diff --git a/load.php b/load.php
index 0d0f8cf8c1..4da3996da6 100644
--- a/load.php
+++ b/load.php
@@ -26,29 +26,44 @@
  * @since 1.0.0
  */
 function perflab_register_modules_setting() {
-	// To set the default value for which modules are enabled, rely on this generated file.
-	$default_enabled_modules = require plugin_dir_path( __FILE__ ) . 'default-enabled-modules.php';
-	$default_option          = array_reduce(
-		$default_enabled_modules,
-		function( $module_settings, $module_dir ) {
-			$module_settings[ $module_dir ] = array( 'enabled' => true );
-			return $module_settings;
-		},
-		array()
-	);
-
 	register_setting(
 		PERFLAB_MODULES_SCREEN,
 		PERFLAB_MODULES_SETTING,
 		array(
 			'type'              => 'object',
 			'sanitize_callback' => 'perflab_sanitize_modules_setting',
-			'default'           => $default_option,
+			'default'           => perflab_get_modules_setting_default(),
 		)
 	);
 }
 add_action( 'init', 'perflab_register_modules_setting' );
 
+/**
+ * Gets the default value for the performance modules setting.
+ *
+ * @since n.e.x.t
+ */
+function perflab_get_modules_setting_default() {
+	// Since the default relies on some minimal logic that includes requiring an additional file,
+	// the result is "cached" in a static variable.
+	static $default_option = null;
+
+	if ( null === $default_option ) {
+		// To set the default value for which modules are enabled, rely on this generated file.
+		$default_enabled_modules = require plugin_dir_path( __FILE__ ) . 'default-enabled-modules.php';
+		$default_option          = array_reduce(
+			$default_enabled_modules,
+			function( $module_settings, $module_dir ) {
+				$module_settings[ $module_dir ] = array( 'enabled' => true );
+				return $module_settings;
+			},
+			array()
+		);
+	}
+
+	return $default_option;
+}
+
 /**
  * Sanitizes the performance modules setting.
  *
@@ -87,7 +102,10 @@ function( $module_settings ) {
  * @return array Associative array of module settings keyed by module slug.
  */
 function perflab_get_module_settings() {
-	return (array) get_option( PERFLAB_MODULES_SETTING );
+	// Even though a default value is registered for this setting, the default must be explicitly
+	// passed here, to support scenarios where this function is called before the 'init' action,
+	// for example when loading the active modules.
+	return (array) get_option( PERFLAB_MODULES_SETTING, perflab_get_modules_setting_default() );
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/tests/load-tests.php b/tests/load-tests.php
index db3388363c..9c81353d24 100644
--- a/tests/load-tests.php
+++ b/tests/load-tests.php
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ public function test_perflab_register_modules_setting() {
 		}
 
 		// Assert that registered default works correctly.
-		$this->assertSame( $this->get_expected_default_option(), get_option( PERFLAB_MODULES_SETTING ) );
+		$this->assertSame( perflab_get_modules_setting_default(), get_option( PERFLAB_MODULES_SETTING ) );
 
 		// Assert that most basic sanitization works correctly (an array is required).
 		update_option( PERFLAB_MODULES_SETTING, 'invalid' );
@@ -56,10 +56,39 @@ public function test_perflab_sanitize_modules_setting() {
 		$this->assertSame( array( 'my-module' => array( 'enabled' => false ) ), $sanitized );
 	}
 
+	public function test_perflab_get_modules_setting_default() {
+		$default_enabled_modules = require plugin_dir_path( PERFLAB_MAIN_FILE ) . 'default-enabled-modules.php';
+		$expected                = array();
+		foreach ( $default_enabled_modules as $default_enabled_module ) {
+			$expected[ $default_enabled_module ] = array( 'enabled' => true );
+		}
+
+		$this->assertSame( $expected, perflab_get_modules_setting_default() );
+	}
+
 	public function test_perflab_get_module_settings() {
-		// Assert that by default the settings are an empty array.
+		// Assert that by default the settings are using the same value as the registered default.
+		$settings = perflab_get_module_settings();
+		$this->assertSame( perflab_get_modules_setting_default(), $settings );
+
+		// More specifically though, assert that the default is also passed through to the
+		// get_option() call, to support scenarios where the function is called before 'init'.
+		// Unhook the registered default logic to verify the default comes from the passed value.
+		remove_all_filters( 'default_option_' . PERFLAB_MODULES_SETTING );
+		$has_passed_default = false;
+		add_filter(
+			'default_option_' . PERFLAB_MODULES_SETTING,
+			function( $default, $option, $passed_default ) use ( &$has_passed_default ) {
+				// This callback just records whether there is a default value being passed.
+				$has_passed_default = $passed_default;
+				return $default;
+			},
+			10,
+			3
+		);
 		$settings = perflab_get_module_settings();
-		$this->assertSame( $this->get_expected_default_option(), $settings );
+		$this->assertTrue( $has_passed_default );
+		$this->assertSame( perflab_get_modules_setting_default(), $settings );
 
 		// Assert that option updates are reflected in the settings correctly.
 		$new_value = array( 'my-module' => array( 'enabled' => true ) );
@@ -73,7 +102,7 @@ public function test_perflab_get_active_modules() {
 		$active_modules          = perflab_get_active_modules();
 		$expected_active_modules = array_keys(
 			array_filter(
-				$this->get_expected_default_option(),
+				perflab_get_modules_setting_default(),
 				function( $module_settings ) {
 					return $module_settings['enabled'];
 				}