    assert devdoc == {
+    assert natspec.devdoc == {
         "methods": {
             "foo(int128,uint256,bytes32)": {
                 "details": "we didn't document potato, but that's ok",
@@ -154,9 +155,9 @@ def foo(bar: int128, baz: uint256) -> (int128, uint256):
     return bar, baz
     """
 
-    _, devdoc = parse_natspec(code)
+    natspec = parse_natspec(code)
 
-    assert devdoc == {
+    assert natspec.devdoc == {
         "methods": {
             "foo(int128,uint256)": {"returns": {"_0": "value of bar", "_1": "value of baz"}}
         }
@@ -176,9 +177,9 @@ def notfoo(bar: int128, baz: uint256):
     pass
     """
 
-    _, devdoc = parse_natspec(code)
+    natspec = parse_natspec(code)
 
-    assert devdoc["methods"] == {"foo(int128,uint256)": {"details": "I will be parsed."}}
+    assert natspec.devdoc["methods"] == {"foo(int128,uint256)": {"details": "I will be parsed."}}
 
 
 def test_partial_natspec():
@@ -276,9 +277,9 @@ def foo():
     pass
     """
 
-    _, devdoc = parse_natspec(code)
+    natspec = parse_natspec(code)
 
-    assert devdoc == {"license": license}
+    assert natspec.devdoc == {"license": license}
 
 
 fields = ["title", "author", "license", "notice", "dev"]
@@ -417,3 +418,21 @@ def foo() -> (int128,uint256):
         NatSpecSyntaxException, match="Number of documented return values exceeds actual number"
     ):
         parse_natspec(code)
+
+
+def test_natspec_parsed_implicitly():
+    # test natspec is parsed even if not explicitly requested
+    code = """
+'''
+@noticee x
+'''
+    """
+    with pytest.raises(NatSpecSyntaxException):
+        parse_natspec(code)
+
+    # check we can get ast
+    compile_code(code, output_formats=["ast_dict"])
+
+    # anything beyond ast is blocked
+    with pytest.raises(NatSpecSyntaxException):
+        compile_code(code, output_formats=["annotated_ast_dict"])
diff --git a/vyper/ast/natspec.py b/vyper/ast/natspec.py
index 41a6703b6e..48fc9134dd 100644
--- a/vyper/ast/natspec.py
+++ b/vyper/ast/natspec.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import re
+from dataclasses import dataclass
 from typing import Optional, Tuple
 
 from asttokens import LineNumbers
@@ -11,7 +12,13 @@
 USERDOCS_FIELDS = ("notice",)
 
 
-def parse_natspec(annotated_vyper_module: vy_ast.Module) -> Tuple[dict, dict]:
+@dataclass
+class NatspecOutput:
+    userdoc: dict
+    devdoc: dict
+
+
+def parse_natspec(annotated_vyper_module: vy_ast.Module) -> NatspecOutput:
     """
     Parses NatSpec documentation from a contract.
 
@@ -63,7 +70,7 @@ def parse_natspec(annotated_vyper_module: vy_ast.Module) -> Tuple[dict, dict]:
             if fn_natspec:
                 devdoc.setdefault("methods", {})[method_id] = fn_natspec
 
-    return userdoc, devdoc
+    return NatspecOutput(userdoc=userdoc, devdoc=devdoc)
 
 
 def _parse_docstring(
diff --git a/vyper/compiler/output.py b/vyper/compiler/output.py
index f8beb9d11b..9b3bd147ef 100644
--- a/vyper/compiler/output.py
+++ b/vyper/compiler/output.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 from collections import deque
 from pathlib import PurePath
 
-from vyper.ast import ast_to_dict, parse_natspec
+from vyper.ast import ast_to_dict
 from vyper.codegen.ir_node import IRnode
 from vyper.compiler.phases import CompilerData
 from vyper.compiler.utils import build_gas_estimates
@@ -30,13 +30,11 @@ def build_annotated_ast_dict(compiler_data: CompilerData) -> dict:
 
 
 def build_devdoc(compiler_data: CompilerData) -> dict:
-    userdoc, devdoc = parse_natspec(compiler_data.annotated_vyper_module)
-    return devdoc
+    return compiler_data.natspec.devdoc
 
 
 def build_userdoc(compiler_data: CompilerData) -> dict:
-    userdoc, devdoc = parse_natspec(compiler_data.annotated_vyper_module)
-    return userdoc
+    return compiler_data.natspec.userdoc
 
 
 def build_external_interface_output(compiler_data: CompilerData) -> str:
diff --git a/vyper/compiler/phases.py b/vyper/compiler/phases.py
index a9a003f80a..e1ee91df72 100644
--- a/vyper/compiler/phases.py
+++ b/vyper/compiler/phases.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 from typing import Optional
 
 from vyper import ast as vy_ast
+from vyper.ast import natspec
 from vyper.codegen import module
 from vyper.codegen.ir_node import IRnode
 from vyper.compiler.input_bundle import FileInput, FilesystemInputBundle, InputBundle
@@ -150,9 +151,19 @@ def _generate_ast(self):
     def vyper_module(self):
         return self._generate_ast
 
+    @cached_property
+    def _annotate(self) -> tuple[natspec.NatspecOutput, vy_ast.Module]:
+        module = generate_annotated_ast(self.vyper_module, self.input_bundle)
+        nspec = natspec.parse_natspec(module)
+        return nspec, module
+
+    @cached_property
+    def natspec(self) -> natspec.NatspecOutput:
+        return self._annotate[0]
+
     @cached_property
     def annotated_vyper_module(self) -> vy_ast.Module:
-        return generate_annotated_ast(self.vyper_module, self.input_bundle)
+        return self._annotate[1]
 
     @cached_property
     def compilation_target(self):
@@ -173,6 +184,8 @@ def storage_layout(self) -> StorageLayout:
     def global_ctx(self) -> ModuleT:
         # ensure storage layout is computed
         _ = self.storage_layout
+        # ensure natspec is computed
+        _ = self.natspec
         return self.annotated_vyper_module._metadata["type"]
 
     @cached_property