diff --git a/firedrake/preconditioners/assembled.py b/firedrake/preconditioners/assembled.py
index d0e225e813..a0234048d5 100644
--- a/firedrake/preconditioners/assembled.py
+++ b/firedrake/preconditioners/assembled.py
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ class AssembledPC(PCBase):
     _prefix = "assembled_"
 
     def initialize(self, pc):
-        from firedrake.assemble import get_assembler
         A, P = pc.getOperators()
 
         if pc.type != "python":
@@ -45,7 +44,13 @@ def initialize(self, pc):
 
         (a, bcs) = self.form(pc, test, trial)
 
-        form_assembler = get_assembler(a, bcs=bcs, form_compiler_parameters=fcp, mat_type=mat_type, options_prefix=options_prefix)
+        self._ctx_ref = self.new_snes_ctx(opc, a, bcs, mat_type,
+                                          fcp=fcp,
+                                          sub_mat_type=sub_mat_type,
+                                          options_prefix=options_prefix)
+
+        form_assembler = self._ctx_ref._assembler_jac
+
         self.P = form_assembler.allocate()
         self._assemble_P = form_assembler.assemble
         self._assemble_P(tensor=self.P)
@@ -62,11 +67,6 @@ def initialize(self, pc):
         # We set a DM and an appropriate SNESContext on the constructed PC so one
         # can do e.g. multigrid or patch solves.
         dm = opc.getDM()
-        self._ctx_ref = self.new_snes_ctx(opc, a, bcs, mat_type,
-                                          fcp=fcp,
-                                          sub_mat_type=sub_mat_type,
-                                          options_prefix=options_prefix)
-
         pc.setDM(dm)
         pc.setOptionsPrefix(options_prefix)
         pc.setOperators(A, self.P.petscmat)
diff --git a/firedrake/solving_utils.py b/firedrake/solving_utils.py
index 5efecc2e20..b1090d1111 100644
--- a/firedrake/solving_utils.py
+++ b/firedrake/solving_utils.py
@@ -279,15 +279,21 @@ def __init__(self, problem,
 
     def reconstruct(self, problem=None, mat_type=None, pmat_type=None, **kwargs):
         """Reconstruct this _SNESContext instance with new arguments."""
-        problem = problem or self.problem
+        problem = problem or self._problem
         mat_type = mat_type or self.mat_type
         pmat_type = pmat_type or self.pmat_type
-        kwargs.setdefault("sub_mat_type", self.sub_mat_type)
-        kwargs.setdefault("sub_pmat_type", self.sub_pmat_type)
-        kwargs.setdefault("appctx", self.appctx)
-        kwargs.setdefault("options_prefix", self.options_prefix)
-        kwargs.setdefault("transfer_manager", self.transfer_manager)
-        kwargs.setdefault("pre_apply_bcs", self.pre_apply_bcs)
+
+        default_options = {
+            "sub_mat_type": self.sub_mat_type,
+            "sub_pmat_type": self.sub_pmat_type,
+            "appctx": self.appctx,
+            "options_prefix": self.options_prefix,
+            "transfer_manager": self.transfer_manager,
+            "pre_apply_bcs": self.pre_apply_bcs,
+        }
+        for k, v in default_options.items():
+            if kwargs.get(k) is None:
+                kwargs[k] = v
         return _SNESContext(problem, mat_type, pmat_type, **kwargs)
 
     @property