diff --git a/coffea/lookup_tools/correctionlib_wrapper.py b/coffea/lookup_tools/correctionlib_wrapper.py
index 4019b6551..666fc17b7 100644
--- a/coffea/lookup_tools/correctionlib_wrapper.py
+++ b/coffea/lookup_tools/correctionlib_wrapper.py
@@ -1,10 +1,15 @@
+import dask
+
 from coffea.lookup_tools.lookup_base import lookup_base
 
 
 class correctionlib_wrapper(lookup_base):
     def __init__(self, payload):
-        super().__init__()
         self._corr = payload
+        dask_future = dask.delayed(
+            self, pure=True, name=f"{self._corr.name}-{dask.base.tokenize(self)}"
+        ).persist()
+        super().__init__(dask_future)
 
     def _evaluate(self, *args, **kwargs):
         return self._corr.evaluate(*args)
@@ -15,6 +20,3 @@ def __repr__(self):
             for i, inp in enumerate(self._corr._base.inputs)
         )
         return f"correctionlib Correction: {self._corr.name}({signature})"
-
-    def __dask_tokenize__(self):
-        return (correctionlib_wrapper, self._corr.name, self._corr.version)
diff --git a/coffea/lookup_tools/dense_evaluated_lookup.py b/coffea/lookup_tools/dense_evaluated_lookup.py
index 8b6c2a004..de5ab280e 100644
--- a/coffea/lookup_tools/dense_evaluated_lookup.py
+++ b/coffea/lookup_tools/dense_evaluated_lookup.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 from copy import deepcopy
 
+import dask
 import numba
 import numpy
 
@@ -30,7 +31,6 @@ def numbaize(fstr, varlist):
 # methods for dealing with b-tag SFs
 class dense_evaluated_lookup(lookup_base):
     def __init__(self, values, dims, feval_dim=None):
-        super().__init__()
         self._dimension = 0
         whattype = type(dims)
         if whattype == numpy.ndarray:
@@ -66,6 +66,10 @@ def __init__(self, values, dims, feval_dim=None):
                 "lookup_tools.evaluator only accepts 1D functions right now!"
             )
         self._feval_dim = feval_dim[0]
+        dask_future = dask.delayed(
+            self, pure=True, name=f"denseevallookup-{dask.base.tokenize(self)}"
+        ).persist()
+        super().__init__(dask_future)
 
     def _evaluate(self, *args, **kwargs):
         indices = []
diff --git a/coffea/lookup_tools/dense_lookup.py b/coffea/lookup_tools/dense_lookup.py
index ba1a9b097..c67c9947a 100644
--- a/coffea/lookup_tools/dense_lookup.py
+++ b/coffea/lookup_tools/dense_lookup.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 from copy import deepcopy
 
+import dask
 import numpy
 
 from coffea.lookup_tools.lookup_base import lookup_base
@@ -7,7 +8,6 @@
 
 class dense_lookup(lookup_base):
     def __init__(self, values, dims, feval_dim=None):
-        super().__init__()
         self._dimension = 0
         whattype = type(dims)
         if whattype == numpy.ndarray:
@@ -29,6 +29,10 @@ def __init__(self, values, dims, feval_dim=None):
         if vals_are_strings:
             raise Exception("dense_lookup cannot handle string values!")
         self._values = deepcopy(values)
+        dask_future = dask.delayed(
+            self, pure=True, name=f"denselookup-{dask.base.tokenize(self)}"
+        ).persist()
+        super().__init__(dask_future)
 
     def _evaluate(self, *args, **kwargs):
         if len(args) != self._dimension:
diff --git a/coffea/lookup_tools/dense_mapped_lookup.py b/coffea/lookup_tools/dense_mapped_lookup.py
index 4efd87129..26ed41439 100644
--- a/coffea/lookup_tools/dense_mapped_lookup.py
+++ b/coffea/lookup_tools/dense_mapped_lookup.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import numbers
 from threading import Lock
 
+import dask
 import numba
 import numpy
 
@@ -16,6 +17,10 @@ def __init__(self, axes, mapping, formulas, feval_dim):
         self._mapping = mapping
         self._formulas = formulas
         self._feval_dim = feval_dim
+        dask_future = dask.delayed(
+            self, pure=True, name=f"densemappedlookup-{dask.base.tokenize(self)}"
+        ).persist()
+        super().__init__(dask_future)
 
     @classmethod
     def _compile(cls, formula):
diff --git a/coffea/lookup_tools/jec_uncertainty_lookup.py b/coffea/lookup_tools/jec_uncertainty_lookup.py
index 01fdb39b9..0d3e825fa 100644
--- a/coffea/lookup_tools/jec_uncertainty_lookup.py
+++ b/coffea/lookup_tools/jec_uncertainty_lookup.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 from copy import deepcopy
 
+import dask
 import numpy
 from scipy.interpolate import interp1d
 
@@ -36,7 +37,6 @@ def __init__(self, formula, bins_and_orders, knots_and_vars):
         The constructor takes the output of the "convert_junc_txt_file"
         text file converter, which returns a formula, bins, and an interpolation table.
         """
-        super().__init__()
         self._dim_order = bins_and_orders[1]
         self._bins = bins_and_orders[0]
         self._eval_vars = knots_and_vars[1]
@@ -78,6 +78,10 @@ def __init__(self, formula, bins_and_orders, knots_and_vars):
             self._eval_args[argname] = i + len(self._dim_order)
             if argname in self._dim_args.keys():
                 self._eval_args[argname] = self._dim_args[argname]
+        dask_future = dask.delayed(
+            self, pure=True, name=f"junclookup-{dask.base.tokenize(self)}"
+        ).persist()
+        super().__init__(dask_future)
 
     def _evaluate(self, *args, **kwargs):
         """uncertainties = f(args)"""
diff --git a/coffea/lookup_tools/jersf_lookup.py b/coffea/lookup_tools/jersf_lookup.py
index 35b59001e..9c85d7ff6 100644
--- a/coffea/lookup_tools/jersf_lookup.py
+++ b/coffea/lookup_tools/jersf_lookup.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 from copy import deepcopy
 
+import dask
 import numpy
 
 from coffea.lookup_tools.lookup_base import lookup_base
@@ -32,7 +33,6 @@ def __init__(self, formula, bins_and_orders, clamps_and_vars, params_and_orders)
         The constructor takes the output of the "convert_jersf_txt_file"
         text file converter, which returns a formula, bins, and values.
         """
-        super().__init__()
         self._dim_order = bins_and_orders[1]
         self._bins = bins_and_orders[0]
         self._eval_vars = clamps_and_vars[2]
@@ -65,6 +65,10 @@ def __init__(self, formula, bins_and_orders, clamps_and_vars, params_and_orders)
             self._eval_args[argname] = i + len(self._dim_order)
             if argname in self._dim_args.keys():
                 self._eval_args[argname] = self._dim_args[argname]
+        dask_future = dask.delayed(
+            self, pure=True, name=f"jersflookup-{dask.base.tokenize(self)}"
+        ).persist()
+        super().__init__(dask_future)
 
     def _evaluate(self, *args, **kwargs):
         """SFs = f(args)"""
diff --git a/coffea/lookup_tools/jme_standard_function.py b/coffea/lookup_tools/jme_standard_function.py
index 10d65be9f..6bcc71f86 100644
--- a/coffea/lookup_tools/jme_standard_function.py
+++ b/coffea/lookup_tools/jme_standard_function.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 from copy import deepcopy
 
 import awkward
+import dask
 import numpy
 from numpy import sqrt  # noqa: F401
 from numpy import abs, exp, log, log10  # noqa: F401
@@ -92,7 +93,6 @@ def __init__(self, formula, bins_and_orders, clamps_and_vars, params_and_orders)
         The constructor takes the output of the "convert_jec(jr)_txt_file"
         text file converter, which returns a formula, bins, and parameter values.
         """
-        super().__init__()
         self._dim_order = bins_and_orders[1]
         self._bins = bins_and_orders[0]
         self._eval_vars = clamps_and_vars[2]
@@ -130,6 +130,10 @@ def __init__(self, formula, bins_and_orders, clamps_and_vars, params_and_orders)
             self._eval_args[argname] = i + len(self._dim_order)
             if argname in self._dim_args.keys():
                 self._eval_args[argname] = self._dim_args[argname]
+        dask_future = dask.delayed(
+            self, pure=True, name=f"jmestandardlookup-{dask.base.tokenize(self)}"
+        ).persist()
+        super().__init__(dask_future)
 
     def _evaluate(self, *args, **kwargs):
         """jec/jer = f(args)"""
diff --git a/coffea/lookup_tools/lookup_base.py b/coffea/lookup_tools/lookup_base.py
index 3c95eade4..c8b2f7614 100644
--- a/coffea/lookup_tools/lookup_base.py
+++ b/coffea/lookup_tools/lookup_base.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import numbers
+import weakref
 from functools import partial
 
 import awkward
@@ -6,7 +7,9 @@
 import numpy
 
 
-def getfunction(args, thelookup=None, __pre_args__=tuple(), **kwargs):
+def getfunction(
+    args, thelookup_dask=None, thelookup_wref=None, __pre_args__=tuple(), **kwargs
+):
     if not isinstance(args, (list, tuple)):
         args = (args,)
     if all(
@@ -17,6 +20,11 @@ def getfunction(args, thelookup=None, __pre_args__=tuple(), **kwargs):
         result = None
         backend = awkward.backend(*args)
         if backend == "cpu":
+            thelookup = None
+            if thelookup_wref is not None:
+                thelookup = thelookup_wref()
+            else:
+                thelookup = thelookup_dask.compute()
             result = thelookup._evaluate(
                 *(list(__pre_args__) + [awkward.to_numpy(arg) for arg in args]),
                 **kwargs,
@@ -26,8 +34,7 @@ def getfunction(args, thelookup=None, __pre_args__=tuple(), **kwargs):
             for arg in args:
                 arg._touch_data(recursive=True)
                 zlargs.append(arg.form.length_zero_array())
-            zlargs = tuple(arg.form.length_zero_array() for arg in args)
-            result = thelookup._evaluate(
+            result = thelookup_wref()._evaluate(
                 *(list(__pre_args__) + [awkward.to_numpy(zlarg) for zlarg in zlargs]),
                 **kwargs,
             )
@@ -43,23 +50,25 @@ def getfunction(args, thelookup=None, __pre_args__=tuple(), **kwargs):
 
 
 class _LookupXformFn:
-    def __init__(self, *args, thelookup, **kwargs):
+    def __init__(self, *args, thelookup_dask, thelookup_wref, **kwargs):
         self.func = partial(
-            getfunction, thelookup=thelookup, __pre_args__=args, **kwargs
+            getfunction,
+            thelookup_dask=thelookup_dask,
+            thelookup_wref=thelookup_wref,
+            __pre_args__=args,
+            **kwargs,
         )
 
     def __call__(self, *args):
         return awkward.transform(self.func, *args)
 
-    def __dask_tokenize__(self):
-        return (_LookupXformFn, self.func)
-
 
 class lookup_base:
     """Base class for all objects that do some sort of value or function lookup"""
 
-    def __init__(self):
-        pass
+    def __init__(self, dask_future):
+        self._dask_future = dask_future
+        self._weakref = weakref.ref(self)
 
     def __call__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         dask_label = kwargs.pop("dask_label", None)
@@ -71,13 +80,18 @@ def __call__(self, *args, **kwargs):
             actual_args = tuple(
                 arg for arg in args if isinstance(arg, dask_awkward.Array)
             )
-            tomap = _LookupXformFn(*delay_args, thelookup=self, **kwargs)
+            tomap = _LookupXformFn(
+                *delay_args,
+                thelookup_dask=self._dask_future,
+                thelookup_wref=self._weakref,
+                **kwargs,
+            )
 
             zlargs = [arg._meta.layout.form.length_zero_array() for arg in actual_args]
             zlout = tomap(*zlargs)
             meta = dask_awkward.typetracer_from_form(zlout.layout.form)
 
-            if dask_label:
+            if dask_label is not None:
                 return dask_awkward.map_partitions(
                     tomap,
                     *actual_args,
@@ -91,21 +105,33 @@ def __call__(self, *args, **kwargs):
                     meta=meta,
                 )
 
-        if all(isinstance(x, (numpy.ndarray, numbers.Number)) for x in args):
+        if all(isinstance(x, (numpy.ndarray, numbers.Number, str)) for x in args):
             return self._evaluate(*args, **kwargs)
-        elif any(not isinstance(x, awkward.highlevel.Array) for x in args):
+        elif any(
+            not isinstance(x, (awkward.highlevel.Array, numbers.Number, str))
+            for x in args
+        ):
             raise TypeError(
                 "lookup base must receive high level awkward arrays,"
-                " numpy arrays, or numbers!"
+                " numpy arrays, strings, or numbers!"
             )
 
         # behavior = awkward._util.behavior_of(*args)
-        func = partial(getfunction, thelookup=self, **kwargs)
-        out = awkward.transform(func, *args)
+        non_array_args = tuple(
+            arg for arg in args if not isinstance(arg, awkward.highlevel.Array)
+        )
+        array_args = tuple(
+            arg for arg in args if isinstance(arg, awkward.highlevel.Array)
+        )
+        func = partial(
+            getfunction,
+            thelookup_dask=self._dask_future,
+            thelookup_wref=self._weakref,
+            __pre_args__=non_array_args,
+            **kwargs,
+        )
+        out = awkward.transform(func, *array_args)
         return out
 
-    def __dask_tokenize__(self):
-        return (lookup_base, self)
-
     def _evaluate(self, *args, **kwargs):
         raise NotImplementedError
diff --git a/tests/test_lookup_tools.py b/tests/test_lookup_tools.py
index f4d20f387..ce995553b 100644
--- a/tests/test_lookup_tools.py
+++ b/tests/test_lookup_tools.py
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ def test_evaluate_noimpl():
     from coffea.lookup_tools.lookup_base import lookup_base
 
     try:
-        lookup_base()._evaluate()
+        lookup_base(None)._evaluate()
     except NotImplementedError:
         pass