diff --git a/cmd/micro/micro.go b/cmd/micro/micro.go
index 225dfc85..f45b7c12 100644
--- a/cmd/micro/micro.go
+++ b/cmd/micro/micro.go
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@ func main() {
 		screen.TermMessage(err)
 	}
 
-	config.InitRuntimeFiles()
+	config.InitRuntimeFiles(true)
 	config.InitPlugins()
 
 	err = config.ReadSettings()
diff --git a/cmd/micro/micro_test.go b/cmd/micro/micro_test.go
index 7ee521cb..4c5ca684 100644
--- a/cmd/micro/micro_test.go
+++ b/cmd/micro/micro_test.go
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ func startup(args []string) (tcell.SimulationScreen, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	config.InitRuntimeFiles()
+	config.InitRuntimeFiles(true)
 	config.InitPlugins()
 
 	err = config.ReadSettings()
diff --git a/internal/action/command.go b/internal/action/command.go
index e30a4841..cd0afece 100644
--- a/internal/action/command.go
+++ b/internal/action/command.go
@@ -348,7 +348,7 @@ func reloadRuntime(reloadPlugins bool) {
 		}
 	}
 
-	config.InitRuntimeFiles()
+	config.InitRuntimeFiles(true)
 
 	if reloadPlugins {
 		config.InitPlugins()
diff --git a/internal/buffer/buffer_test.go b/internal/buffer/buffer_test.go
index 16714426..dcfde610 100644
--- a/internal/buffer/buffer_test.go
+++ b/internal/buffer/buffer_test.go
@@ -20,8 +20,9 @@ type operation struct {
 
 func init() {
 	ulua.L = lua.NewState()
-	config.InitRuntimeFiles()
-	config.InitPlugins()
+	// TODO: uncomment InitRuntimeFiles once we fix races between syntax
+	// highlighting and buffer editing.
+	// config.InitRuntimeFiles(false)
 	config.InitGlobalSettings()
 	config.GlobalSettings["backup"] = false
 	config.GlobalSettings["fastdirty"] = true
diff --git a/internal/buffer/settings.go b/internal/buffer/settings.go
index 52cbafdb..aa011240 100644
--- a/internal/buffer/settings.go
+++ b/internal/buffer/settings.go
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ func (b *Buffer) SetOptionNative(option string, nativeValue interface{}) error {
 	} else if option == "statusline" {
 		screen.Redraw()
 	} else if option == "filetype" {
-		config.InitRuntimeFiles()
+		config.InitRuntimeFiles(true)
 		err := config.ReadSettings()
 		if err != nil {
 			screen.TermMessage(err)
diff --git a/internal/config/rtfiles.go b/internal/config/rtfiles.go
index 53820c5f..24adaebf 100644
--- a/internal/config/rtfiles.go
+++ b/internal/config/rtfiles.go
@@ -39,6 +39,10 @@ type RuntimeFile interface {
 var allFiles [][]RuntimeFile
 var realFiles [][]RuntimeFile
 
+func init() {
+	initRuntimeVars()
+}
+
 func initRuntimeVars() {
 	allFiles = make([][]RuntimeFile, NumTypes)
 	realFiles = make([][]RuntimeFile, NumTypes)
@@ -166,10 +170,14 @@ func ListRealRuntimeFiles(fileType RTFiletype) []RuntimeFile {
 	return realFiles[fileType]
 }
 
-// InitRuntimeFiles initializes all assets file and the config directory
-func InitRuntimeFiles() {
+// InitRuntimeFiles initializes all assets files and the config directory.
+// If `user` is false, InitRuntimeFiles ignores the config directory and
+// initializes asset files only.
+func InitRuntimeFiles(user bool) {
 	add := func(fileType RTFiletype, dir, pattern string) {
-		AddRuntimeFilesFromDirectory(fileType, filepath.Join(ConfigDir, dir), pattern)
+		if user {
+			AddRuntimeFilesFromDirectory(fileType, filepath.Join(ConfigDir, dir), pattern)
+		}
 		AddRuntimeFilesFromAssets(fileType, path.Join("runtime", dir), pattern)
 	}
 
diff --git a/internal/config/rtfiles_test.go b/internal/config/rtfiles_test.go
index 694e4686..38c8e965 100644
--- a/internal/config/rtfiles_test.go
+++ b/internal/config/rtfiles_test.go
@@ -7,8 +7,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 func init() {
-	InitRuntimeFiles()
-	InitPlugins()
+	InitRuntimeFiles(false)
 }
 
 func TestAddFile(t *testing.T) {