diff --git a/src/plugins/python/pythonplugin.cpp b/src/plugins/python/pythonplugin.cpp
index cb06a304b7f..e6be479c332 100644
--- a/src/plugins/python/pythonplugin.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/python/pythonplugin.cpp
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ public:
         {ProjectExplorer::Constants::NORMAL_RUN_MODE},
         {runConfigFactory.runConfigurationId()}
     };
+
+    PythonSettings settings;
 };
 
 PythonPlugin::PythonPlugin()
@@ -66,8 +68,6 @@ bool PythonPlugin::initialize(const QStringList &arguments, QString *errorMessag
 
     ProjectManager::registerProjectType<PythonProject>(PythonMimeType);
 
-    PythonSettings::init();
-
     return true;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/plugins/python/pythonsettings.cpp b/src/plugins/python/pythonsettings.cpp
index 313e7db70de..1391a2cc06f 100644
--- a/src/plugins/python/pythonsettings.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/python/pythonsettings.cpp
@@ -688,8 +688,10 @@ static QString idForPythonFromPath(const QList<Interpreter> &pythons)
 static PythonSettings *settingsInstance = nullptr;
 
 PythonSettings::PythonSettings()
-    : QObject(PythonPlugin::instance())
 {
+    QTC_ASSERT(!settingsInstance, return);
+    settingsInstance = this;
+
     setObjectName("PythonSettings");
     ExtensionSystem::PluginManager::addObject(this);
 
@@ -714,12 +716,6 @@ PythonSettings::~PythonSettings()
     settingsInstance = nullptr;
 }
 
-void PythonSettings::init()
-{
-    QTC_ASSERT(!settingsInstance, return );
-    settingsInstance = new PythonSettings();
-}
-
 void PythonSettings::setInterpreter(const QList<Interpreter> &interpreters, const QString &defaultId)
 {
     if (defaultId == settingsInstance->m_defaultInterpreterId
diff --git a/src/plugins/python/pythonsettings.h b/src/plugins/python/pythonsettings.h
index b5b988bcf83..0565e725adc 100644
--- a/src/plugins/python/pythonsettings.h
+++ b/src/plugins/python/pythonsettings.h
@@ -14,10 +14,9 @@ class PythonSettings : public QObject
     Q_OBJECT
 
 public:
+    PythonSettings();
     ~PythonSettings();
 
-    static void init();
-
     using Interpreter = ProjectExplorer::Interpreter;
 
     static QList<Interpreter> interpreters();
@@ -47,8 +46,6 @@ public slots:
     void listDetectedPython(const QString &detectionSource, QString *logMessage);
 
 private:
-    PythonSettings();
-
     void initFromSettings(QSettings *settings);
     void writeToSettings(QSettings *settings);