diff --git a/init.lua b/init.lua
index 10e2b9d..b80c53d 100644
--- a/init.lua
+++ b/init.lua
@@ -4,6 +4,18 @@ require "core.options"
 require("core.utils").load_mappings()
 
 -- setup packer + plugins
-require("core.packer").bootstrap()
+local fn = vim.fn
+local install_path = fn.stdpath "data" .. "/site/pack/packer/opt/packer.nvim"
+
+if fn.empty(fn.glob(install_path)) > 0 then
+  vim.api.nvim_set_hl(0, "NormalFloat", { bg = "#1e222a" })
+  print "Cloning packer .."
+  fn.system { "git", "clone", "--depth", "1", "https://github.com/wbthomason/packer.nvim", install_path }
+
+  -- install plugins + compile their configs
+  vim.cmd "packadd packer.nvim"
+  require "plugins"
+  vim.cmd "PackerSync"
+end
 
 pcall(require, "custom")
diff --git a/lua/core/init.lua b/lua/core/init.lua
index a26beb5..0e30564 100644
--- a/lua/core/init.lua
+++ b/lua/core/init.lua
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ autocmd("FileType", {
 -- wrap the PackerSync command to warn people before using it in NvChadSnapshots
 autocmd("VimEnter", {
   callback = function()
-    vim.cmd "command! -nargs=* -complete=customlist,v:lua.require'packer'.plugin_complete PackerSync lua require('core.utils').packer_sync(<f-args>)"
+    vim.cmd "command! -nargs=* -complete=customlist,v:lua.require'packer'.plugin_complete PackerSync lua require('plugins') require('core.utils').packer_sync(<f-args>)"
   end,
 })
 
diff --git a/lua/core/packer.lua b/lua/core/packer.lua
index 4f68b66..33bfa38 100644
--- a/lua/core/packer.lua
+++ b/lua/core/packer.lua
@@ -1,22 +1,5 @@
 local M = {}
 
-M.bootstrap = function()
-  local fn = vim.fn
-  local install_path = fn.stdpath "data" .. "/site/pack/packer/opt/packer.nvim"
-
-  vim.api.nvim_set_hl(0, "NormalFloat", { bg = "#1e222a" })
-
-  if fn.empty(fn.glob(install_path)) > 0 then
-    print "Cloning packer .."
-    fn.system { "git", "clone", "--depth", "1", "https://github.com/wbthomason/packer.nvim", install_path }
-
-    -- install plugins + compile their configs
-    vim.cmd "packadd packer.nvim"
-    require "plugins"
-    vim.cmd "PackerSync"
-  end
-end
-
 M.options = {
   auto_clean = true,
   compile_on_sync = true,