diff --git a/apps/emqx_utils/README.md b/apps/emqx_utils/README.md
index 046b66321..f8c386f3d 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_utils/README.md
+++ b/apps/emqx_utils/README.md
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
-# emqx_utils - Erlang utility library for EMQ X
+# Erlang utility library for EMQX
 
 ## Overview
 
-`emqx_utils` is a collection of utility functions for EMQ X, organized into
+`emqx_utils` is a collection of utility functions for EMQX, organized into
 several modules. It provides various functionalities to make it easier to work
-with EMQ X, such as binary manipulations, maps, JSON en- and decoding, ets table
+with EMQX, such as binary manipulations, maps, JSON en- and decoding, ets table
 handling, data conversions, and more.
 
 ## Features
diff --git a/apps/emqx_utils/src/emqx_utils.app.src b/apps/emqx_utils/src/emqx_utils.app.src
index b0dedbd72..eb6371411 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_utils/src/emqx_utils.app.src
+++ b/apps/emqx_utils/src/emqx_utils.app.src
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 %% -*- mode: erlang -*-
 {application, emqx_utils, [
-    {description, "An OTP application"},
+    {description, "Miscellaneous utilities for EMQX apps"},
     % strict semver, bump manually!
     {vsn, "5.0.0"},
     {modules, [
diff --git a/mix.exs b/mix.exs
index 299f23ce6..454c398a2 100644
--- a/mix.exs
+++ b/mix.exs
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ defmodule EMQXUmbrella.MixProject do
         tools: :load,
         covertool: :load,
         system_monitor: :load,
-        emqx_utils: :permanent,
+        emqx_utils: :load,
         emqx_http_lib: :permanent,
         emqx_resource: :permanent,
         emqx_connector: :permanent,
diff --git a/rebar.config.erl b/rebar.config.erl
index b6b6a7c18..7c00622c2 100644
--- a/rebar.config.erl
+++ b/rebar.config.erl
@@ -391,7 +391,7 @@ relx_apps(ReleaseType, Edition) ->
             {covertool, load},
             % started by emqx_machine
             {system_monitor, load},
-            emqx_utils,
+            {emqx_utils, load},
             emqx_http_lib,
             emqx_resource,
             emqx_connector,