diff --git a/src/common/base-store.ts b/src/common/base-store.ts
index 5261c604d6..b2ba812b0a 100644
--- a/src/common/base-store.ts
+++ b/src/common/base-store.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import path from "path"
 import Config from "conf"
 import { Options as ConfOptions } from "conf/dist/source/types"
 import { app, ipcMain, IpcMainEvent, ipcRenderer, IpcRendererEvent, remote } from "electron"
-import { action, observable, reaction, runInAction, toJS, when } from "mobx";
+import { action, IReactionOptions, observable, reaction, runInAction, toJS, when } from "mobx";
 import Singleton from "./utils/singleton";
 import { getAppVersion } from "./utils/app-version";
 import logger from "../main/logger";
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import isEqual from "lodash/isEqual";
 export interface BaseStoreParams<T = any> extends ConfOptions<T> {
   autoLoad?: boolean;
   syncEnabled?: boolean;
+  syncOptions?: IReactionOptions;
 }
 
 export class BaseStore<T = any> extends Singleton {
@@ -20,7 +21,7 @@ export class BaseStore<T = any> extends Singleton {
 
   whenLoaded = when(() => this.isLoaded);
   @observable isLoaded = false;
-  @observable protected data: T;
+  @observable data = {} as T;
 
   protected constructor(protected params: BaseStoreParams) {
     super();
@@ -36,8 +37,12 @@ export class BaseStore<T = any> extends Singleton {
     return path.basename(this.storeConfig.path);
   }
 
+  get path() {
+    return this.storeConfig.path;
+  }
+
   get syncChannel() {
-    return `store-sync:${this.name}`
+    return `STORE-SYNC:${this.path}`
   }
 
   protected async init() {
@@ -56,19 +61,19 @@ export class BaseStore<T = any> extends Singleton {
       ...confOptions,
       projectName: "lens",
       projectVersion: getAppVersion(),
-      cwd: this.storePath(),
+      cwd: this.cwd(),
     });
-    logger.info(`[STORE]: LOADED from ${this.storeConfig.path}`);
+    logger.info(`[STORE]: LOADED from ${this.path}`);
     this.fromStore(this.storeConfig.store);
     this.isLoaded = true;
   }
 
-  protected storePath() {
+  protected cwd() {
     return (app || remote.app).getPath("userData")
   }
 
   protected async saveToFile(model: T) {
-    logger.info(`[STORE]: SAVING ${this.name}`);
+    logger.info(`[STORE]: SAVING ${this.path}`);
     // todo: update when fixed https://github.com/sindresorhus/conf/issues/114
     Object.entries(model).forEach(([key, value]) => {
       this.storeConfig.set(key, value);
@@ -77,7 +82,7 @@ export class BaseStore<T = any> extends Singleton {
 
   enableSync() {
     this.syncDisposers.push(
-      reaction(() => this.toJSON(), model => this.onModelChange(model)),
+      reaction(() => this.toJSON(), model => this.onModelChange(model), this.params.syncOptions),
     );
     if (ipcMain) {
       const callback = (event: IpcMainEvent, model: T) => {
@@ -169,6 +174,7 @@ export class BaseStore<T = any> extends Singleton {
 
   @action
   protected fromStore(data: T) {
+    if (!data) return;
     this.data = data;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/extensions/extension-loader.ts b/src/extensions/extension-loader.ts
index 963b235b73..64c4270439 100644
--- a/src/extensions/extension-loader.ts
+++ b/src/extensions/extension-loader.ts
@@ -1,42 +1,28 @@
-import type { LensExtension, LensExtensionConstructor, LensExtensionId, LensExtensionManifest, LensExtensionStoreModel } from "./lens-extension"
+import type { LensExtension, LensExtensionConstructor, LensExtensionId } from "./lens-extension"
 import type { LensMainExtension } from "./lens-main-extension"
 import type { LensRendererExtension } from "./lens-renderer-extension"
+import type { InstalledExtension } from "./extension-manager";
 import path from "path"
 import { broadcastIpc } from "../common/ipc"
-import { action, autorun, computed, observable, reaction, toJS } from "mobx"
+import { computed, observable, reaction, when } from "mobx"
 import logger from "../main/logger"
 import { app, ipcRenderer, remote } from "electron"
-import { BaseStore } from "../common/base-store";
 import * as registries from "./registries";
 
-export interface ExtensionLoaderStoreModel {
-  extensions: LensExtensionStoreModel[]
-}
-
-export interface InstalledExtension {
-  manifest: LensExtensionManifest;
-  manifestPath: string;
-  isBundled?: boolean; // defined in package.json
-}
-
 // lazy load so that we get correct userData
 export function extensionPackagesRoot() {
   return path.join((app || remote.app).getPath("userData"))
 }
 
-export class ExtensionLoader extends BaseStore<ExtensionLoaderStoreModel> {
-  protected disposers = new Map<LensExtensionId, Function[]>();
-
-  @observable extensions = observable.map<LensExtensionId, InstalledExtension>([], { deep: false });
-  @observable instances = observable.map<LensExtensionId, LensExtension>([], { deep: false })
-  @observable state = observable.map<LensExtensionId, LensExtensionStoreModel>();
+export class ExtensionLoader {
+  @observable isLoaded = false;
+  protected extensions = observable.map<LensExtensionId, InstalledExtension>([], { deep: false });
+  protected instances = observable.map<LensExtensionId, LensExtension>([], { deep: false })
 
   constructor() {
-    super({
-      configName: "lens-extensions",
-    });
     if (ipcRenderer) {
       ipcRenderer.on("extensions:loaded", (event, extensions: InstalledExtension[]) => {
+        this.isLoaded = true;
         extensions.forEach((ext) => {
           if (!this.extensions.has(ext.manifestPath)) {
             this.extensions.set(ext.manifestPath, ext)
@@ -50,53 +36,41 @@ export class ExtensionLoader extends BaseStore<ExtensionLoaderStoreModel> {
     return [...this.instances.values()].filter(ext => !ext.isBundled)
   }
 
+  async init() {
+    const { extensionManager } = await import("./extension-manager");
+    const installedExtensions = await extensionManager.load();
+    this.extensions.replace(installedExtensions);
+    this.isLoaded = true;
+    this.loadOnMain();
+  }
+
   loadOnMain() {
     logger.info('[EXTENSIONS-LOADER]: load on main')
-    this.autoInitExtensions();
-    this.autoEnableExtensions((extension: LensMainExtension) => [
+    this.autoInitExtensions((extension: LensMainExtension) => [
       registries.menuRegistry.add(...extension.appMenus)
-    ])
+    ]);
   }
 
   loadOnClusterManagerRenderer() {
     logger.info('[EXTENSIONS-LOADER]: load on main renderer (cluster manager)')
-    this.autoInitExtensions();
-    this.autoEnableExtensions((extension: LensRendererExtension) => [
+    this.autoInitExtensions((extension: LensRendererExtension) => [
       registries.globalPageRegistry.add(...extension.globalPages),
       registries.appPreferenceRegistry.add(...extension.appPreferences),
       registries.clusterFeatureRegistry.add(...extension.clusterFeatures),
       registries.statusBarRegistry.add(...extension.statusBarItems),
-    ])
+    ]);
   }
 
   loadOnClusterRenderer() {
     logger.info('[EXTENSIONS-LOADER]: load on cluster renderer (dashboard)')
-    this.autoInitExtensions();
-    this.autoEnableExtensions((extension: LensRendererExtension) => [
+    this.autoInitExtensions((extension: LensRendererExtension) => [
       registries.clusterPageRegistry.add(...extension.clusterPages),
       registries.kubeObjectMenuRegistry.add(...extension.kubeObjectMenuItems),
       registries.kubeObjectDetailRegistry.add(...extension.kubeObjectDetailItems),
-    ])
+    ]);
   }
 
-  protected autoEnableExtensions(register: (ext: LensExtension) => Function[]) {
-    return autorun(() => {
-      this.instances.forEach(ext => {
-        const extensionState = this.state.get(ext.id);
-        const isEnabled = !extensionState /*enabled by default*/ || extensionState.isEnabled;
-        const isRegistered = this.disposers.has(ext.id);
-        if (isEnabled && !isRegistered) {
-          this.disposers.set(ext.id, register(ext))
-        } else if (!isEnabled && isRegistered) {
-          this.disposers.get(ext.id).forEach(dispose => dispose())
-          this.disposers.delete(ext.id)
-        }
-        ext.toggle(isEnabled);
-      })
-    })
-  }
-
-  protected autoInitExtensions() {
+  protected autoInitExtensions(register: (ext: LensExtension) => Function[]) {
     return reaction(() => this.extensions.toJS(), (installedExtensions) => {
       for (const [id, ext] of installedExtensions) {
         let instance = this.instances.get(ext.manifestPath)
@@ -108,6 +82,7 @@ export class ExtensionLoader extends BaseStore<ExtensionLoaderStoreModel> {
           try {
             const LensExtensionClass: LensExtensionConstructor = extensionModule.default;
             instance = new LensExtensionClass(ext);
+            instance.whenEnabled(() => register(instance));
             this.instances.set(ext.manifestPath, instance);
           } catch (err) {
             logger.error(`[EXTENSIONS-LOADER]: init extension instance error`, { ext, err })
@@ -136,7 +111,8 @@ export class ExtensionLoader extends BaseStore<ExtensionLoaderStoreModel> {
     }
   }
 
-  broadcastExtensions(frameId?: number) {
+  async broadcastExtensions(frameId?: number) {
+    await when(() => this.isLoaded);
     broadcastIpc({
       channel: "extensions:loaded",
       frameId: frameId,
@@ -146,21 +122,6 @@ export class ExtensionLoader extends BaseStore<ExtensionLoaderStoreModel> {
       ],
     })
   }
-
-  @action
-  protected fromStore({ extensions = [] }: ExtensionLoaderStoreModel) {
-    extensions.forEach(ext => {
-      this.state.set(ext.id, ext);
-    })
-  }
-
-  toJSON(): ExtensionLoaderStoreModel {
-    return toJS({
-      extensions: this.userExtensions.map(ext => ext.toJSON())
-    }, {
-      recurseEverything: true,
-    })
-  }
 }
 
-export const extensionLoader: ExtensionLoader = ExtensionLoader.getInstance();
+export const extensionLoader = new ExtensionLoader();
diff --git a/src/extensions/extension-manager.ts b/src/extensions/extension-manager.ts
index 6a26bf6f8a..1d37707596 100644
--- a/src/extensions/extension-manager.ts
+++ b/src/extensions/extension-manager.ts
@@ -1,12 +1,18 @@
-import type { LensExtensionManifest } from "./lens-extension"
+import type { LensExtensionId, LensExtensionManifest } from "./lens-extension"
 import path from "path"
 import os from "os"
 import fs from "fs-extra"
+import child_process from "child_process";
 import logger from "../main/logger"
-import { extensionPackagesRoot, InstalledExtension } from "./extension-loader"
-import * as child_process from 'child_process';
+import { extensionPackagesRoot } from "./extension-loader"
 import { getBundledExtensions } from "../common/utils/app-version"
 
+export interface InstalledExtension {
+  manifest: LensExtensionManifest;
+  manifestPath: string;
+  isBundled?: boolean; // defined in package.json
+}
+
 type Dependencies = {
   [name: string]: string;
 }
@@ -51,7 +57,7 @@ export class ExtensionManager {
     return path.join(this.extensionPackagesRoot, "package.json")
   }
 
-  async load(): Promise<Map<string, InstalledExtension>> {
+  async load(): Promise<Map<LensExtensionId, InstalledExtension>> {
     logger.info("[EXTENSION-MANAGER] loading extensions from " + this.extensionPackagesRoot)
     if (fs.existsSync(path.join(this.extensionPackagesRoot, "package-lock.json"))) {
       await fs.remove(path.join(this.extensionPackagesRoot, "package-lock.json"))
@@ -71,7 +77,7 @@ export class ExtensionManager {
     return await this.loadExtensions();
   }
 
-  async getByManifest(manifestPath: string): Promise<InstalledExtension> {
+  protected async getByManifest(manifestPath: string): Promise<InstalledExtension> {
     let manifestJson: LensExtensionManifest;
     try {
       fs.accessSync(manifestPath, fs.constants.F_OK); // check manifest file for existence
@@ -81,7 +87,7 @@ export class ExtensionManager {
       logger.info("[EXTENSION-MANAGER] installed extension " + manifestJson.name)
       return {
         manifestPath: path.join(this.nodeModulesPath, manifestJson.name, "package.json"),
-        manifest: manifestJson
+        manifest: manifestJson,
       }
     } catch (err) {
       logger.error(`[EXTENSION-MANAGER]: can't install extension at ${manifestPath}: ${err}`, { manifestJson });
diff --git a/src/extensions/extension-store.ts b/src/extensions/extension-store.ts
index 5331420cd6..d5372eceff 100644
--- a/src/extensions/extension-store.ts
+++ b/src/extensions/extension-store.ts
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ export class ExtensionStore<T = any> extends BaseStore<T> {
     await super.load()
   }
 
-  protected storePath() {
-    return path.join(super.storePath(), "extension-store", this.extension.name)
+  protected cwd() {
+    return path.join(super.cwd(), "extension-store", this.extension.name)
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/extensions/lens-extension.ts b/src/extensions/lens-extension.ts
index f6579ed1f3..246edfe110 100644
--- a/src/extensions/lens-extension.ts
+++ b/src/extensions/lens-extension.ts
@@ -1,15 +1,10 @@
-import { action, observable, toJS } from "mobx";
+import type { InstalledExtension } from "./extension-manager";
+import { action, reaction } from "mobx";
 import logger from "../main/logger";
-import type { InstalledExtension } from "./extension-loader";
+import { ExtensionStore } from "./extension-store";
 
 export type LensExtensionId = string; // path to manifest (package.json)
-export type LensExtensionConstructor = new (init: InstalledExtension) => LensExtension;
-
-export interface LensExtensionStoreModel {
-  id: LensExtensionId;
-  name: string;
-  isEnabled?: boolean;
-}
+export type LensExtensionConstructor = new (...args: ConstructorParameters<typeof LensExtension>) => LensExtension;
 
 export interface LensExtensionManifest {
   name: string;
@@ -19,17 +14,35 @@ export interface LensExtensionManifest {
   renderer?: string; // path to %ext/dist/renderer.js
 }
 
-export class LensExtension {
-  public manifest: LensExtensionManifest;
-  public manifestPath: string;
-  public isBundled: boolean;
+export interface LensExtensionStoreModel {
+  isEnabled: boolean;
+}
 
-  @observable isEnabled = false;
+export class LensExtension<S extends ExtensionStore<LensExtensionStoreModel> = any> {
+  protected store: S;
+  readonly manifest: LensExtensionManifest;
+  readonly manifestPath: string;
+  readonly isBundled: boolean;
 
   constructor({ manifest, manifestPath, isBundled }: InstalledExtension) {
     this.manifest = manifest
     this.manifestPath = manifestPath
     this.isBundled = !!isBundled
+    this.init();
+  }
+
+  protected async init(store: S = createBaseStore().getInstance()) {
+    this.store = store;
+    await this.store.loadExtension(this);
+    reaction(() => this.store.data.isEnabled, (isEnabled = true) => {
+      this.toggle(isEnabled); // handle activation & deactivation
+    }, {
+      fireImmediately: true
+    });
+  }
+
+  get isEnabled() {
+    return !!this.store.data.isEnabled;
   }
 
   get id(): LensExtensionId {
@@ -51,7 +64,7 @@ export class LensExtension {
   @action
   async enable() {
     if (this.isEnabled) return;
-    this.isEnabled = true;
+    this.store.data.isEnabled = true;
     this.onActivate();
     logger.info(`[EXTENSION]: enabled ${this.name}@${this.version}`);
   }
@@ -59,7 +72,7 @@ export class LensExtension {
   @action
   async disable() {
     if (!this.isEnabled) return;
-    this.isEnabled = false;
+    this.store.data.isEnabled = false;
     this.onDeactivate();
     logger.info(`[EXTENSION]: disabled ${this.name}@${this.version}`);
   }
@@ -72,6 +85,27 @@ export class LensExtension {
     }
   }
 
+  async whenEnabled(handlers: () => Function[]) {
+    const disposers: Function[] = [];
+    const unregisterHandlers = () => {
+      disposers.forEach(unregister => unregister())
+      disposers.length = 0;
+    }
+    const cancelReaction = reaction(() => this.isEnabled, isEnabled => {
+      if (isEnabled) {
+        disposers.push(...handlers());
+      } else {
+        unregisterHandlers();
+      }
+    }, {
+      fireImmediately: true
+    })
+    return () => {
+      unregisterHandlers();
+      cancelReaction();
+    }
+  }
+
   protected onActivate() {
     // mock
   }
@@ -79,14 +113,14 @@ export class LensExtension {
   protected onDeactivate() {
     // mock
   }
+}
 
-  toJSON(): LensExtensionStoreModel {
-    return toJS({
-      id: this.id,
-      name: this.name,
-      isEnabled: this.isEnabled,
-    }, {
-      recurseEverything: true,
-    })
+function createBaseStore() {
+  return class extends ExtensionStore<LensExtensionStoreModel> {
+    constructor() {
+      super({
+        configName: "state"
+      });
+    }
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/main/index.ts b/src/main/index.ts
index dc54a5f20b..762c166bc4 100644
--- a/src/main/index.ts
+++ b/src/main/index.ts
@@ -15,13 +15,12 @@ import { shellSync } from "./shell-sync"
 import { getFreePort } from "./port"
 import { mangleProxyEnv } from "./proxy-env"
 import { registerFileProtocol } from "../common/register-protocol";
+import logger from "./logger"
 import { clusterStore } from "../common/cluster-store"
 import { userStore } from "../common/user-store";
 import { workspaceStore } from "../common/workspace-store";
 import { appEventBus } from "../common/event-bus"
-import { extensionManager } from "../extensions/extension-manager";
 import { extensionLoader } from "../extensions/extension-loader";
-import logger from "./logger"
 
 const workingDir = path.join(app.getPath("appData"), appName);
 let proxyPort: number;
@@ -48,12 +47,11 @@ app.on("ready", async () => {
 
   registerFileProtocol("static", __static);
 
-  // preload isomorphic stores
+  // preload
   await Promise.all([
     userStore.load(),
     clusterStore.load(),
     workspaceStore.load(),
-    extensionLoader.load(),
   ]);
 
   // find free port
@@ -77,12 +75,8 @@ app.on("ready", async () => {
     app.exit();
   }
 
-  windowManager = new WindowManager(proxyPort);
-
-  LensExtensionsApi.windowManager = windowManager; // expose to extensions
-  extensionLoader.loadOnMain()
-  extensionLoader.extensions.replace(await extensionManager.load())
-  extensionLoader.broadcastExtensions()
+  LensExtensionsApi.windowManager = windowManager = new WindowManager(proxyPort);
+  extensionLoader.init(); // call after windowManager to see splash earlier
 
   setTimeout(() => {
     appEventBus.emit({ name: "app", action: "start" })
diff --git a/src/renderer/bootstrap.tsx b/src/renderer/bootstrap.tsx
index be5cfc4848..7311e0e0cf 100644
--- a/src/renderer/bootstrap.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/bootstrap.tsx
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ import { i18nStore } from "./i18n";
 import { themeStore } from "./theme.store";
 import { App } from "./components/app";
 import { LensApp } from "./lens-app";
-import { extensionLoader } from "../extensions/extension-loader";
 
 type AppComponent = React.ComponentType & {
   init?(): Promise<void>;
@@ -35,7 +34,6 @@ export async function bootstrap(App: AppComponent) {
     userStore.load(),
     workspaceStore.load(),
     clusterStore.load(),
-    extensionLoader.load(),
     i18nStore.init(),
     themeStore.init(),
   ]);