diff --git a/apps/emqx_authn/src/emqx_authn_app.erl b/apps/emqx_authn/src/emqx_authn_app.erl
index a279ff5e7..b55727a00 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_authn/src/emqx_authn_app.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx_authn/src/emqx_authn_app.erl
@@ -21,8 +21,6 @@
 
 -behaviour(application).
 
--emqx_plugin(?MODULE).
-
 %% Application callbacks
 -export([ start/2
         , stop/1
@@ -56,4 +54,4 @@ initialize_authenticators([#{name := Name} = AuthenticatorConfig | More]) ->
             initialize_authenticators(More);
         {error, Reason} ->
             ?LOG(error, "Failed to create authenticator '~s': ~p", [Name, Reason])
-    end.
\ No newline at end of file
+    end.
diff --git a/apps/emqx_bridge_mqtt/src/emqx_bridge_mqtt_app.erl b/apps/emqx_bridge_mqtt/src/emqx_bridge_mqtt_app.erl
index 2382b3a42..a145009c9 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_bridge_mqtt/src/emqx_bridge_mqtt_app.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx_bridge_mqtt/src/emqx_bridge_mqtt_app.erl
@@ -16,8 +16,6 @@
 
 -module(emqx_bridge_mqtt_app).
 
--emqx_plugin(bridge).
-
 -behaviour(application).
 
 -export([start/2, stop/1]).
diff --git a/apps/emqx_dashboard/src/emqx_dashboard_app.erl b/apps/emqx_dashboard/src/emqx_dashboard_app.erl
index c966ef5fe..54202d806 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_dashboard/src/emqx_dashboard_app.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx_dashboard/src/emqx_dashboard_app.erl
@@ -18,8 +18,6 @@
 
 -behaviour(application).
 
--emqx_plugin(?MODULE).
-
 -export([ start/2
         , stop/1
         ]).
diff --git a/apps/emqx_management/src/emqx_mgmt_app.erl b/apps/emqx_management/src/emqx_mgmt_app.erl
index 48d57f232..ff85666b3 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_management/src/emqx_mgmt_app.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx_management/src/emqx_mgmt_app.erl
@@ -18,8 +18,6 @@
 
 -behaviour(application).
 
--emqx_plugin(?MODULE).
-
 -define(APP, emqx_management).
 
 -export([ start/2
diff --git a/apps/emqx_modules/src/emqx_modules_app.erl b/apps/emqx_modules/src/emqx_modules_app.erl
index ad8c04dd4..e969fc6dd 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_modules/src/emqx_modules_app.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx_modules/src/emqx_modules_app.erl
@@ -18,9 +18,9 @@
 
 -behaviour(application).
 
--export([start/2]).
-
--export([stop/1]).
+-export([ start/2
+        , stop/1
+        ]).
 
 start(_Type, _Args) ->
     {ok, Sup} = emqx_modules_sup:start_link(),
diff --git a/apps/emqx_retainer/src/emqx_retainer_app.erl b/apps/emqx_retainer/src/emqx_retainer_app.erl
index 03d03a7ce..eda6f16fb 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_retainer/src/emqx_retainer_app.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx_retainer/src/emqx_retainer_app.erl
@@ -18,8 +18,6 @@
 
 -behaviour(application).
 
--emqx_plugin(?MODULE).
-
 -export([ start/2
         , stop/1
         ]).
diff --git a/apps/emqx_rule_engine/src/emqx_rule_engine_app.erl b/apps/emqx_rule_engine/src/emqx_rule_engine_app.erl
index e00d717d1..5893f9827 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_rule_engine/src/emqx_rule_engine_app.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx_rule_engine/src/emqx_rule_engine_app.erl
@@ -18,8 +18,6 @@
 
 -behaviour(application).
 
--emqx_plugin(?MODULE).
-
 -export([start/2]).
 
 -export([stop/1]).