diff --git a/packages/core/globals/index.ts b/packages/core/globals/index.ts
index 5c732d9f2..5352d79fb 100644
--- a/packages/core/globals/index.ts
+++ b/packages/core/globals/index.ts
@@ -370,3 +370,6 @@ function isTestingEnv() {
 if (!global.NativeScriptHasInitGlobal && !isTestingEnv()) {
 	initGlobal();
 }
+
+// ensure the Application instance is initialized before any other module imports it.
+require('@nativescript/core/application');
diff --git a/packages/core/jest.setup.ts b/packages/core/jest.setup.ts
index eb4312fe8..40b9597aa 100644
--- a/packages/core/jest.setup.ts
+++ b/packages/core/jest.setup.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
 // @ts-nocheck
+
+jest.mock('@nativescript/core/application', () => null, { virtual: true });
+
 global.__DEV__ = true;
 global.WeakRef.prototype.get = global.WeakRef.prototype.deref;
 global.NativeClass = function () {};