diff --git a/core/core-packages.el b/core/core-packages.el
index 726510784..168ab6fca 100644
--- a/core/core-packages.el
+++ b/core/core-packages.el
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
 package's name as a symbol, and whose CDR is the plist supplied to its
 `package!' declaration. Set by `doom-initialize-packages'.")
 
-(defvar doom-core-packages '(straight use-package async gcmh)
+(defvar doom-core-packages '(straight use-package async)
   "A list of packages that must be installed (and will be auto-installed if
 missing) and shouldn't be deleted.")
 
diff --git a/core/packages.el b/core/packages.el
index 7976cbdb5..8535a023a 100644
--- a/core/packages.el
+++ b/core/packages.el
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 
 ;; core.el
 (package! auto-minor-mode)
+(package! gcmh)
 
 ;; core-ui.el
 (package! all-the-icons)