diff --git a/__mocks__/electron.tsx b/__mocks__/electron.tsx
index 05628cac2..ee2e4bbe6 100644
--- a/__mocks__/electron.tsx
+++ b/__mocks__/electron.tsx
@@ -20,4 +20,5 @@ module.exports = {
     },
     getCurrentWindow: () => ({isFocused: () => true}),
   },
+  ipcRenderer: {},
 };
diff --git a/src/dispatcher/__tests__/plugins.electron.js b/src/dispatcher/__tests__/plugins.node.js
similarity index 83%
rename from src/dispatcher/__tests__/plugins.electron.js
rename to src/dispatcher/__tests__/plugins.node.js
index 570eace2b..14b3a813d 100644
--- a/src/dispatcher/__tests__/plugins.electron.js
+++ b/src/dispatcher/__tests__/plugins.node.js
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ import dispatcher, {
   requirePlugin,
 } from '../plugins.tsx';
 import path from 'path';
-import {remote} from 'electron';
+import {ipcRenderer, remote} from 'electron';
 import {FlipperPlugin} from 'flipper';
 import reducers from '../../reducers/index.tsx';
 import {init as initLogger} from '../../fb-stubs/Logger.tsx';
@@ -31,24 +31,20 @@ test('dispatcher dispatches REGISTER_PLUGINS', () => {
   expect(actions.map(a => a.type)).toContain('REGISTER_PLUGINS');
 });
 
-test('getDynamicPlugins returns empty array', () => {
-  // $FlowFixMe process.env not defined in electron API spec
-  remote.process.env.PLUGINS = null;
+test('getDynamicPlugins returns empty array on errors', () => {
+  ipcRenderer.sendSync = jest.fn();
+  ipcRenderer.sendSync.mockImplementation(() => {
+    console.log('aaa');
+    throw new Error('ooops');
+  });
   const res = getDynamicPlugins();
   expect(res).toEqual([]);
 });
 
-test('getDynamicPlugins returns empty array for invalid JSON', () => {
-  // $FlowFixMe process.env not defined in electron API spec
-  remote.process.env.PLUGINS = 'invalid JOSN }}[]';
-  const res = getDynamicPlugins();
-  expect(res).toEqual([]);
-});
-
-test('getDynamicPlugins from env', () => {
+test('getDynamicPlugins from main process via ipc', () => {
   const plugins = [{name: 'test'}];
-  // $FlowFixMe process.env not defined in electron API spec
-  remote.process.env.PLUGINS = JSON.stringify(plugins);
+  ipcRenderer.sendSync = jest.fn();
+  ipcRenderer.sendSync.mockReturnValue(plugins);
   const res = getDynamicPlugins();
   expect(res).toEqual(plugins);
 });
diff --git a/src/dispatcher/plugins.tsx b/src/dispatcher/plugins.tsx
index d2155579c..c96979f18 100644
--- a/src/dispatcher/plugins.tsx
+++ b/src/dispatcher/plugins.tsx
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ import {
   addDisabledPlugins,
   addFailedPlugins,
 } from '../reducers/plugins';
-import {remote} from 'electron';
+import {ipcRenderer} from 'electron';
 import GK from '../fb-stubs/GK';
 import {FlipperBasePlugin} from '../plugin';
 import {setupMenuBar} from '../MenuBar';
@@ -110,9 +110,7 @@ function getBundledPlugins(): Array<PluginDefinition> {
 export function getDynamicPlugins() {
   let dynamicPlugins: Array<PluginDefinition> = [];
   try {
-    dynamicPlugins = JSON.parse(
-      (remote && remote.process.env.PLUGINS) || process.env.PLUGINS || '[]',
-    );
+    dynamicPlugins = ipcRenderer.sendSync('get-dynamic-plugins');
   } catch (e) {
     console.error(e);
   }
diff --git a/static/index.js b/static/index.js
index 11632628a..5853994f9 100644
--- a/static/index.js
+++ b/static/index.js
@@ -111,7 +111,9 @@ compilePlugins(
   pluginPaths,
   path.join(flipperDir, 'plugins'),
 ).then(dynamicPlugins => {
-  process.env.PLUGINS = JSON.stringify(dynamicPlugins);
+  ipcMain.on('get-dynamic-plugins', event => {
+    event.returnValue = dynamicPlugins;
+  });
   pluginsCompiled = true;
   tryCreateWindow();
 });