diff --git a/Taskfile.yml b/Taskfile.yml
index a7fa677..c964b13 100644
--- a/Taskfile.yml
+++ b/Taskfile.yml
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ tasks:
 
   test:
     cmds:
+      - task: pm:test
       - task: cu:test
 
   dev-doc:
diff --git a/packages/copper-proc-macros/Cargo.toml b/packages/copper-proc-macros/Cargo.toml
index 877c296..cf0f588 100644
--- a/packages/copper-proc-macros/Cargo.toml
+++ b/packages/copper-proc-macros/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "pistonite-cu-proc-macros"
-version = "0.2.0"
+version = "0.2.1"
 edition = "2024"
 description = "Proc-macros for Cu"
 repository = "https://github.com/Pistonite/cu"
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ exclude = [
 
 [dependencies.pm]
 package = "pistonite-pm"
-version = "0.2.0"
+version = "0.2.1"
 path = "../promethium"
 features = ["full"]
 
diff --git a/packages/copper-proc-macros/src/cli.rs b/packages/copper-proc-macros/src/cli.rs
index 9525d12..fa0c93c 100644
--- a/packages/copper-proc-macros/src/cli.rs
+++ b/packages/copper-proc-macros/src/cli.rs
@@ -53,9 +53,9 @@ pub fn expand(attr: TokenStream, input: TokenStream) -> pm::Result<TokenStream2>
     Ok(expanded)
 }
 
-fn parse_attributes(attr: TokenStream) -> pm::Result<CliAttributes> {
+fn parse_attributes(attr: TokenStream) -> pm::Result<ParsedAttributes> {
     let attrs = pm::parse_punctuated::<syn::MetaNameValue, syn::Token![,]>(attr)?;
-    let mut out = CliAttributes::default();
+    let mut out = ParsedAttributes::default();
 
     for attr in attrs {
         if attr.path.is_ident("flags") {
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ fn parse_attributes(attr: TokenStream) -> pm::Result<CliAttributes> {
     Ok(out)
 }
 #[derive(Default)]
-struct CliAttributes {
+struct ParsedAttributes {
     flags_ident: Option<syn::Ident>,
     preprocess_fn: Option<syn::Expr>,
 }
diff --git a/packages/copper-proc-macros/src/error_ctx.rs b/packages/copper-proc-macros/src/error_ctx.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1cb62cd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/copper-proc-macros/src/error_ctx.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,128 @@
+use pm::pre::*;
+
+pub fn expand(attr: TokenStream, input: TokenStream) -> pm::Result<TokenStream2> {
+    let attrs = parse_attributes(attr)?;
+    let item: syn::ItemFn = syn::parse(input)?;
+
+    let item_attrs = &item.attrs;
+    let item_block = &item.block;
+    let sig = &item.sig;
+    let is_async = item.sig.asyncness.is_some();
+    let retty = match &item.sig.output {
+        syn::ReturnType::Default => pm::quote! {()},
+        syn::ReturnType::Type(_, ty) => pm::quote! {#ty},
+    };
+    let args = attrs.format_args;
+
+    let block = match (attrs.is_pre, is_async) {
+        // for non-async, we need to use a closure
+        // to prevent `?` operator from returning directly.
+        // for async, we can use an async block
+        (true, false) => {
+            pm::quote! {
+                use cu::Context as _;
+                let __error_msg = format!(#args);
+                let __result: #retty = (move|| -> #retty #item_block)();
+                __result.context(__error_msg)
+            }
+        }
+        (true, true) => {
+            pm::quote! {
+                use cu::Context as _;
+                let __error_msg = format!(#args);
+                let __result: #retty = async move #item_block.await;
+                __result.context(__error_msg)
+            }
+        }
+        (false, false) => {
+            pm::quote! {
+                use cu::Context as _;
+                let __result: #retty = (move|| -> #retty #item_block)();
+                __result.with_context(|| format!(#args))
+            }
+        }
+        (false, true) => {
+            pm::quote! {
+                use cu::Context as _;
+                let __result: #retty = async move #item_block.await;
+                __result.with_context(|| format!(#args))
+            }
+        }
+    };
+
+    let expanded = pm::quote! {
+        #(#item_attrs)* #sig { #block }
+    };
+
+    Ok(expanded)
+}
+
+fn parse_attributes(attr: TokenStream) -> pm::Result<ParsedAttributes> {
+    let Ok(attrs) = pm::parse_punctuated::<syn::Meta, syn::Token![,]>(attr.clone()) else {
+        // if the input is not a list of meta, assuming using shorthand
+        // input is format args
+        return Ok(ParsedAttributes {
+            format_args: attr.into(),
+            ..Default::default()
+        });
+    };
+
+    let mut out = ParsedAttributes::default();
+    for attr in attrs {
+        match attr {
+            syn::Meta::Path(attr) => {
+                if attr.is_ident("pre") {
+                    out.is_pre = true;
+                    continue;
+                } else if attr.is_ident("format") {
+                    pm::bail!(
+                        attr,
+                        "`format` attribute should contain the format args, i.e. #[cu::error_ctx(format(...))], or use the shorthand #[cu::error_ctx(...)]"
+                    );
+                }
+                pm::bail!(attr, "unknown attribute")
+            }
+            syn::Meta::List(attr) => {
+                if attr.path.is_ident("pre") {
+                    pm::bail!(
+                        attr,
+                        "`pre` attribute should not have a value, i.e. #[cu::error_ctx(pre, ...)]"
+                    );
+                }
+                if attr.path.is_ident("format") {
+                    out.format_args = attr.tokens;
+                    continue;
+                }
+                pm::bail!(attr, "unknown attribute")
+            }
+            syn::Meta::NameValue(attr) => {
+                if attr.path.is_ident("pre") {
+                    pm::bail!(
+                        attr,
+                        "`pre` attribute should not have a value, i.e. #[cu::error_ctx(pre, ...)]"
+                    );
+                }
+                if attr.path.is_ident("format") {
+                    pm::bail!(
+                        attr,
+                        "`format` attribute should be parenthesized, i.e. #[cu::error_ctx(format(...))], or use the shorthand #[cu::error_ctx(...)]"
+                    );
+                }
+                pm::bail!(attr, "unknown attribute")
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    Ok(out)
+}
+
+#[derive(Default)]
+struct ParsedAttributes {
+    /// if the error string should be formatted before invoking
+    /// the function. this is needed if some non-Copy values
+    /// are moved into the function
+    is_pre: bool,
+
+    /// The format expression
+    format_args: TokenStream2,
+}
diff --git a/packages/copper-proc-macros/src/lib.rs b/packages/copper-proc-macros/src/lib.rs
index 8e7f2ef..9803a4a 100644
--- a/packages/copper-proc-macros/src/lib.rs
+++ b/packages/copper-proc-macros/src/lib.rs
@@ -13,3 +13,13 @@ pub fn derive_parse(input: TokenStream) -> TokenStream {
     pm::flatten(derive_parse::expand(input))
 }
 mod derive_parse;
+
+/// Attribute macro for wrapping a function with an error context
+///
+/// See the [tests](https://github.com/Pistonite/cu/blob/main/packages/copper/tests/error_ctx.rs)
+/// for examples
+#[proc_macro_attribute]
+pub fn error_ctx(attr: TokenStream, input: TokenStream) -> TokenStream {
+    pm::flatten(error_ctx::expand(attr, input))
+}
+mod error_ctx;
diff --git a/packages/copper/Cargo.toml b/packages/copper/Cargo.toml
index 835c522..e71820d 100644
--- a/packages/copper/Cargo.toml
+++ b/packages/copper/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "pistonite-cu"
-version = "0.6.4"
+version = "0.6.5"
 edition = "2024"
 description = "Battery-included common utils to speed up development of rust tools"
 repository = "https://github.com/Pistonite/cu"
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ exclude = [
 ]
 
 [dependencies]
-pistonite-cu-proc-macros = { version = "0.2.0", path = "../copper-proc-macros", optional = true }
+pistonite-cu-proc-macros = { version = "0.2.1", path = "../copper-proc-macros" }
 
 anyhow = "1.0.100"
 log = "0.4.28"
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ full = [
 ]
 
 # Command Line Interface (enables integration with `clap` and command line entry points)
-cli = ["dep:clap", "dep:pistonite-cu-proc-macros", "print"]
+cli = ["dep:clap", "print"]
 print = ["dep:regex", "dep:env_filter", "dep:terminal_size", "dep:unicode-width"]
 # Utils to show prompt for user input in terminal
 prompt = ["print"]
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ fs = [
     "tokio?/fs"
 ]
 # Enable parsing utils
-parse = ["dep:pistonite-cu-proc-macros"]
+parse = []
 serde = ["dep:serde"]
 json = ["parse", "serde", "dep:serde_json"]
 json-preserve-order = ["json", "serde_json/preserve_order"]
diff --git a/packages/copper/src/lib.rs b/packages/copper/src/lib.rs
index bc31ff3..18c48b2 100644
--- a/packages/copper/src/lib.rs
+++ b/packages/copper/src/lib.rs
@@ -120,6 +120,7 @@ pub use misc::*;
 // re-exports from libraries
 pub use anyhow::{Context, Error, Ok, Result, anyhow as fmterr, bail, ensure};
 pub use log::{debug, error, info, trace, warn};
+pub use pistonite_cu_proc_macros::error_ctx;
 #[cfg(feature = "coroutine")]
 pub use tokio::{join, try_join};
 
diff --git a/packages/copper/tests/error_ctx.rs b/packages/copper/tests/error_ctx.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f715eb9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/copper/tests/error_ctx.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,112 @@
+use pistonite_cu as cu;
+
+#[test]
+fn test_example1() {
+    let msg = format!("{:?}", example1(42).unwrap_err());
+    assert_eq!(
+        msg,
+        r"failed with arg 42
+
+Caused by:
+    example1"
+    )
+}
+
+#[cu::error_ctx("failed with arg {arg}")]
+fn example1(arg: u32) -> cu::Result<()> {
+    cu::bail!("example1")
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn test_example2() {
+    let msg = format!("{:?}", example2("hello".to_string()).unwrap_err());
+    assert_eq!(
+        msg,
+        r"failed with arg hello
+
+Caused by:
+    example2: hello"
+    )
+}
+
+// 'pre' is needed because s is moved into the function
+// so the error message needs to be formatted before running the function
+#[cu::error_ctx(pre, format("failed with arg {s}"))]
+fn example2(s: String) -> cu::Result<()> {
+    cu::bail!("example2: {s}")
+}
+
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn test_example3_err() {
+    let msg = format!("{:?}", example3(4).await.unwrap_err());
+    assert_eq!(
+        msg,
+        r"async failed with arg 4
+
+Caused by:
+    Condition failed: `value > 4` (4 vs 4)"
+    )
+}
+
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn test_example3_ok() {
+    assert!(example3(42).await.is_ok())
+}
+
+// question mark works as expected (context is added at return time)
+#[cu::error_ctx("async failed with arg {}", s)]
+async fn example3(s: u32) -> cu::Result<()> {
+    let value = returns_ok(s)?;
+    cu::ensure!(value > 4);
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn test_example4_err() {
+    let msg = format!("{:?}", example4("".to_string()).await.unwrap_err());
+    assert_eq!(
+        msg,
+        r"async failed with arg 
+
+Caused by:
+    Condition failed: `!value.is_empty()`"
+    )
+}
+
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn test_example4_ok() {
+    assert!(example4("hello".to_string()).await.is_ok())
+}
+
+// question mark works as expected (context is added at return time)
+#[cu::error_ctx(pre, format("async failed with arg {s}"))]
+async fn example4(s: String) -> cu::Result<()> {
+    let value = returns_ok(s)?;
+    cu::ensure!(!value.is_empty());
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn test_example5() {
+    let msg = format!("{:?}", Foo(7).example5().unwrap_err());
+    assert_eq!(
+        msg,
+        r"Foo failed with arg 7
+
+Caused by:
+    example5"
+    )
+}
+
+// associated functions also work
+struct Foo(u32);
+impl Foo {
+    #[cu::error_ctx("Foo failed with arg {}", self.0)]
+    fn example5(&self) -> cu::Result<()> {
+        cu::bail!("example5")
+    }
+}
+
+fn returns_ok<T>(t: T) -> cu::Result<T> {
+    Ok(t)
+}
diff --git a/packages/promethium/Cargo.toml b/packages/promethium/Cargo.toml
index c3b01c2..a41aad1 100644
--- a/packages/promethium/Cargo.toml
+++ b/packages/promethium/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "pistonite-pm"
-version = "0.2.0"
+version = "0.2.1"
 edition = "2024"
 description = "Procedural Macro Common Utils"
 repository = "https://github.com/Pistonite/cu"
diff --git a/packages/promethium/Taskfile.yml b/packages/promethium/Taskfile.yml
index 3752a60..ed9be82 100644
--- a/packages/promethium/Taskfile.yml
+++ b/packages/promethium/Taskfile.yml
@@ -18,3 +18,8 @@ tasks:
     cmds:
       - cmd: cargo publish
         ignore_error: true
+  test:
+    cmds:
+      - cargo test
+      - cargo test --features full
+      - cargo test --no-default-features --features full
diff --git a/packages/promethium/src/util.rs b/packages/promethium/src/util.rs
index 99b9371..0b97d89 100644
--- a/packages/promethium/src/util.rs
+++ b/packages/promethium/src/util.rs
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ pub fn flatten<T: crate::ToTokens>(result: syn::Result<T>) -> crate::TokenStream
 }
 
 /// Convenience wrapper for parsing punctuated syntax
+#[cfg(feature = "proc-macro")]
 pub fn parse_punctuated<T: syn::parse::Parse, P: syn::parse::Parse>(
     input: crate::TokenStream,
 ) -> syn::Result<syn::punctuated::Punctuated<T, P>> {