diff --git a/src/wuttaweb/grids/base.py b/src/wuttaweb/grids/base.py
index 2ac2646..1906997 100644
--- a/src/wuttaweb/grids/base.py
+++ b/src/wuttaweb/grids/base.py
@@ -2515,8 +2515,10 @@ class Grid:  # pylint: disable=too-many-instance-attributes,too-many-public-meth
 
             # customize value rendering where applicable
             for key, renderer in self.renderers.items():
-                value = record.get(key, None)
-                record[key] = renderer(original_record, key, value)
+                # nb. no need to render if column not included
+                if key in self.columns:
+                    value = record.get(key, None)
+                    record[key] = renderer(original_record, key, value)
 
             # add action urls to each record
             for action in self.actions:
diff --git a/tests/grids/test_base.py b/tests/grids/test_base.py
index 1e193ea..15a7a06 100644
--- a/tests/grids/test_base.py
+++ b/tests/grids/test_base.py
@@ -1985,11 +1985,13 @@ class TestGrid(WebTestCase):
 
         # typical data is a list
         mydata = [
-            {"foo": "bar"},
+            {"foo": "bar", "baz": "zoo"},
         ]
-        grid = self.make_grid(columns=["foo"], data=mydata)
+        grid = self.make_grid(columns=["foo", "baz"], data=mydata)
         context = grid.get_vue_context()
-        self.assertEqual(context, {"data": [{"foo": "bar"}], "row_classes": {}})
+        self.assertEqual(
+            context, {"data": [{"foo": "bar", "baz": "zoo"}], "row_classes": {}}
+        )
 
         # non-declared columns are discarded
         mydata = [
@@ -2001,27 +2003,47 @@ class TestGrid(WebTestCase):
 
         # if grid has actions, that list may be supplemented
         mydata = [
-            {"foo": "bar"},
+            {"foo": "bar", "baz": "zoo"},
         ]
-        grid = self.make_grid(columns=["foo"], data=mydata)
+        grid = self.make_grid(columns=["foo", "baz"], data=mydata)
         grid.actions.append(mod.GridAction(self.request, "view", url="/blarg"))
         context = grid.get_vue_context()
         self.assertIsNot(context["data"], mydata)
         self.assertEqual(
             context,
-            {"data": [{"foo": "bar", "_action_url_view": "/blarg"}], "row_classes": {}},
+            {
+                "data": [{"foo": "bar", "baz": "zoo", "_action_url_view": "/blarg"}],
+                "row_classes": {},
+            },
         )
 
         # can override value rendering
-        grid.set_renderer("foo", lambda record, key, value: "blah blah")
+        renderer = MagicMock(return_value="blah blah")
+        grid.set_renderer("foo", renderer)
         context = grid.get_vue_context()
         self.assertEqual(
             context,
             {
-                "data": [{"foo": "blah blah", "_action_url_view": "/blarg"}],
+                "data": [
+                    {"foo": "blah blah", "baz": "zoo", "_action_url_view": "/blarg"}
+                ],
                 "row_classes": {},
             },
         )
+        renderer.assert_called_once_with({"foo": "bar", "baz": "zoo"}, "foo", "bar")
+
+        # custom rendering skipped if column not included
+        grid.remove("foo")
+        renderer.reset_mock()
+        context = grid.get_vue_context()
+        self.assertEqual(
+            context,
+            {
+                "data": [{"baz": "zoo", "_action_url_view": "/blarg"}],
+                "row_classes": {},
+            },
+        )
+        renderer.assert_not_called()
 
         # can set row class
         grid.row_class = "whatever"
@@ -2029,7 +2051,7 @@ class TestGrid(WebTestCase):
         self.assertEqual(
             context,
             {
-                "data": [{"foo": "blah blah", "_action_url_view": "/blarg"}],
+                "data": [{"baz": "zoo", "_action_url_view": "/blarg"}],
                 "row_classes": {"0": "whatever"},
             },
         )