diff --git a/init.el b/init.el
index 3c325e8..ce8dc1c 100644
--- a/init.el
+++ b/init.el
@@ -103,7 +103,6 @@
                   ace-window-display-mode
                   key-chord-mode
                   ivy-mode
-                  helm-mode
                   minions-mode
                   which-key-mode
                   eyebrowse-mode
@@ -113,6 +112,8 @@
     (with-demoted-errors "Cannot activate mode: %s"
       (funcall mode +1)))
 
+  (require 'helm)
+
   (unless on-windows
     (with-demoted-errors "Cannot load `pdf-tools’: %s"
       (pdf-tools-install)))
@@ -1881,7 +1882,6 @@ With given ARG, display files in `db/important-document-path’."
 
 (use-package helm
   :ensure t
-  :defer t
   :diminish helm-mode
   :bind (:map helm-command-map
               ("#" . db/play-radio-stations)