diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e686e05bc4..fd5a22c46b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -502,6 +502,11 @@ ctx(async ($) => {
   // _$.cwd refers to /foo
   // but _$.cwd !== $.cwd
 })
+
+const ref = $.bind(null)
+await ctx(($) => {
+  ref === $ // true
+}, ref)
 ```
 
 ### `log()`
diff --git a/src/experimental.ts b/src/experimental.ts
index 70138a4f53..ccf15d5060 100644
--- a/src/experimental.ts
+++ b/src/experimental.ts
@@ -81,8 +81,8 @@ export function startSpinner(title = '') {
   )(setInterval(spin, 100))
 }
 
-export function ctx<R extends any>(cb: (_$: Zx) => R): R {
-  const _$ = Object.assign($.bind(null), getCtx())
+export function ctx<R extends any>(cb: (_$: Zx) => R, ref: Zx = $.bind(null)): R {
+  const _$ = Object.assign(ref, getCtx())
 
   return runInCtx(_$, cb, _$)
 }
diff --git a/test/experimental.test.js b/test/experimental.test.js
index 0336945f69..06e3ba30e4 100644
--- a/test/experimental.test.js
+++ b/test/experimental.test.js
@@ -111,6 +111,14 @@ test('ctx() provides isolates running scopes', async () => {
   $.verbose = false
 })
 
+test('ctx accepts optional ref', async () => {
+  const ref = $.bind(null)
+
+  await ctx(($) => {
+    assert.is(ref, $)
+  }, ref)
+})
+
 test('bound ctx is attached to Promise', async () => {
   const kResourceStoreSymbol = Object.getOwnPropertySymbols(
     new Promise(() => {})