Truly prevent unstyled mode-line flash at startup

core/core-ui.el

@@ -36,6 +36,9 @@ shorter major mode name in the mode-line. See `doom|set-mode-name'.")
   "List of hooks to run when the theme (and font) is initialized (or reloaded
 with `doom//reload-theme').")
 
+;; Prevents the unstyled mode-line flash at startup
+(with-current-buffer (switch-to-buffer "*scratch*")
+  (setq mode-line-format nil))
 
 (setq-default
  bidi-display-reordering nil ; disable bidirectional text for tiny performance boost

core/core.el

@@ -116,8 +116,7 @@ melodramatic ex-vimmer disappointed with the text-editor status quo."
         inhibit-startup-echo-area-message user-login-name
         inhibit-default-init t
         initial-major-mode 'fundamental-mode
-        initial-scratch-message nil
-        mode-line-format nil))
+        initial-scratch-message nil))
 
 ;; Custom init hooks; clearer than `after-init-hook', `emacs-startup-hook', and
 ;; `window-setup-hook'.