diff --git a/lua/lazyvim/config/init.lua b/lua/lazyvim/config/init.lua
index eb1a7f2c..be7b51f1 100644
--- a/lua/lazyvim/config/init.lua
+++ b/lua/lazyvim/config/init.lua
@@ -71,6 +71,16 @@ function M.setup(opts)
       { title = "LazyVim" }
     )
   end
+
+  -- autocmds and keymaps can wait to load
+  vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd("User", {
+    group = vim.api.nvim_create_augroup("LazyVim", { clear = true }),
+    pattern = "VeryLazy",
+    callback = function()
+      M.load("autocmds")
+      M.load("keymaps")
+    end,
+  })
 end
 
 ---@param range? string
@@ -79,6 +89,25 @@ function M.has(range)
   return Semver.range(range or M.lazy_version):matches(require("lazy.core.config").version or "0.0.0")
 end
 
+---@param name "autocmds" | "options" | "keymaps"
+function M.load(name)
+  local Util = require("lazy.core.util")
+  -- always load lazyvim, then user file
+  for _, mod in ipairs({ "lazyvim.config." .. name, "config." .. name }) do
+    Util.try(function()
+      require(mod)
+    end, {
+      msg = "Failed loading " .. mod,
+      on_error = function(msg)
+        local modpath = require("lazy.core.cache").find(mod)
+        if modpath then
+          Util.error(msg)
+        end
+      end,
+    })
+  end
+end
+
 setmetatable(M, {
   __index = function(_, key)
     if options == nil then
diff --git a/lua/lazyvim/plugins/config.lua b/lua/lazyvim/plugins/config.lua
deleted file mode 100644
index d4b2acaf..00000000
--- a/lua/lazyvim/plugins/config.lua
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,33 +0,0 @@
-local function load(name)
-  local Util = require("lazy.core.util")
-  -- always load lazyvim, then user file
-  for _, mod in ipairs({ "lazyvim.config." .. name, "config." .. name }) do
-    Util.try(function()
-      require(mod)
-    end, {
-      msg = "Failed loading " .. mod,
-      on_error = function(msg)
-        local modpath = require("lazy.core.cache").find(mod)
-        if modpath then
-          Util.error(msg)
-        end
-      end,
-    })
-  end
-end
-
--- load options here, before lazy init while sourcing plugin modules
--- this is needed to make sure options will be correctly applied
--- after installing missing plugins
-load("options")
-
--- autocmds and keymaps can wait to load
-vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd("User", {
-  pattern = "VeryLazy",
-  callback = function()
-    load("autocmds")
-    load("keymaps")
-  end,
-})
-
-return {}
diff --git a/lua/lazyvim/plugins/core.lua b/lua/lazyvim/plugins/core.lua
index f21e24ab..26f4ac33 100644
--- a/lua/lazyvim/plugins/core.lua
+++ b/lua/lazyvim/plugins/core.lua
@@ -5,7 +5,9 @@ local specs = {
 
 -- only add for >=9.0.1, since there's an endless loop in earlier versions
 if require("lazyvim.config").has(">=9.1.0") then
-  specs[#specs + 1] = { "LazyVim/LazyVim", priority = 10000, lazy = true }
+  specs[#specs + 1] = { "LazyVim/LazyVim", priority = 10000, lazy = false, config = true }
+else
+  require("lazyvim.config").setup()
 end
 
 return specs
diff --git a/lua/lazyvim/plugins/init.lua b/lua/lazyvim/plugins/init.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..06e88368
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lua/lazyvim/plugins/init.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+-- load options here, before lazy init while sourcing plugin modules
+-- this is needed to make sure options will be correctly applied
+-- after installing missing plugins
+require("lazyvim.config").load("options")
+
+return {}