diff --git a/modules/lang/ruby/config.el b/modules/lang/ruby/config.el
index 2e514fe15..5abe54cad 100644
--- a/modules/lang/ruby/config.el
+++ b/modules/lang/ruby/config.el
@@ -31,8 +31,13 @@
 
 
 (def-package! robe
-  :unless (featurep! +lsp)
-  :hook (enh-ruby-mode . robe-mode)
+  :defer t
+  :init
+  (defun +ruby|init-robe-mode-maybe ()
+    "Start `robe-mode' if `lsp-mode' isn't active."
+    (unless (bound-and-true-p lsp-mode)
+      (robe-mode +1)))
+  (add-hook 'enh-ruby-mode-hook #'+ruby|init-robe-mode-maybe)
   :config
   (set-repl-handler! 'enh-ruby-mode #'robe-start)
   (set-company-backend! 'enh-ruby-mode 'company-robe)
diff --git a/modules/lang/ruby/packages.el b/modules/lang/ruby/packages.el
index 90f1c33d2..d7708caef 100644
--- a/modules/lang/ruby/packages.el
+++ b/modules/lang/ruby/packages.el
@@ -12,8 +12,7 @@
 
 ;; Programming environment
 (package! rubocop)
-(unless (featurep! +lsp)
-  (package! robe))
+(package! robe)
 
 ;; Project tools
 (package! bundler)