diff --git a/signac/contrib/job.py b/signac/contrib/job.py
index 703b30ca4..e1c81fe72 100644
--- a/signac/contrib/job.py
+++ b/signac/contrib/job.py
@@ -275,9 +275,6 @@ def __init__(self, project, statepoint=None, _id=None):
         else:
             # Only an id was provided. State point will be loaded lazily.
             self._id = _id
-            self._statepoint = _StatePointDict(
-                jobs=[self], filename=self._statepoint_filename
-            )
             self._statepoint_requires_init = True
 
     def _initialize_lazy_properties(self):
@@ -383,7 +380,17 @@ def reset_statepoint(self, new_statepoint):
             The job's new state point.
 
         """
-        self._statepoint.reset(new_statepoint)
+        if self._statepoint_requires_init:
+            # Instantiate state point data lazily - no load is required, since
+            # we are provided with the new state point data.
+            self._statepoint = _StatePointDict(
+                jobs=[self], filename=self._statepoint_filename
+            )
+            self._statepoint_requires_init = False
+        self.statepoint.reset(new_statepoint)
+
+        # Update the project's state point cache when loaded lazily
+        self._project._register(self.id, new_statepoint)
 
     def update_statepoint(self, update, overwrite=False):
         """Change the state point of this job while preserving job data.
@@ -427,9 +434,12 @@ def update_statepoint(self, update, overwrite=False):
         if not overwrite:
             for key, value in update.items():
                 if statepoint.get(key, value) != value:
-                    raise KeyError(key)
+                    raise KeyError(
+                        f"Key {key} was provided but already exists in the "
+                        "mapping with another value."
+                    )
         statepoint.update(update)
-        self._statepoint.reset(statepoint)
+        self.reset_statepoint(statepoint)
 
     @property
     def statepoint(self):
@@ -456,6 +466,9 @@ def statepoint(self):
         """
         if self._statepoint_requires_init:
             # Load state point data lazily (on access).
+            self._statepoint = _StatePointDict(
+                jobs=[self], filename=self._statepoint_filename
+            )
             statepoint = self._statepoint.load(self.id)
 
             # Update the project's state point cache when loaded lazily
@@ -474,7 +487,7 @@ def statepoint(self, new_statepoint):
             The new state point to be assigned.
 
         """
-        self._statepoint.reset(new_statepoint)
+        self.reset_statepoint(new_statepoint)
 
     @property
     def sp(self):
@@ -657,7 +670,7 @@ def init(self, force=False):
         try:
             # Attempt early exit if the state point file exists and is valid.
             try:
-                statepoint = self._statepoint.load(self.id)
+                statepoint = self.statepoint.load(self.id)
             except Exception:
                 # Any exception means this method cannot exit early.
 
@@ -674,8 +687,8 @@ def init(self, force=False):
                 # The state point save will not overwrite an existing file on
                 # disk unless force is True, so the subsequent load will catch
                 # when a preexisting invalid file was present.
-                self._statepoint.save(force=force)
-                statepoint = self._statepoint.load(self.id)
+                self.statepoint.save(force=force)
+                statepoint = self.statepoint.load(self.id)
 
                 # Update the project's state point cache if the saved file is valid.
                 self._project._register(self.id, statepoint)
diff --git a/tests/test_job.py b/tests/test_job.py
index e49a2ae4d..d1d6a383c 100644
--- a/tests/test_job.py
+++ b/tests/test_job.py
@@ -1016,6 +1016,40 @@ def test_reset_statepoint_job(self):
         with pytest.raises(DestinationExistsError):
             src_job.reset_statepoint(dst)
 
+    @pytest.mark.skipif(not H5PY, reason="test requires the h5py package")
+    def test_reset_statepoint_job_lazy_access(self):
+        key = "move_job"
+        d = testdata()
+        src = test_token
+        dst = dict(test_token)
+        dst["dst"] = True
+        src_job = self.open_job(src)
+        src_job.document[key] = d
+        assert key in src_job.document
+        assert len(src_job.document) == 1
+        src_job.data[key] = d
+        assert key in src_job.data
+        assert len(src_job.data) == 1
+        # Clear the project's state point cache to force lazy load
+        self.project._sp_cache.clear()
+        src_job_by_id = self.open_job(id=src_job.id)
+        # Check that the state point will be instantiated lazily during the
+        # call to reset_statepoint
+        assert src_job_by_id._statepoint_requires_init
+        src_job_by_id.reset_statepoint(dst)
+        src_job = self.open_job(src)
+        dst_job = self.open_job(dst)
+        assert key in dst_job.document
+        assert len(dst_job.document) == 1
+        assert key not in src_job.document
+        assert key in dst_job.data
+        assert len(dst_job.data) == 1
+        assert key not in src_job.data
+        with pytest.raises(RuntimeError):
+            src_job.reset_statepoint(dst)
+        with pytest.raises(DestinationExistsError):
+            src_job.reset_statepoint(dst)
+
     @pytest.mark.skipif(not H5PY, reason="test requires the h5py package")
     def test_reset_statepoint_project(self):
         key = "move_job"