diff --git a/forge/src/main/java/me/lucko/luckperms/forge/LPForgePlugin.java b/forge/src/main/java/me/lucko/luckperms/forge/LPForgePlugin.java
index 55356d5e9..e45fee008 100644
--- a/forge/src/main/java/me/lucko/luckperms/forge/LPForgePlugin.java
+++ b/forge/src/main/java/me/lucko/luckperms/forge/LPForgePlugin.java
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ import me.lucko.luckperms.forge.listeners.ForgeCommandListUpdater;
 import me.lucko.luckperms.forge.listeners.ForgeConnectionListener;
 import me.lucko.luckperms.forge.listeners.ForgePlatformListener;
 import me.lucko.luckperms.forge.messaging.ForgeMessagingFactory;
+import me.lucko.luckperms.forge.messaging.PluginMessageMessenger;
 import me.lucko.luckperms.forge.service.ForgePermissionHandlerListener;
 import net.kyori.adventure.text.Component;
 import net.kyori.adventure.text.serializer.plain.PlainTextComponentSerializer;
@@ -100,6 +101,8 @@ public class LPForgePlugin extends AbstractLuckPermsPlugin {
 
         this.commandManager = new ForgeCommandExecutor(this);
         this.bootstrap.registerListeners(this.commandManager);
+
+        PluginMessageMessenger.registerChannel();
     }
 
     @Override
diff --git a/forge/src/main/java/me/lucko/luckperms/forge/messaging/PluginMessageMessenger.java b/forge/src/main/java/me/lucko/luckperms/forge/messaging/PluginMessageMessenger.java
index 604865019..6b8278225 100644
--- a/forge/src/main/java/me/lucko/luckperms/forge/messaging/PluginMessageMessenger.java
+++ b/forge/src/main/java/me/lucko/luckperms/forge/messaging/PluginMessageMessenger.java
@@ -45,10 +45,10 @@ import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit;
 import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicReference;
 
 public class PluginMessageMessenger extends AbstractPluginMessageMessenger implements Messenger {
-    private static final ResourceLocation CHANNEL = new ResourceLocation(AbstractPluginMessageMessenger.CHANNEL);
+    private static final ResourceLocation CHANNEL_ID = new ResourceLocation(AbstractPluginMessageMessenger.CHANNEL);
+    private static final EventNetworkChannel CHANNEL = ChannelBuilder.named(CHANNEL_ID).eventNetworkChannel();
 
     private final LPForgePlugin plugin;
-    private EventNetworkChannel channel;
 
     public PluginMessageMessenger(LPForgePlugin plugin, IncomingMessageConsumer consumer) {
         super(consumer);
@@ -56,8 +56,7 @@ public class PluginMessageMessenger extends AbstractPluginMessageMessenger imple
     }
 
     public void init() {
-        this.channel = ChannelBuilder.named(CHANNEL).eventNetworkChannel();
-        this.channel.addListener(event -> {
+        CHANNEL.addListener(event -> {
             byte[] buf = new byte[event.getPayload().readableBytes()];
             event.getPayload().readBytes(buf);
 
@@ -83,7 +82,7 @@ public class PluginMessageMessenger extends AbstractPluginMessageMessenger imple
             FriendlyByteBuf byteBuf = new FriendlyByteBuf(Unpooled.buffer());
             byteBuf.writeBytes(buf);
 
-            this.channel.send(byteBuf, PacketDistributor.PLAYER.with(player));
+            CHANNEL.send(byteBuf, PacketDistributor.PLAYER.with(player));
 
             SchedulerTask t = taskRef.getAndSet(null);
             if (t != null) {
@@ -93,4 +92,9 @@ public class PluginMessageMessenger extends AbstractPluginMessageMessenger imple
         taskRef.set(task);
     }
 
+    public static void registerChannel() {
+        // do nothing - the channels are registered in the static initializer, we just
+        // need to make sure that is called (which it will be if this method runs)
+    }
+
 }