diff --git a/src/plugins/coreplugin/coreplugin.cpp b/src/plugins/coreplugin/coreplugin.cpp
index 73c2079161f..1b5bad97b5b 100644
--- a/src/plugins/coreplugin/coreplugin.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/coreplugin/coreplugin.cpp
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 #include "modemanager.h"
 #include "session.h"
 #include "settingsdatabase.h"
+#include "systemsettings.h"
 #include "themechooser.h"
 #include "vcsmanager.h"
 
@@ -31,6 +32,7 @@
 #include <utils/algorithm.h>
 #include <utils/checkablemessagebox.h>
 #include <utils/commandline.h>
+#include <utils/environment.h>
 #include <utils/infobar.h>
 #include <utils/layoutbuilder.h>
 #include <utils/macroexpander.h>
@@ -67,11 +69,13 @@ using namespace Utils;
 static CorePlugin *m_instance = nullptr;
 
 const char kWarnCrashReportingSetting[] = "WarnCrashReporting";
-const char kEnvironmentChanges[] = "Core/EnvironmentChanges";
 
 CorePlugin::CorePlugin()
-    : m_startupSystemEnvironment(Environment::systemEnvironment())
 {
+    // Trigger creation as early as possible before anyone else could
+    // mess with the systemEnvironment before it is "backed up".
+    (void) systemSettings();
+
     qRegisterMetaType<Id>();
     qRegisterMetaType<Utils::Text::Position>();
     qRegisterMetaType<Utils::CommandLine>();
@@ -82,10 +86,6 @@ CorePlugin::CorePlugin()
     qRegisterMetaType<Utils::KeyList>();
     qRegisterMetaType<Utils::OldStore>();
     m_instance = this;
-
-    const EnvironmentItems changes = EnvironmentItem::fromStringList(
-        ICore::settings()->value(kEnvironmentChanges).toStringList());
-    setEnvironmentChanges(changes);
 }
 
 CorePlugin::~CorePlugin()
@@ -455,25 +455,6 @@ QObject *CorePlugin::remoteCommand(const QStringList & /* options */,
     return res;
 }
 
-EnvironmentItems CorePlugin::environmentChanges()
-{
-    return m_instance->m_environmentChanges;
-}
-
-void CorePlugin::setEnvironmentChanges(const EnvironmentItems &changes)
-{
-    if (m_instance->m_environmentChanges == changes)
-        return;
-    m_instance->m_environmentChanges = changes;
-    Environment systemEnv = m_instance->m_startupSystemEnvironment;
-    systemEnv.modify(changes);
-    Environment::setSystemEnvironment(systemEnv);
-    ICore::settings()->setValueWithDefault(kEnvironmentChanges,
-                                           EnvironmentItem::toStringList(changes));
-    if (ICore::instance())
-        emit ICore::instance()->systemEnvironmentChanged();
-}
-
 void CorePlugin::fileOpenRequest(const QString &f)
 {
     remoteCommand(QStringList(), QString(), QStringList(f));
diff --git a/src/plugins/coreplugin/coreplugin.h b/src/plugins/coreplugin/coreplugin.h
index 45cc8195025..73cf441df1d 100644
--- a/src/plugins/coreplugin/coreplugin.h
+++ b/src/plugins/coreplugin/coreplugin.h
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@
 
 #include <extensionsystem/iplugin.h>
 #include <extensionsystem/pluginspec.h>
-#include <utils/environment.h>
 
 namespace Core {
 
@@ -39,8 +38,6 @@ public:
                            const QString &workingDirectory,
                            const QStringList &args) override;
 
-    static Utils::EnvironmentItems environmentChanges();
-    static void setEnvironmentChanges(const Utils::EnvironmentItems &changes);
     static QString msgCrashpadInformation();
 
     static void loadMimeFromPlugin(const ExtensionSystem::PluginSpec *plugin);
@@ -65,8 +62,6 @@ private:
     EditMode *m_editMode = nullptr;
     Locator *m_locator = nullptr;
     FolderNavigationWidgetFactory *m_folderNavigationWidgetFactory = nullptr;
-    const Utils::Environment m_startupSystemEnvironment;
-    Utils::EnvironmentItems m_environmentChanges;
 };
 
 } // namespace Internal
diff --git a/src/plugins/coreplugin/systemsettings.cpp b/src/plugins/coreplugin/systemsettings.cpp
index ed3cb5cd45e..1f43e1b4bfb 100644
--- a/src/plugins/coreplugin/systemsettings.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/coreplugin/systemsettings.cpp
@@ -4,13 +4,11 @@
 #include "systemsettings.h"
 
 #include "coreconstants.h"
-#include "coreplugin.h"
 #include "coreplugintr.h"
 #include "editormanager/editormanager_p.h"
 #include "dialogs/ioptionspage.h"
 #include "fileutils.h"
 #include "icore.h"
-#include "iversioncontrol.h"
 #include "vcsmanager.h"
 
 #include <utils/algorithm.h>
@@ -61,7 +59,12 @@ SystemSettings &systemSettings()
 }
 
 SystemSettings::SystemSettings()
+    : m_startupSystemEnvironment(Environment::systemEnvironment())
 {
+    const EnvironmentItems changes = EnvironmentItem::fromStringList(
+        ICore::settings()->value(kEnvironmentChanges).toStringList());
+    setEnvironmentChanges(changes);
+
     setAutoApply(false);
 
     patchCommand.setSettingsKey("General/PatchCommand");
@@ -348,7 +351,7 @@ public:
         updatePath();
 
         m_environmentChangesLabel->setElideMode(Qt::ElideRight);
-        m_environmentChanges = CorePlugin::environmentChanges();
+        m_environmentChanges = systemSettings().environmentChanges();
         updateEnvironmentChangesLabel();
         connect(environmentButton, &QPushButton::clicked, this, [this, environmentButton] {
             std::optional<EnvironmentItems> changes
@@ -418,7 +421,7 @@ void SystemSettingsWidget::apply()
         }
     }
 
-    CorePlugin::setEnvironmentChanges(m_environmentChanges);
+    systemSettings().setEnvironmentChanges(m_environmentChanges);
 }
 
 void SystemSettingsWidget::resetTerminal()
@@ -480,6 +483,25 @@ void SystemSettingsWidget::showHelpForFileBrowser()
         showHelpDialog(Tr::tr("Variables"), UnixUtils::fileBrowserHelpText());
 }
 
+EnvironmentItems SystemSettings::environmentChanges() const
+{
+    return m_environmentChanges;
+}
+
+void SystemSettings::setEnvironmentChanges(const EnvironmentItems &changes)
+{
+    if (m_environmentChanges == changes)
+        return;
+    m_environmentChanges = changes;
+    Environment systemEnv = m_startupSystemEnvironment;
+    systemEnv.modify(changes);
+    Environment::setSystemEnvironment(systemEnv);
+    ICore::settings()->setValueWithDefault(kEnvironmentChanges,
+                                           EnvironmentItem::toStringList(changes));
+    if (ICore::instance())
+        emit ICore::instance()->systemEnvironmentChanged();
+}
+
 // SystemSettingsPage
 
 class SystemSettingsPage final : public IOptionsPage
diff --git a/src/plugins/coreplugin/systemsettings.h b/src/plugins/coreplugin/systemsettings.h
index 05c4d152a4f..36bc76129d9 100644
--- a/src/plugins/coreplugin/systemsettings.h
+++ b/src/plugins/coreplugin/systemsettings.h
@@ -6,9 +6,12 @@
 #include "core_global.h"
 
 #include <utils/aspects.h>
+#include <utils/environment.h>
 
 namespace Core::Internal {
 
+const char kEnvironmentChanges[] = "Core/EnvironmentChanges";
+
 class CORE_TEST_EXPORT SystemSettings final : public Utils::AspectContainer
 {
 public:
@@ -36,6 +39,13 @@ public:
 #endif
 
     Utils::BoolAspect askBeforeExit{this};
+
+    Utils::EnvironmentItems environmentChanges() const;
+    void setEnvironmentChanges(const Utils::EnvironmentItems &changes);
+
+private:
+    Utils::EnvironmentItems m_environmentChanges;
+    const Utils::Environment m_startupSystemEnvironment;
 };
 
 CORE_TEST_EXPORT SystemSettings &systemSettings();