diff --git a/src/common/catalog-entities/kubernetes-cluster.ts b/src/common/catalog-entities/kubernetes-cluster.ts
index 53e7a52e4b..a64a5a5eaa 100644
--- a/src/common/catalog-entities/kubernetes-cluster.ts
+++ b/src/common/catalog-entities/kubernetes-cluster.ts
@@ -10,8 +10,10 @@ import { broadcastMessage } from "../ipc";
 import { app } from "electron";
 import type { CatalogEntityConstructor, CatalogEntitySpec } from "../catalog/catalog-entity";
 import { IpcRendererNavigationEvents } from "../../renderer/navigation/events";
-import { requestClusterActivation, requestClusterDisconnection } from "../../renderer/ipc";
+import { requestClusterDisconnection } from "../../renderer/ipc";
 import KubeClusterCategoryIcon from "./icons/kubernetes.svg";
+import { asLegacyGlobalFunctionForExtensionApi } from "../../extensions/as-legacy-globals-for-extension-api/as-legacy-global-function-for-extension-api";
+import requestClusterActivationInjectable from "../../renderer/cluster/request-activation.injectable";
 
 export interface KubernetesClusterPrometheusMetrics {
   address?: {
@@ -63,6 +65,8 @@ export function isKubernetesCluster(item: unknown): item is KubernetesCluster {
   return item instanceof KubernetesCluster;
 }
 
+const requestClusterActivation = asLegacyGlobalFunctionForExtensionApi(requestClusterActivationInjectable);
+
 export class KubernetesCluster<
   Metadata extends KubernetesClusterMetadata = KubernetesClusterMetadata,
   Status extends KubernetesClusterStatus = KubernetesClusterStatus,
@@ -78,7 +82,10 @@ export class KubernetesCluster<
     if (app) {
       await ClusterStore.getInstance().getById(this.getId())?.activate();
     } else {
-      await requestClusterActivation(this.getId(), false);
+      await requestClusterActivation({
+        clusterId: this.getId(),
+        force: false,
+      });
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/src/common/cluster-store/clusters.injectable.ts b/src/common/cluster-store/clusters.injectable.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..50e3e3a6d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/common/cluster-store/clusters.injectable.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) OpenLens Authors. All rights reserved.
+ * Licensed under MIT License. See LICENSE in root directory for more information.
+ */
+import { getInjectable } from "@ogre-tools/injectable";
+import { computed } from "mobx";
+import clusterStoreInjectable from "./cluster-store.injectable";
+
+const clustersInjectable = getInjectable({
+  id: "clusters",
+  instantiate: (di) => {
+    const store = di.inject(clusterStoreInjectable);
+
+    return computed(() => [...store.clusters.values()]);
+  },
+});
+
+export default clustersInjectable;
diff --git a/src/common/cluster/cluster.ts b/src/common/cluster/cluster.ts
index f28da10c0d..37110bcb3c 100644
--- a/src/common/cluster/cluster.ts
+++ b/src/common/cluster/cluster.ts
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ import type { CanI } from "./authorization-review.injectable";
 import type { ListNamespaces } from "./list-namespaces.injectable";
 import assert from "assert";
 import type { Logger } from "../logger";
+import type { ReadFileSync } from "../fs/read-file-sync.injectable";
+import type { EmitClusterConnectionUpdate } from "../../main/cluster/emit-connection-update.injectable";
 
 export interface ClusterDependencies {
   readonly directoryForKubeConfigs: string;
@@ -36,6 +38,10 @@ export interface ClusterDependencies {
   createAuthorizationReview: (config: KubeConfig) => CanI;
   createListNamespaces: (config: KubeConfig) => ListNamespaces;
   createVersionDetector: (cluster: Cluster) => VersionDetector;
+  emitClusterConnectionUpdate: EmitClusterConnectionUpdate;
+
+  // TODO: creating a Cluster should not have such wild side effects
+  readFileSync: ReadFileSync;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -625,7 +631,7 @@ export class Cluster implements ClusterModel, ClusterState {
     const update: KubeAuthUpdate = { message, isError };
 
     this.dependencies.logger.debug(`[CLUSTER]: broadcasting connection update`, { ...update, meta: this.getMeta() });
-    broadcastMessage(`cluster:connection-update`, this.id, update);
+    this.dependencies.emitClusterConnectionUpdate({ clusterId: this.id, update });
   }
 
   protected async getAllowedNamespaces(proxyConfig: KubeConfig) {
diff --git a/src/common/cluster/connection-update-channel.injectable.ts b/src/common/cluster/connection-update-channel.injectable.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..34dd6907e5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/common/cluster/connection-update-channel.injectable.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) OpenLens Authors. All rights reserved.
+ * Licensed under MIT License. See LICENSE in root directory for more information.
+ */
+
+import type { ClusterId, KubeAuthUpdate } from "../cluster-types";
+import type { MessageChannel } from "../utils/channel/message-channel-injection-token";
+import { messageChannelInjectionToken } from "../utils/channel/message-channel-injection-token";
+import { getInjectable } from "@ogre-tools/injectable";
+
+export interface ClusterConnectionUpdateMessage {
+  clusterId: ClusterId;
+  update: KubeAuthUpdate;
+}
+
+export type ClusterConnectionUpdateChannel = MessageChannel<ClusterConnectionUpdateMessage>;
+
+const clusterConnectionUpdateChannelInjectable = getInjectable({
+  id: "cluster-connection-update-channel",
+  instantiate: (): ClusterConnectionUpdateChannel => ({
+    id: "cluster:connection-update",
+  }),
+  injectionToken: messageChannelInjectionToken,
+});
+
+export default clusterConnectionUpdateChannelInjectable;
diff --git a/src/common/cluster/request-activation.injectable.ts b/src/common/cluster/request-activation.injectable.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..47f6febdb1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/common/cluster/request-activation.injectable.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) OpenLens Authors. All rights reserved.
+ * Licensed under MIT License. See LICENSE in root directory for more information.
+ */
+
+import { getInjectable } from "@ogre-tools/injectable";
+import type { ClusterId } from "../cluster-types";
+import type { RequestChannel } from "../utils/channel/request-channel-injection-token";
+
+export interface ClusterActivationRequest {
+  clusterId: ClusterId;
+  force: boolean;
+}
+export type ClusterActivationRequestChannel = RequestChannel<ClusterActivationRequest, void>;
+
+const clusterActivationRequestChannelInjectable = getInjectable({
+  id: "cluster-activation-request-channel",
+  instantiate: (): ClusterActivationRequestChannel => ({
+    id: "cluster-request-activation",
+  }),
+});
+
+export default clusterActivationRequestChannelInjectable;
diff --git a/src/common/ipc/cluster.ts b/src/common/ipc/cluster.ts
index 9f69ff42d5..4b27b12431 100644
--- a/src/common/ipc/cluster.ts
+++ b/src/common/ipc/cluster.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
  * Licensed under MIT License. See LICENSE in root directory for more information.
  */
 
-export const clusterActivateHandler = "cluster:activate";
 export const clusterSetFrameIdHandler = "cluster:set-frame-id";
 export const clusterVisibilityHandler = "cluster:visibility";
 export const clusterRefreshHandler = "cluster:refresh";
diff --git a/src/common/utils/channel/channel-injection-token.ts b/src/common/utils/channel/channel-injection-token.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 6006290f89..0000000000
--- a/src/common/utils/channel/channel-injection-token.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,12 +0,0 @@
-/**
- * Copyright (c) OpenLens Authors. All rights reserved.
- * Licensed under MIT License. See LICENSE in root directory for more information.
- */
-
-
-export interface Channel<MessageTemplate = void, ReturnTemplate = void> {
-  id: string;
-  _messageTemplate?: MessageTemplate;
-  _returnTemplate?: ReturnTemplate;
-}
-
diff --git a/src/common/utils/channel/message-channel-injection-token.ts b/src/common/utils/channel/message-channel-injection-token.ts
index 3141acedf3..e7502c6e34 100644
--- a/src/common/utils/channel/message-channel-injection-token.ts
+++ b/src/common/utils/channel/message-channel-injection-token.ts
@@ -4,9 +4,8 @@
  */
 
 import { getInjectionToken } from "@ogre-tools/injectable";
-import type { JsonValue } from "type-fest";
 
-export interface MessageChannel<Message extends JsonValue | void = void> {
+export interface MessageChannel<Message = void> {
   id: string;
   _messageSignature?: Message;
 }
diff --git a/src/common/utils/channel/message-to-channel-injection-token.ts b/src/common/utils/channel/message-to-channel-injection-token.ts
index 8c5f03b9ee..eedc2e81ad 100644
--- a/src/common/utils/channel/message-to-channel-injection-token.ts
+++ b/src/common/utils/channel/message-to-channel-injection-token.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@ import { getInjectionToken } from "@ogre-tools/injectable";
 import type { SetRequired } from "type-fest";
 import type { MessageChannel } from "./message-channel-injection-token";
 
+export type EmitChannelMessage<Channel> = Channel extends MessageChannel<infer Message>
+  ? (message: Message) => void
+  : never;
+
 export interface MessageToChannel {
   <TChannel extends MessageChannel<TMessage>, TMessage extends void>(
     channel: TChannel,
diff --git a/src/common/utils/channel/request-channel-injection-token.ts b/src/common/utils/channel/request-channel-injection-token.ts
index 67044db878..84c0b64138 100644
--- a/src/common/utils/channel/request-channel-injection-token.ts
+++ b/src/common/utils/channel/request-channel-injection-token.ts
@@ -4,11 +4,10 @@
  */
 
 import { getInjectionToken } from "@ogre-tools/injectable";
-import type { JsonValue } from "type-fest";
 
 export interface RequestChannel<
-  Request extends JsonValue | void = void,
-  Response extends JsonValue | void = void,
+  Request = void,
+  Response = void,
 > {
   id: string;
   _requestSignature?: Request;
diff --git a/src/common/utils/channel/request-from-channel-injection-token.ts b/src/common/utils/channel/request-from-channel-injection-token.ts
index 5f4492543f..271f4b6aba 100644
--- a/src/common/utils/channel/request-from-channel-injection-token.ts
+++ b/src/common/utils/channel/request-from-channel-injection-token.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,12 @@ import { getInjectionToken } from "@ogre-tools/injectable";
 import type { SetRequired } from "type-fest";
 import type { RequestChannel } from "./request-channel-injection-token";
 
+export type RequestFromChannelImpl<Channel> = Channel extends RequestChannel<infer Request, infer Response>
+  ? Request extends void
+    ? () => Promise<Response>
+    : (req: Request) => Promise<Response>
+  : never;
+
 export type RequestFromChannel = <
   TChannel extends RequestChannel<any, any>,
 >(
diff --git a/src/features/cluster/connection-status.test.tsx b/src/features/cluster/connection-status.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..521408e113
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/features/cluster/connection-status.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) OpenLens Authors. All rights reserved.
+ * Licensed under MIT License. See LICENSE in root directory for more information.
+ */
+
+import type { ClusterStore } from "../../common/cluster-store/cluster-store";
+import clusterStoreInjectable from "../../common/cluster-store/cluster-store.injectable";
+import type { ClusterId } from "../../common/cluster-types";
+import type { Cluster } from "../../common/cluster/cluster";
+import navigateToClusterViewInjectable from "../../common/front-end-routing/routes/cluster-view/navigate-to-cluster-view.injectable";
+import type { ReadFileSync } from "../../common/fs/read-file-sync.injectable";
+import readFileSyncInjectable from "../../common/fs/read-file-sync.injectable";
+import type { ApplicationBuilder } from "../../renderer/components/test-utils/get-application-builder";
+import { getApplicationBuilder } from "../../renderer/components/test-utils/get-application-builder";
+import createClusterInjectable from "../../renderer/create-cluster/create-cluster.injectable";
+
+describe("cluster connection status", () => {
+  let clusterStore: ClusterStore;
+  let clusters: Map<ClusterId, Cluster>;
+  let cluster: Cluster;
+  let applicationBuilder: ApplicationBuilder;
+
+  beforeEach(async () => {
+    applicationBuilder = getApplicationBuilder();
+
+    const readFileSyncMock: ReadFileSync = (filePath) => {
+      expect(filePath).toBe("/some/file/path");
+
+      return JSON.stringify({
+        apiVersion: "v1",
+        clusters: [{
+          name: "minikube",
+          cluster: {
+            server: "https://192.168.64.3:8443",
+          },
+        }],
+        contexts: [{
+          context: {
+            cluster: "minikube",
+            user: "minikube",
+          },
+          name: "minikube",
+        }],
+        users: [{
+          name: "minikube",
+        }],
+        kind: "Config",
+        preferences: {},
+      });
+    };
+
+    applicationBuilder.dis.rendererDi.override(readFileSyncInjectable, () => readFileSyncMock);
+
+    const navigateToClusterView = applicationBuilder.dis.rendererDi.inject(navigateToClusterViewInjectable);
+    const createCluster = applicationBuilder.dis.rendererDi.inject(createClusterInjectable);
+
+    cluster = createCluster({
+      contextName: "minikube",
+      id: "some-cluster-id",
+      kubeConfigPath: "/some/file/path",
+    }, {
+      clusterServerUrl: "https://localhost:1234",
+    });
+
+    clusters = new Map();
+
+    clusters.set(cluster.id, cluster);
+
+    clusterStore = ({
+      clusters,
+      get clustersList() {
+        return [...clusters.values()];
+      },
+      getById: (id) => clusters.get(id),
+    }) as ClusterStore;
+
+    applicationBuilder.dis.mainDi.override(clusterStoreInjectable, () => clusterStore);
+    applicationBuilder.dis.rendererDi.override(clusterStoreInjectable, () => clusterStore);
+
+    await applicationBuilder.render();
+
+    navigateToClusterView(cluster.id);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/main/cluster/emit-connection-update.injectable.ts b/src/main/cluster/emit-connection-update.injectable.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a6d981d0ae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/cluster/emit-connection-update.injectable.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) OpenLens Authors. All rights reserved.
+ * Licensed under MIT License. See LICENSE in root directory for more information.
+ */
+import { getInjectable } from "@ogre-tools/injectable";
+import type { ClusterConnectionUpdateChannel } from "../../common/cluster/connection-update-channel.injectable";
+import clusterConnectionUpdateChannelInjectable from "../../common/cluster/connection-update-channel.injectable";
+import type { EmitChannelMessage } from "../../common/utils/channel/message-to-channel-injection-token";
+import messageToChannelInjectable from "../utils/channel/message-to-channel.injectable";
+
+export type EmitClusterConnectionUpdate = EmitChannelMessage<ClusterConnectionUpdateChannel>;
+
+const emitClusterConnectionUpdateInjectable = getInjectable({
+  id: "emit-cluster-connection-update",
+  instantiate: (di): EmitClusterConnectionUpdate => {
+    const channel = di.inject(clusterConnectionUpdateChannelInjectable);
+    const messageToChannel = di.inject(messageToChannelInjectable);
+
+    return (message) => messageToChannel(channel, message);
+  },
+});
+
+export default emitClusterConnectionUpdateInjectable;
diff --git a/src/main/cluster/request-activation-handler.injectable.ts b/src/main/cluster/request-activation-handler.injectable.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0041de753d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/cluster/request-activation-handler.injectable.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) OpenLens Authors. All rights reserved.
+ * Licensed under MIT License. See LICENSE in root directory for more information.
+ */
+import { getInjectable } from "@ogre-tools/injectable";
+import clusterStoreInjectable from "../../common/cluster-store/cluster-store.injectable";
+import type { ClusterActivationRequestChannel } from "../../common/cluster/request-activation.injectable";
+import clusterActivationRequestChannelInjectable from "../../common/cluster/request-activation.injectable";
+import type { RequestChannelListener } from "../../common/utils/channel/request-channel-listener-injection-token";
+import { requestChannelListenerInjectionToken } from "../../common/utils/channel/request-channel-listener-injection-token";
+
+const requestClusterActivationHandlerInjectable = getInjectable({
+  id: "request-cluster-activation-handler",
+  instantiate: (di) => {
+    const channel = di.inject(clusterActivationRequestChannelInjectable);
+    const store = di.inject(clusterStoreInjectable);
+
+    return {
+      channel,
+      handler: ({ clusterId, force }) => {
+        store.getById(clusterId)?.activate(force);
+      },
+    } as RequestChannelListener<ClusterActivationRequestChannel>;
+  },
+  injectionToken: requestChannelListenerInjectionToken,
+});
+
+export default requestClusterActivationHandlerInjectable;
diff --git a/src/main/create-cluster/create-cluster.injectable.ts b/src/main/create-cluster/create-cluster.injectable.ts
index 07c2ee3247..a4b1befeac 100644
--- a/src/main/create-cluster/create-cluster.injectable.ts
+++ b/src/main/create-cluster/create-cluster.injectable.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ import listNamespacesInjectable from "../../common/cluster/list-namespaces.injec
 import loggerInjectable from "../../common/logger.injectable";
 import detectorRegistryInjectable from "../cluster-detectors/detector-registry.injectable";
 import createVersionDetectorInjectable from "../cluster-detectors/create-version-detector.injectable";
+import readFileSyncInjectable from "../../common/fs/read-file-sync.injectable";
+import emitClusterConnectionUpdateInjectable from "../cluster/emit-connection-update.injectable";
 
 const createClusterInjectable = getInjectable({
   id: "create-cluster",
@@ -30,6 +32,8 @@ const createClusterInjectable = getInjectable({
       logger: di.inject(loggerInjectable),
       detectorRegistry: di.inject(detectorRegistryInjectable),
       createVersionDetector: di.inject(createVersionDetectorInjectable),
+      readFileSync: di.inject(readFileSyncInjectable),
+      emitClusterConnectionUpdate: di.inject(emitClusterConnectionUpdateInjectable),
     };
 
     return (model, configData) => new Cluster(dependencies, model, configData);
diff --git a/src/main/electron-app/runnables/setup-ipc-main-handlers/setup-ipc-main-handlers.ts b/src/main/electron-app/runnables/setup-ipc-main-handlers/setup-ipc-main-handlers.ts
index 9342696c77..03e0cab953 100644
--- a/src/main/electron-app/runnables/setup-ipc-main-handlers/setup-ipc-main-handlers.ts
+++ b/src/main/electron-app/runnables/setup-ipc-main-handlers/setup-ipc-main-handlers.ts
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 import type { IpcMainInvokeEvent } from "electron";
 import { BrowserWindow, Menu } from "electron";
 import { clusterFrameMap } from "../../../../common/cluster-frames";
-import { clusterActivateHandler, clusterSetFrameIdHandler, clusterVisibilityHandler, clusterRefreshHandler, clusterDisconnectHandler, clusterKubectlApplyAllHandler, clusterKubectlDeleteAllHandler, clusterDeleteHandler, clusterSetDeletingHandler, clusterClearDeletingHandler } from "../../../../common/ipc/cluster";
+import { clusterSetFrameIdHandler, clusterVisibilityHandler, clusterRefreshHandler, clusterDisconnectHandler, clusterKubectlApplyAllHandler, clusterKubectlDeleteAllHandler, clusterDeleteHandler, clusterSetDeletingHandler, clusterClearDeletingHandler } from "../../../../common/ipc/cluster";
 import type { ClusterId } from "../../../../common/cluster-types";
 import { ClusterStore } from "../../../../common/cluster-store/cluster-store";
 import { appEventBus } from "../../../../common/app-event-bus/event-bus";
@@ -37,12 +37,6 @@ interface Dependencies {
 }
 
 export const setupIpcMainHandlers = ({ applicationMenuItems, directoryForLensLocalStorage, getAbsolutePath, clusterManager, catalogEntityRegistry, clusterStore, operatingSystemTheme, askUserForFilePaths }: Dependencies) => {
-  ipcMainHandle(clusterActivateHandler, (event, clusterId: ClusterId, force = false) => {
-    return ClusterStore.getInstance()
-      .getById(clusterId)
-      ?.activate(force);
-  });
-
   ipcMainHandle(clusterSetFrameIdHandler, (event: IpcMainInvokeEvent, clusterId: ClusterId) => {
     const cluster = ClusterStore.getInstance().getById(clusterId);
 
diff --git a/src/main/getDiForUnitTesting.ts b/src/main/getDiForUnitTesting.ts
index a333e5b1d4..5ca2feb16a 100644
--- a/src/main/getDiForUnitTesting.ts
+++ b/src/main/getDiForUnitTesting.ts
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ import { registerMobX } from "@ogre-tools/injectable-extension-for-mobx";
 import electronInjectable from "./utils/resolve-system-proxy/electron.injectable";
 import type { HotbarStore } from "../common/hotbars/store";
 import focusApplicationInjectable from "./electron-app/features/focus-application.injectable";
+import readFileSyncInjectable from "../common/fs/read-file-sync.injectable";
 import type { GlobalOverride } from "../common/test-utils/get-global-override";
 
 export function getDiForUnitTesting(opts: { doGeneralOverrides?: boolean } = {}) {
@@ -177,6 +178,7 @@ export function getDiForUnitTesting(opts: { doGeneralOverrides?: boolean } = {})
       readJsonFileInjectable,
       readFileInjectable,
       execFileInjectable,
+      readFileSyncInjectable,
     ]);
 
     // TODO: Remove usages of globally exported appEventBus to get rid of this
diff --git a/src/main/utils/channel/message-to-channel.injectable.ts b/src/main/utils/channel/message-to-channel.injectable.ts
index cbcdc2badd..6c5c8d48de 100644
--- a/src/main/utils/channel/message-to-channel.injectable.ts
+++ b/src/main/utils/channel/message-to-channel.injectable.ts
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@
  * Licensed under MIT License. See LICENSE in root directory for more information.
  */
 import { getInjectable } from "@ogre-tools/injectable";
+import type { MessageToChannel } from "../../../common/utils/channel/message-to-channel-injection-token";
 import { messageToChannelInjectionToken } from "../../../common/utils/channel/message-to-channel-injection-token";
-import type { MessageChannel } from "../../../common/utils/channel/message-channel-injection-token";
 import { tentativeStringifyJson } from "../../../common/utils/tentative-stringify-json";
 import getVisibleWindowsInjectable from "../../start-main-application/lens-window/get-visible-windows.injectable";
 
@@ -14,15 +14,13 @@ const messageToChannelInjectable = getInjectable({
   instantiate: (di) => {
     const getVisibleWindows = di.inject(getVisibleWindowsInjectable);
 
-    // TODO: Figure out way to improve typing in internals
-    // Notice that this should be injected using "messageToChannelInjectionToken" which is typed correctly.
-    return (channel: MessageChannel<any>, message?: unknown) => {
+    return ((channel, message) => {
       const stringifiedMessage = tentativeStringifyJson(message);
 
       getVisibleWindows().forEach((lensWindow) =>
         lensWindow.send({ channel: channel.id, data: stringifiedMessage ? [stringifiedMessage] : [] }),
       );
-    };
+    }) as MessageToChannel;
   },
 
   injectionToken: messageToChannelInjectionToken,
diff --git a/src/renderer/cluster/connection-update-channel-listener.injectable.ts b/src/renderer/cluster/connection-update-channel-listener.injectable.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b1ad6c91fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/cluster/connection-update-channel-listener.injectable.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) OpenLens Authors. All rights reserved.
+ * Licensed under MIT License. See LICENSE in root directory for more information.
+ */
+import { getInjectable } from "@ogre-tools/injectable";
+import clusterConnectionStatusStateInjectable from "../components/cluster-manager/cluster-status.state.injectable";
+import type { MessageChannelListener } from "../../common/utils/channel/message-channel-listener-injection-token";
+import { messageChannelListenerInjectionToken } from "../../common/utils/channel/message-channel-listener-injection-token";
+import type { ClusterConnectionUpdateChannel } from "../../common/cluster/connection-update-channel.injectable";
+import clusterConnectionUpdateChannelInjectable from "../../common/cluster/connection-update-channel.injectable";
+
+const clusterConnectionChannelListenerInjectable = getInjectable({
+  id: "cluster-connection-channel-listener",
+  instantiate: (di): MessageChannelListener<ClusterConnectionUpdateChannel> => {
+    const clusterConnectionUpdateChannel = di.inject(clusterConnectionUpdateChannelInjectable);
+    const state = di.inject(clusterConnectionStatusStateInjectable);
+
+    return {
+      channel: clusterConnectionUpdateChannel,
+      handler: ({ clusterId, update }) => {
+        const status = state.forCluster(clusterId);
+
+        status.appendAuthUpdate(update);
+      },
+    };
+  },
+  injectionToken: messageChannelListenerInjectionToken,
+});
+
+export default clusterConnectionChannelListenerInjectable;
diff --git a/src/renderer/cluster/request-activation.injectable.ts b/src/renderer/cluster/request-activation.injectable.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6ac50401e2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/cluster/request-activation.injectable.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) OpenLens Authors. All rights reserved.
+ * Licensed under MIT License. See LICENSE in root directory for more information.
+ */
+import { getInjectable } from "@ogre-tools/injectable";
+import type { ClusterActivationRequestChannel } from "../../common/cluster/request-activation.injectable";
+import clusterActivationRequestChannelInjectable from "../../common/cluster/request-activation.injectable";
+import type { RequestFromChannelImpl } from "../../common/utils/channel/request-from-channel-injection-token";
+import requestFromChannelInjectable from "../utils/channel/request-from-channel.injectable";
+
+export type RequestClusterActivation = RequestFromChannelImpl<ClusterActivationRequestChannel>;
+
+const requestClusterActivationInjectable = getInjectable({
+  id: "request-cluster-activation",
+  instantiate: (di): RequestClusterActivation => {
+    const channel = di.inject(clusterActivationRequestChannelInjectable);
+    const requestFromChannel = di.inject(requestFromChannelInjectable);
+
+    return (clusterId) => requestFromChannel(channel, clusterId);
+  },
+});
+
+export default requestClusterActivationInjectable;
diff --git a/src/renderer/components/cluster-manager/cluster-status-watcher.injectable.ts b/src/renderer/components/cluster-manager/cluster-status-watcher.injectable.ts
index 4f77ceb6f1..8804800143 100644
--- a/src/renderer/components/cluster-manager/cluster-status-watcher.injectable.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/components/cluster-manager/cluster-status-watcher.injectable.ts
@@ -3,55 +3,53 @@
  * Licensed under MIT License. See LICENSE in root directory for more information.
  */
 import { getInjectable } from "@ogre-tools/injectable";
-import { action, reaction } from "mobx";
-import type { ClusterStore } from "../../../common/cluster-store/cluster-store";
-import clusterStoreInjectable from "../../../common/cluster-store/cluster-store.injectable";
-import type { ClusterId, KubeAuthUpdate } from "../../../common/cluster-types";
-import ipcRendererInjectable from "../../app-paths/get-value-from-registered-channel/ipc-renderer/ipc-renderer.injectable";
-import type { ClusterConnectionStatusState } from "./cluster-status.state.injectable";
+import { action, computed, reaction } from "mobx";
+import clustersInjectable from "../../../common/cluster-store/clusters.injectable";
+import type { ClusterId } from "../../../common/cluster-types";
+import setupAppPathsInjectable from "../../app-paths/setup-app-paths.injectable";
+import { beforeFrameStartsInjectionToken } from "../../before-frame-starts/before-frame-starts-injection-token";
+import clusterConnectionStatusStateInjectable from "./cluster-status.state.injectable";
 
-function computeRisingEdgeForClusterDisconnect(store: ClusterStore, onNewlyDisconnected: (clusterId: ClusterId) => void) {
-  const disconnectedStateComputer = () => store.clustersList.map(cluster => [cluster.id, cluster.disconnected] as const);
-  const state = new Map(disconnectedStateComputer());
-
-  reaction(
-    disconnectedStateComputer,
-    (disconnectedStates) => {
-      for (const [clusterId, isDisconnected] of disconnectedStates) {
-        if (state.get(clusterId) === isDisconnected) {
-          // do nothing
-        } else {
-          state.set(clusterId, isDisconnected); // save the new state
-
-          if (isDisconnected) {
-            // If the new value is `true` then the previous value was falsy and this is the rising edge.
-            onNewlyDisconnected(clusterId);
-          }
-        }
-      }
-    },
-  );
-}
-
-// This needs to be an `init` function to bypass a bug in the setup -> injectable -> setup path
-const initClusterStatusWatcherInjectable = getInjectable({
+const startClusterStatusClearingInjectable = getInjectable({
   id: "cluster-status-watcher",
   instantiate: (di) => {
-    const ipcRenderer = di.inject(ipcRendererInjectable);
-    const clusterStore = di.inject(clusterStoreInjectable);
+    const statusState = di.inject(clusterConnectionStatusStateInjectable);
+    const state = new Map<string, boolean>();
+    const onNewlyDisconnected = action((clusterId: ClusterId) => {
+      const status = statusState.forCluster(clusterId);
 
-    return (state: ClusterConnectionStatusState) => {
-      ipcRenderer.on("cluster:connection-update", (evt, clusterId: ClusterId, update: KubeAuthUpdate) => {
-        state.forCluster(clusterId).appendAuthUpdate(update);
-      });
-      computeRisingEdgeForClusterDisconnect(clusterStore, action((clusterId) => {
-        const forCluster = state.forCluster(clusterId);
+      status.clearReconnectingState();
+      status.resetAuthOutput();
+    });
 
-        forCluster.clearReconnectingState();
-        forCluster.resetAuthOutput();
-      }));
+    return {
+      run: () => {
+        const clusters = di.inject(clustersInjectable); // This has to be in here so that it happens after the `setupAppPaths`
+        const disconnectedStates = computed(() => clusters.get().map(cluster => [cluster.id, cluster.disconnected] as const));
+
+        reaction(
+          () => disconnectedStates.get(),
+          states => {
+            for (const [clusterId, isDisconnected] of states) {
+              if (state.get(clusterId) !== isDisconnected) {
+                state.set(clusterId, isDisconnected); // save the new state
+
+                if (isDisconnected) {
+                  // If the new value is `true` then the previous value was falsy and this is the rising edge.
+                  onNewlyDisconnected(clusterId);
+                }
+              }
+            }
+          },
+          {
+            fireImmediately: true,
+          },
+        );
+      },
+      runAfter: di.inject(setupAppPathsInjectable),
     };
   },
+  injectionToken: beforeFrameStartsInjectionToken,
 });
 
-export default initClusterStatusWatcherInjectable;
+export default startClusterStatusClearingInjectable;
diff --git a/src/renderer/components/cluster-manager/cluster-status.state.injectable.ts b/src/renderer/components/cluster-manager/cluster-status.state.injectable.ts
index 3a755a2f83..ea373305c9 100644
--- a/src/renderer/components/cluster-manager/cluster-status.state.injectable.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/components/cluster-manager/cluster-status.state.injectable.ts
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ import { action, computed,  observable } from "mobx";
 import type { ClusterId, KubeAuthUpdate } from "../../../common/cluster-types";
 import loggerInjectable from "../../../common/logger.injectable";
 import { getOrInsert, hasTypedProperty, isBoolean, isObject, isString } from "../../utils";
-import initClusterStatusWatcherInjectable from "./cluster-status-watcher.injectable";
 
 export interface ClusterConnectionStatus {
   readonly authOutput: IComputedValue<KubeAuthUpdate[]>;
@@ -21,18 +20,17 @@ export interface ClusterConnectionStatus {
 }
 
 export interface ClusterConnectionStatusState {
-  forCluster(clusterId: ClusterId): Readonly<ClusterConnectionStatus>;
+  forCluster(clusterId: ClusterId): ClusterConnectionStatus;
 }
 
 const clusterConnectionStatusStateInjectable = getInjectable({
   id: "cluster-connection-status-state",
-  instantiate: (di) => {
+  instantiate: (di): ClusterConnectionStatusState => {
     const authOutputs = observable.map<ClusterId, KubeAuthUpdate[]>();
     const reconnecting = observable.set<ClusterId>();
-    const initWatcher = di.inject(initClusterStatusWatcherInjectable);
     const logger = di.inject(loggerInjectable);
 
-    const state: ClusterConnectionStatusState = {
+    return {
       forCluster: (clusterId) => {
         const authOutput = computed(() => authOutputs.get(clusterId) ?? []);
 
@@ -63,10 +61,6 @@ const clusterConnectionStatusStateInjectable = getInjectable({
         };
       },
     };
-
-    initWatcher(state);
-
-    return state;
   },
 });
 
diff --git a/src/renderer/components/cluster-manager/cluster-status.tsx b/src/renderer/components/cluster-manager/cluster-status.tsx
index 5c016a7bab..811a30478b 100644
--- a/src/renderer/components/cluster-manager/cluster-status.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/components/cluster-manager/cluster-status.tsx
@@ -15,13 +15,14 @@ import { Button } from "../button";
 import { Icon } from "../icon";
 import { Spinner } from "../spinner";
 import type { CatalogEntityRegistry } from "../../api/catalog/entity/registry";
-import { requestClusterActivation } from "../../ipc";
 import type { NavigateToEntitySettings } from "../../../common/front-end-routing/routes/entity-settings/navigate-to-entity-settings.injectable";
 import { withInjectables } from "@ogre-tools/injectable-react";
 import navigateToEntitySettingsInjectable from "../../../common/front-end-routing/routes/entity-settings/navigate-to-entity-settings.injectable";
 import catalogEntityRegistryInjectable from "../../api/catalog/entity/registry.injectable";
 import type { ClusterConnectionStatus } from "./cluster-status.state.injectable";
 import clusterConnectionStatusStateInjectable from "./cluster-status.state.injectable";
+import type { RequestClusterActivation } from "../../cluster/request-activation.injectable";
+import requestClusterActivationInjectable from "../../cluster/request-activation.injectable";
 
 export interface ClusterStatusProps {
   className?: IClassName;
@@ -32,6 +33,7 @@ interface Dependencies {
   navigateToEntitySettings: NavigateToEntitySettings;
   entityRegistry: CatalogEntityRegistry;
   state: ClusterConnectionStatus;
+  requestClusterActivation: RequestClusterActivation;
 }
 
 const NonInjectedClusterStatus = observer((props: ClusterStatusProps & Dependencies) => {
@@ -41,6 +43,7 @@ const NonInjectedClusterStatus = observer((props: ClusterStatusProps & Dependenc
     state,
     className,
     entityRegistry,
+    requestClusterActivation,
   } = props;
   const entity = entityRegistry.getById(cluster.id);
   const clusterName = entity?.getName() ?? cluster.name;
@@ -52,7 +55,10 @@ const NonInjectedClusterStatus = observer((props: ClusterStatusProps & Dependenc
     });
 
     try {
-      await requestClusterActivation(cluster.id, true);
+      await requestClusterActivation({
+        clusterId: cluster.id,
+        force: true,
+      });
     } catch (error) {
       state.appendAuthUpdate({
         message: String(error),
@@ -141,5 +147,6 @@ export const ClusterStatus = withInjectables<Dependencies, ClusterStatusProps>(N
     navigateToEntitySettings: di.inject(navigateToEntitySettingsInjectable),
     entityRegistry: di.inject(catalogEntityRegistryInjectable),
     state: di.inject(clusterConnectionStatusStateInjectable).forCluster(props.cluster.id),
+    requestClusterActivation: di.inject(requestClusterActivationInjectable),
   }),
 });
diff --git a/src/renderer/components/cluster-manager/cluster-view.tsx b/src/renderer/components/cluster-manager/cluster-view.tsx
index 0badc8e0d5..09046af112 100644
--- a/src/renderer/components/cluster-manager/cluster-view.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/components/cluster-manager/cluster-view.tsx
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ import { ClusterStatus } from "./cluster-status";
 import type { ClusterFrameHandler } from "./cluster-frame-handler";
 import type { Cluster } from "../../../common/cluster/cluster";
 import type { ClusterStore } from "../../../common/cluster-store/cluster-store";
-import { requestClusterActivation } from "../../ipc";
 import { withInjectables } from "@ogre-tools/injectable-react";
 import type { NavigateToCatalog } from "../../../common/front-end-routing/routes/catalog/navigate-to-catalog.injectable";
 import navigateToCatalogInjectable from "../../../common/front-end-routing/routes/catalog/navigate-to-catalog.injectable";
@@ -25,6 +24,8 @@ import clusterConnectionStatusStateInjectable from "./cluster-status.state.injec
 import clusterStoreInjectable from "../../../common/cluster-store/cluster-store.injectable";
 import type { Disposer } from "../../utils";
 import { disposer } from "../../utils";
+import type { RequestClusterActivation } from "../../cluster/request-activation.injectable";
+import requestClusterActivationInjectable from "../../cluster/request-activation.injectable";
 
 interface Dependencies {
   clusterId: IComputedValue<string | undefined>;
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@ interface Dependencies {
   entityRegistry: CatalogEntityRegistry;
   clusterConnectionStatusState: ClusterConnectionStatusState;
   clusterStore: ClusterStore;
+  requestClusterActivation: RequestClusterActivation;
 }
 
 @observer
@@ -104,7 +106,10 @@ class NonInjectedClusterView extends React.Component<Dependencies> {
 
         this.props.clusterFrames.setVisibleCluster(clusterId);
         this.props.clusterFrames.initView(clusterId);
-        requestClusterActivation(clusterId, false); // activate and fetch cluster's state from main
+        this.props.requestClusterActivation({
+          clusterId,
+          force: false,
+        });
         this.props.entityRegistry.activeEntity = clusterId;
 
         const navigateToClusterDisposer = disposer(
@@ -160,6 +165,7 @@ export const ClusterView = withInjectables<Dependencies>(NonInjectedClusterView,
     entityRegistry: di.inject(catalogEntityRegistryInjectable),
     clusterConnectionStatusState: di.inject(clusterConnectionStatusStateInjectable),
     clusterStore: di.inject(clusterStoreInjectable),
+    requestClusterActivation: di.inject(requestClusterActivationInjectable),
   }),
 });
 
diff --git a/src/renderer/components/test-utils/get-application-builder.tsx b/src/renderer/components/test-utils/get-application-builder.tsx
index 55e3a4817d..891a4b8d9c 100644
--- a/src/renderer/components/test-utils/get-application-builder.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/components/test-utils/get-application-builder.tsx
@@ -143,8 +143,6 @@ export const getApplicationBuilder = () => {
     doGeneralOverrides: true,
   });
 
-  mainDi.register(mainExtensionsStateInjectable);
-
   const overrideChannelsForWindow = overrideChannels(mainDi);
 
   const beforeApplicationStartCallbacks: Callback[] = [];
diff --git a/src/renderer/create-cluster/create-cluster.injectable.ts b/src/renderer/create-cluster/create-cluster.injectable.ts
index 7e997477a6..fae1bf2519 100644
--- a/src/renderer/create-cluster/create-cluster.injectable.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/create-cluster/create-cluster.injectable.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { Cluster } from "../../common/cluster/cluster";
 import directoryForKubeConfigsInjectable from "../../common/app-paths/directory-for-kube-configs/directory-for-kube-configs.injectable";
 import { createClusterInjectionToken } from "../../common/cluster/create-cluster-injection-token";
 import loggerInjectable from "../../common/logger.injectable";
+import readFileSyncInjectable from "../../common/fs/read-file-sync.injectable";
 
 const createClusterInjectable = getInjectable({
   id: "create-cluster",
@@ -16,6 +17,7 @@ const createClusterInjectable = getInjectable({
     const dependencies: ClusterDependencies = {
       directoryForKubeConfigs: di.inject(directoryForKubeConfigsInjectable),
       logger: di.inject(loggerInjectable),
+      readFileSync: di.inject(readFileSyncInjectable),
 
       // TODO: Dismantle wrong abstraction
       // Note: "as never" to get around strictness in unnatural scenario
@@ -26,6 +28,7 @@ const createClusterInjectable = getInjectable({
       createListNamespaces: () => { throw new Error("Tried to access back-end feature in front-end."); },
       detectorRegistry: undefined as never,
       createVersionDetector: () => { throw new Error("Tried to access back-end feature in front-end."); },
+      emitClusterConnectionUpdate: () => { throw new Error("Tried to access back-end feature in front-end."); },
     };
 
     return (model, configData) => new Cluster(dependencies, model, configData);
diff --git a/src/renderer/ipc/index.ts b/src/renderer/ipc/index.ts
index 5e204ef98b..2977834776 100644
--- a/src/renderer/ipc/index.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/ipc/index.ts
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
 import type { OpenDialogOptions } from "electron";
 import { ipcRenderer } from "electron";
-import { clusterActivateHandler, clusterClearDeletingHandler, clusterDeleteHandler, clusterDisconnectHandler, clusterKubectlApplyAllHandler, clusterKubectlDeleteAllHandler, clusterSetDeletingHandler, clusterSetFrameIdHandler, clusterStates } from "../../common/ipc/cluster";
+import { clusterClearDeletingHandler, clusterDeleteHandler, clusterDisconnectHandler, clusterKubectlApplyAllHandler, clusterKubectlDeleteAllHandler, clusterSetDeletingHandler, clusterSetFrameIdHandler, clusterStates } from "../../common/ipc/cluster";
 import type { ClusterId, ClusterState } from "../../common/cluster-types";
 import { windowActionHandleChannel, windowLocationChangedChannel, windowOpenAppMenuAsContextMenuChannel, type WindowAction } from "../../common/ipc/window";
 import { openFilePickingDialogChannel } from "../../common/ipc/dialog";
@@ -43,10 +43,6 @@ export function requestSetClusterFrameId(clusterId: ClusterId): Promise<void> {
   return requestMain(clusterSetFrameIdHandler, clusterId);
 }
 
-export function requestClusterActivation(clusterId: ClusterId, force?: boolean): Promise<void> {
-  return requestMain(clusterActivateHandler, clusterId, force);
-}
-
 export function requestClusterDisconnection(clusterId: ClusterId, force?: boolean): Promise<void> {
   return requestMain(clusterDisconnectHandler, clusterId, force);
 }
diff --git a/src/renderer/utils/channel/channel-listeners/enlist-message-channel-listener.injectable.ts b/src/renderer/utils/channel/channel-listeners/enlist-message-channel-listener.injectable.ts
index 6d76e35340..fa9a6661f9 100644
--- a/src/renderer/utils/channel/channel-listeners/enlist-message-channel-listener.injectable.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/utils/channel/channel-listeners/enlist-message-channel-listener.injectable.ts
@@ -24,9 +24,11 @@ const enlistMessageChannelListenerInjectable = getInjectable({
         );
       };
 
+      console.debug(`[IPC]: listening on ${channel.id}`);
       ipcRenderer.on(channel.id, nativeCallback);
 
       return () => {
+        console.debug(`[IPC]: listenering off ${channel.id}`);
         ipcRenderer.off(channel.id, nativeCallback);
       };
     };