diff --git a/lua/core/default_config.lua b/lua/core/default_config.lua
index 39240ed..34f19af 100644
--- a/lua/core/default_config.lua
+++ b/lua/core/default_config.lua
@@ -79,6 +79,8 @@ M.plugins = {
       },
       nvimtree = {
          enable_git = 0,
+         -- packerCompile required after changing lazy_load
+         lazy_load = true,
 
          ui = {
             allow_resize = true,
diff --git a/lua/plugins/init.lua b/lua/plugins/init.lua
index 679c62d..42c55ff 100644
--- a/lua/plugins/init.lua
+++ b/lua/plugins/init.lua
@@ -205,7 +205,8 @@ return packer.startup(function()
    use {
       "kyazdani42/nvim-tree.lua",
       disable = not plugin_settings.status.nvimtree,
-      cmd = { "NvimTreeToggle", "NvimTreeFocus" },
+      -- only set cmd if lazy load is enabled
+      cmd = plugin_settings.options.nvimtree.lazy_load and { "NvimTreeToggle", "NvimTreeFocus" },
       config = override_req("nvim_tree", "plugins.configs.nvimtree"),
       setup = function()
          require("core.mappings").nvimtree()