diff --git a/qutebrowser/app.py b/qutebrowser/app.py
index 83b734158..dc4b629f1 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/app.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/app.py
@@ -366,9 +366,6 @@ def _init_modules(args, crash_handler):
         crash_handler: The CrashHandler instance.
     """
     # pylint: disable=too-many-statements
-    log.init.debug("Initializing messages...")
-    message.init()
-
     log.init.debug("Initializing save manager...")
     save_manager = savemanager.SaveManager(qApp)
     objreg.register('save-manager', save_manager)
diff --git a/qutebrowser/utils/message.py b/qutebrowser/utils/message.py
index 83bd44ef7..ffa619a4a 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/utils/message.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/utils/message.py
@@ -30,14 +30,6 @@ from PyQt5.QtWidgets import QApplication
 from qutebrowser.utils import usertypes, log, objreg, utils
 
 
-global_bridge = None
-
-
-def init():
-    global global_bridge
-    global_bridge = GlobalMessageBridge()
-
-
 def _log_stack(typ, stack):
     """Log the given message stacktrace.
 
@@ -236,3 +228,6 @@ class MessageBridge(QObject):
             log_stack: ignored
         """
         self.s_question.emit(question, blocking)
+
+
+global_bridge = GlobalMessageBridge()
diff --git a/tests/helpers/messagemock.py b/tests/helpers/messagemock.py
index 62a6d1c7f..38fdf3e97 100644
--- a/tests/helpers/messagemock.py
+++ b/tests/helpers/messagemock.py
@@ -79,7 +79,6 @@ class MessageMock:
 @pytest.fixture
 def message_mock():
     """Fixture to get a MessageMock."""
-    message.init()
     mmock = MessageMock()
     mmock.patch()
     yield mmock