diff --git a/.config/nvim/lua/my/plugins/plugins.lua b/.config/nvim/lua/my/plugins/plugins.lua
index bc6ce3a..e313e9a 100644
--- a/.config/nvim/lua/my/plugins/plugins.lua
+++ b/.config/nvim/lua/my/plugins/plugins.lua
@@ -1,14 +1,11 @@
-local has_api_level = require('my.functions').has_api_level
--- NOTE: next line is a variable, not a function
-local nerdfont_installed = require('my.functions').nerdfont_installed()
-
 return {
     -- common dependencies
     { 'https://github.com/nvim-lua/plenary.nvim',
-        lazy = true
+        lazy = true,
+        version = '*',
     },
     { 'https://github.com/kyazdani42/nvim-web-devicons',
-        enabled = nerdfont_installed
+        enabled = require('my.functions').nerdfont_installed(),
     },
 
     -- basics
@@ -23,10 +20,11 @@ return {
             vim.api.nvim_set_hl(0, 'AmoraCommentBold',
                 { fg = '#7C4180', ctermfg = 61, bold = true })
         end,
+        priority = 1000, -- load before all other plugins
     },
     { 'https://github.com/editorconfig/editorconfig-vim',
         -- 0.9.0 has EditorConfig support included
-        enabled = not has_api_level(11)
+        enabled = not require('my.functions').has_api_level(11)
     },
     { 'https://github.com/ii14/autosplit.nvim',
         init = function()