diff --git a/core/autoload/packages.el b/core/autoload/packages.el
index 7c6e358d4..04278e50d 100644
--- a/core/autoload/packages.el
+++ b/core/autoload/packages.el
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ Be careful not to use it in a loop."
                   (or (assq pkgsym doom-packages)
                       (list (car (assq pkgsym package-alist)))))
                 (cl-delete-duplicates
-                 (append doom-protected-packages (mapcar 'car doom-packages))))))
+                 (append doom-core-packages (mapcar 'car doom-packages))))))
 
 ;;;###autoload
 (defun doom-get-depending-on (name)
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ depended on.
 Used by `doom/packages-autoremove'."
   (doom-initialize-packages t)
   (let ((package-selected-packages
-         (append (mapcar 'car doom-packages) doom-protected-packages)))
+         (append (mapcar 'car doom-packages) doom-core-packages)))
     (package--removable-packages)))
 
 ;;;###autoload
diff --git a/core/core-packages.el b/core/core-packages.el
index 2ab62f5e1..d3a8cbdd8 100644
--- a/core/core-packages.el
+++ b/core/core-packages.el
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ This will be nil if you have byte-compiled your configuration (as intended).")
 package's name as a symbol, and whose CDR is the plist supplied to its
 `package!' declaration. Set by `doom-initialize-packages'.")
 
-(defvar doom-protected-packages
+(defvar doom-core-packages
   '(persistent-soft quelpa use-package)
   "A list of packages that must be installed (and will be auto-installed if
 missing) and shouldn't be deleted.")
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ to speed up startup."
           load-path (append load-path doom--package-load-path))
 
     ;; Ensure core packages are installed
-    (let ((core-packages (cl-remove-if 'package-installed-p doom-protected-packages)))
+    (let ((core-packages (cl-remove-if 'package-installed-p doom-core-packages)))
       (when core-packages
         (package-refresh-contents)
         (dolist (pkg core-packages)
diff --git a/test/core/test-core-lib-package.el b/test/core/test-core-lib-package.el
index 991295ae6..96e16b52a 100644
--- a/test/core/test-core-lib-package.el
+++ b/test/core/test-core-lib-package.el
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ affects your Emacs packages)."
           (package-alist
            `((doom-dummy nil)
              (doom-dummy-dep nil)))
-          doom-protected-packages)
+          doom-core-packages)
       (cl-letf (((symbol-function 'doom-initialize-packages) (lambda (&rest _))))
         (should (equal (doom-get-packages) '((doom-dummy)))))))
 
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ no longer enabled or depended on."
            `((doom-dummy ,(test-package-new 'doom-dummy '(20160405 1234) '((doom-dummy-dep (1 0)))))
              (doom-dummy-unwanted ,(test-package-new 'doom-dummy-unwanted '(20160601 1234)))
              (doom-dummy-dep ,(test-package-new 'doom-dummy-dep '(20160301 1234)))))
-          doom-protected-packages)
+          doom-core-packages)
       (cl-letf (((symbol-function 'doom-initialize-packages) (lambda (&rest _))))
         (should (equal (doom-get-orphaned-packages) '(doom-dummy-unwanted))))))
 
@@ -74,6 +74,6 @@ no longer enabled or depended on."
 aren't installed."
     (let ((doom-packages '((doom-dummy) (doom-dummy-installed)))
           (package-alist `((doom-dummy-installed ,(test-package-new 'doom-dummy-installed '(20160405 1234)))))
-          doom-protected-packages)
+          doom-core-packages)
       (cl-letf (((symbol-function 'doom-initialize-packages) (lambda (&rest _))))
         (should (equal (doom-get-missing-packages) '((doom-dummy))))))))