diff --git a/src/Application.cpp b/src/Application.cpp
index 94f38dc54..d213f16fa 100644
--- a/src/Application.cpp
+++ b/src/Application.cpp
@@ -124,18 +124,23 @@ SeventvEventAPI *makeSeventvEventAPI(Settings &settings)
 
 const QString TWITCH_PUBSUB_URL = "wss://pubsub-edge.twitch.tv";
 
+// NOLINTNEXTLINE(cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-const-global-variables)
+IApplication *INSTANCE = nullptr;
+
 }  // namespace
 
 namespace chatterino {
 
 static std::atomic<bool> isAppInitialized{false};
 
-Application *Application::instance = nullptr;
-IApplication *IApplication::instance = nullptr;
-
 IApplication::IApplication()
 {
-    IApplication::instance = this;
+    INSTANCE = this;
+}
+
+IApplication::~IApplication()
+{
+    INSTANCE = nullptr;
 }
 
 // this class is responsible for handling the workflow of Chatterino
@@ -182,8 +187,6 @@ Application::Application(Settings &_settings, const Paths &paths,
 #endif
     , updates(_updates)
 {
-    Application::instance = this;
-
     // We can safely ignore this signal's connection since the Application will always
     // be destroyed after fonts
     std::ignore = this->fonts->fontChanged.connect([this]() {
@@ -193,7 +196,8 @@ Application::Application(Settings &_settings, const Paths &paths,
 
 Application::~Application()
 {
-    Application::instance = nullptr;
+    // we do this early to ensure getApp isn't used in any dtors
+    INSTANCE = nullptr;
 }
 
 void Application::initialize(Settings &settings, const Paths &paths)
@@ -528,6 +532,13 @@ PluginController *Application::getPlugins()
 }
 #endif
 
+Updates &Application::getUpdates()
+{
+    assertInGuiThread();
+
+    return this->updates;
+}
+
 ITwitchIrcServer *Application::getTwitch()
 {
     assertInGuiThread();
@@ -1180,9 +1191,9 @@ void Application::initSeventvEventAPI()
 
 IApplication *getApp()
 {
-    assert(IApplication::instance != nullptr);
+    assert(INSTANCE != nullptr);
 
-    return IApplication::instance;
+    return INSTANCE;
 }
 
 }  // namespace chatterino
diff --git a/src/Application.hpp b/src/Application.hpp
index 7afaf27f6..09dc38e2f 100644
--- a/src/Application.hpp
+++ b/src/Application.hpp
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 #pragma once
 
-#include "debug/AssertInGuiThread.hpp"
 #include "singletons/NativeMessaging.hpp"
 
 #include <QApplication>
@@ -62,9 +61,12 @@ class IApplication
 {
 public:
     IApplication();
-    virtual ~IApplication() = default;
+    virtual ~IApplication();
 
-    static IApplication *instance;
+    IApplication(const IApplication &) = delete;
+    IApplication(IApplication &&) = delete;
+    IApplication &operator=(const IApplication &) = delete;
+    IApplication &operator=(IApplication &&) = delete;
 
     virtual bool isTest() const = 0;
 
@@ -115,8 +117,6 @@ class Application : public IApplication
     char **argv_{};
 
 public:
-    static Application *instance;
-
     Application(Settings &_settings, const Paths &paths, const Args &_args,
                 Updates &_updates);
     ~Application() override;
@@ -210,12 +210,7 @@ public:
 #ifdef CHATTERINO_HAVE_PLUGINS
     PluginController *getPlugins() override;
 #endif
-    Updates &getUpdates() override
-    {
-        assertInGuiThread();
-
-        return this->updates;
-    }
+    Updates &getUpdates() override;
 
     BttvEmotes *getBttvEmotes() override;
     BttvLiveUpdates *getBttvLiveUpdates() override;
@@ -232,7 +227,7 @@ private:
     void initSeventvEventAPI();
     void initNm(const Paths &paths);
 
-    NativeMessagingServer nmServer{};
+    NativeMessagingServer nmServer;
     Updates &updates;
 };