diff --git a/DiscordChatExporter.Gui/App.axaml.cs b/DiscordChatExporter.Gui/App.axaml.cs
index bb27f1d6..42e0f6d6 100644
--- a/DiscordChatExporter.Gui/App.axaml.cs
+++ b/DiscordChatExporter.Gui/App.axaml.cs
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ using DiscordChatExporter.Gui.Utils.Extensions;
 using DiscordChatExporter.Gui.ViewModels;
 using DiscordChatExporter.Gui.ViewModels.Components;
 using DiscordChatExporter.Gui.ViewModels.Dialogs;
-using DiscordChatExporter.Gui.Views;
 using Material.Styles.Themes;
 using Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection;
 
@@ -20,11 +19,8 @@ namespace DiscordChatExporter.Gui;
 
 public class App : Application, IDisposable
 {
-    private readonly DisposableCollector _eventRoot = new();
-
     private readonly ServiceProvider _services;
-    private readonly SettingsService _settingsService;
-    private readonly MainViewModel _mainViewModel;
+    private readonly DisposableCollector _eventRoot = new();
 
     private bool _isDisposed;
 
@@ -53,35 +49,30 @@ public class App : Application, IDisposable
         services.AddTransient<SettingsViewModel>();
 
         _services = services.BuildServiceProvider(true);
-        _settingsService = _services.GetRequiredService<SettingsService>();
-        _mainViewModel = _services.GetRequiredService<ViewModelManager>().CreateMainViewModel();
 
         // Re-initialize the theme when the user changes it
         _eventRoot.Add(
-            _settingsService.WatchProperty(
-                o => o.Theme,
-                () =>
-                {
-                    RequestedThemeVariant = _settingsService.Theme switch
+            _services
+                .GetRequiredService<SettingsService>()
+                .WatchProperty(
+                    o => o.Theme,
+                    () =>
                     {
-                        ThemeVariant.Light => Avalonia.Styling.ThemeVariant.Light,
-                        ThemeVariant.Dark => Avalonia.Styling.ThemeVariant.Dark,
-                        _ => Avalonia.Styling.ThemeVariant.Default,
-                    };
+                        RequestedThemeVariant = _services
+                            .GetRequiredService<SettingsService>()
+                            .Theme switch
+                        {
+                            ThemeVariant.Light => Avalonia.Styling.ThemeVariant.Light,
+                            ThemeVariant.Dark => Avalonia.Styling.ThemeVariant.Dark,
+                            _ => Avalonia.Styling.ThemeVariant.Default,
+                        };
 
-                    InitializeTheme();
-                }
-            )
+                        InitializeTheme();
+                    }
+                )
         );
     }
 
-    public override void Initialize()
-    {
-        base.Initialize();
-
-        AvaloniaXamlLoader.Load(this);
-    }
-
     private void InitializeTheme()
     {
         var actualTheme = RequestedThemeVariant?.Key switch
@@ -97,25 +88,28 @@ public class App : Application, IDisposable
                 : Theme.Create(Theme.Dark, Color.Parse("#E8E8E8"), Color.Parse("#F9A825"));
     }
 
+    public override void Initialize()
+    {
+        base.Initialize();
+
+        AvaloniaXamlLoader.Load(this);
+    }
+
     public override void OnFrameworkInitializationCompleted()
     {
         if (ApplicationLifetime is IClassicDesktopStyleApplicationLifetime desktop)
         {
-            desktop.MainWindow = new MainView { DataContext = _mainViewModel };
-
-            void OnExit(object? sender, ControlledApplicationLifetimeExitEventArgs args)
-            {
-                if (sender is IControlledApplicationLifetime lifetime)
-                    lifetime.Exit -= OnExit;
-
-                Dispose();
-            }
+            desktop.MainWindow = _services
+                .GetRequiredService<ViewManager>()
+                .TryBindWindow(
+                    _services.GetRequiredService<ViewModelManager>().CreateMainViewModel()
+                );
 
             // Although `App.Dispose()` is invoked from `Program.Main(...)`, on some platforms
             // it may be called too late in the shutdown lifecycle. Attach an exit
             // handler to ensure timely disposal as a safeguard.
             // https://github.com/Tyrrrz/YoutubeDownloader/issues/795
-            desktop.Exit += OnExit;
+            desktop.Exit += (_, _) => Dispose();
         }
 
         base.OnFrameworkInitializationCompleted();
@@ -124,7 +118,7 @@ public class App : Application, IDisposable
         InitializeTheme();
 
         // Load settings
-        _settingsService.Load();
+        _services.GetRequiredService<SettingsService>().Load();
     }
 
     private void Application_OnActualThemeVariantChanged(object? sender, EventArgs args) =>
diff --git a/DiscordChatExporter.Gui/Framework/ViewManager.cs b/DiscordChatExporter.Gui/Framework/ViewManager.cs
index 40967783..f4d14e95 100644
--- a/DiscordChatExporter.Gui/Framework/ViewManager.cs
+++ b/DiscordChatExporter.Gui/Framework/ViewManager.cs
@@ -30,8 +30,23 @@ public partial class ViewManager
 
         view.DataContext ??= viewModel;
 
+        if (view.IsInitialized)
+        {
+            _ = viewModel.InitializeAsync();
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            view.Initialized += async (_, _) => await viewModel.InitializeAsync();
+        }
+
         return view;
     }
+
+    public UserControl<T>? TryBindUserControl<T>(T viewModel)
+        where T : ViewModelBase => TryBindView(viewModel) as UserControl<T>;
+
+    public Window<T>? TryBindWindow<T>(T viewModel)
+        where T : ViewModelBase => TryBindView(viewModel) as Window<T>;
 }
 
 public partial class ViewManager : IDataTemplate
diff --git a/DiscordChatExporter.Gui/Framework/ViewModelBase.cs b/DiscordChatExporter.Gui/Framework/ViewModelBase.cs
index 2f8a0076..27b7b2a5 100644
--- a/DiscordChatExporter.Gui/Framework/ViewModelBase.cs
+++ b/DiscordChatExporter.Gui/Framework/ViewModelBase.cs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 using System;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
 using CommunityToolkit.Mvvm.ComponentModel;
 
 namespace DiscordChatExporter.Gui.Framework;
@@ -9,6 +10,8 @@ public abstract class ViewModelBase : ObservableObject, IDisposable
 
     protected void OnAllPropertiesChanged() => OnPropertyChanged(string.Empty);
 
+    public virtual Task InitializeAsync() => Task.CompletedTask;
+
     protected virtual void Dispose(bool disposing) { }
 
     public void Dispose()
diff --git a/DiscordChatExporter.Gui/ViewModels/Components/DashboardViewModel.cs b/DiscordChatExporter.Gui/ViewModels/Components/DashboardViewModel.cs
index 71e9429f..86f3f2f2 100644
--- a/DiscordChatExporter.Gui/ViewModels/Components/DashboardViewModel.cs
+++ b/DiscordChatExporter.Gui/ViewModels/Components/DashboardViewModel.cs
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 using System;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.Collections.ObjectModel;
-using System.Diagnostics;
 using System.Linq;
 using System.Threading;
 using System.Threading.Tasks;
@@ -96,11 +95,12 @@ public partial class DashboardViewModel : ViewModelBase
 
     public ObservableCollection<ChannelConnection> SelectedChannels { get; } = [];
 
-    [RelayCommand]
-    private void Initialize()
+    public override Task InitializeAsync()
     {
         if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(_settingsService.LastToken))
             Token = _settingsService.LastToken;
+
+        return Task.CompletedTask;
     }
 
     [RelayCommand]
diff --git a/DiscordChatExporter.Gui/ViewModels/Dialogs/ExportSetupViewModel.cs b/DiscordChatExporter.Gui/ViewModels/Dialogs/ExportSetupViewModel.cs
index a5e57705..5a43e646 100644
--- a/DiscordChatExporter.Gui/ViewModels/Dialogs/ExportSetupViewModel.cs
+++ b/DiscordChatExporter.Gui/ViewModels/Dialogs/ExportSetupViewModel.cs
@@ -102,8 +102,7 @@ public partial class ExportSetupViewModel(
             ? MessageFilter.Parse(MessageFilterValue)
             : MessageFilter.Null;
 
-    [RelayCommand]
-    private void Initialize()
+    public override Task InitializeAsync()
     {
         // Persist preferences
         SelectedFormat = settingsService.LastExportFormat;
@@ -126,6 +125,8 @@ public partial class ExportSetupViewModel(
             || ShouldReuseAssets
             || !string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(AssetsDirPath)
             || IsReverseMessageOrder;
+
+        return Task.CompletedTask;
     }
 
     [RelayCommand]
diff --git a/DiscordChatExporter.Gui/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs b/DiscordChatExporter.Gui/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs
index 77060b28..9238e01c 100644
--- a/DiscordChatExporter.Gui/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs
+++ b/DiscordChatExporter.Gui/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 using System.Diagnostics;
 using System.Threading.Tasks;
 using Avalonia;
-using CommunityToolkit.Mvvm.Input;
 using DiscordChatExporter.Gui.Framework;
 using DiscordChatExporter.Gui.Localization;
 using DiscordChatExporter.Gui.Services;
@@ -100,8 +99,7 @@ public partial class MainViewModel(
         }
     }
 
-    [RelayCommand]
-    private async Task InitializeAsync()
+    public override async Task InitializeAsync()
     {
         await ShowUkraineSupportMessageAsync();
         await ShowDevelopmentBuildMessageAsync();
diff --git a/DiscordChatExporter.Gui/Views/Components/DashboardView.axaml.cs b/DiscordChatExporter.Gui/Views/Components/DashboardView.axaml.cs
index c9135233..709bd542 100644
--- a/DiscordChatExporter.Gui/Views/Components/DashboardView.axaml.cs
+++ b/DiscordChatExporter.Gui/Views/Components/DashboardView.axaml.cs
@@ -12,11 +12,8 @@ public partial class DashboardView : UserControl<DashboardViewModel>
 {
     public DashboardView() => InitializeComponent();
 
-    private void UserControl_OnLoaded(object? sender, RoutedEventArgs args)
-    {
-        DataContext.InitializeCommand.Execute(null);
+    private void UserControl_OnLoaded(object? sender, RoutedEventArgs args) =>
         TokenValueTextBox.Focus();
-    }
 
     private void AvailableGuildsListBox_OnSelectionChanged(
         object? sender,
diff --git a/DiscordChatExporter.Gui/Views/Dialogs/ExportSetupView.axaml b/DiscordChatExporter.Gui/Views/Dialogs/ExportSetupView.axaml
index ae91a35f..dbd92970 100644
--- a/DiscordChatExporter.Gui/Views/Dialogs/ExportSetupView.axaml
+++ b/DiscordChatExporter.Gui/Views/Dialogs/ExportSetupView.axaml
@@ -10,8 +10,7 @@
     xmlns:utils="clr-namespace:DiscordChatExporter.Gui.Utils"
     x:Name="UserControl"
     Width="380"
-    x:DataType="dialogs:ExportSetupViewModel"
-    Loaded="UserControl_OnLoaded">
+    x:DataType="dialogs:ExportSetupViewModel">
     <Grid RowDefinitions="Auto,*,Auto">
         <!--  Guild/channel info  -->
         <Grid
@@ -292,4 +291,4 @@
                 Theme="{DynamicResource MaterialOutlineButton}" />
         </Grid>
     </Grid>
-</UserControl>
\ No newline at end of file
+</UserControl>
diff --git a/DiscordChatExporter.Gui/Views/Dialogs/ExportSetupView.axaml.cs b/DiscordChatExporter.Gui/Views/Dialogs/ExportSetupView.axaml.cs
index 07707116..f95d8b93 100644
--- a/DiscordChatExporter.Gui/Views/Dialogs/ExportSetupView.axaml.cs
+++ b/DiscordChatExporter.Gui/Views/Dialogs/ExportSetupView.axaml.cs
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-using Avalonia.Interactivity;
 using DiscordChatExporter.Gui.Framework;
 using DiscordChatExporter.Gui.ViewModels.Dialogs;
 
@@ -7,7 +6,4 @@ namespace DiscordChatExporter.Gui.Views.Dialogs;
 public partial class ExportSetupView : UserControl<ExportSetupViewModel>
 {
     public ExportSetupView() => InitializeComponent();
-
-    private void UserControl_OnLoaded(object? sender, RoutedEventArgs args) =>
-        DataContext.InitializeCommand.Execute(null);
 }
diff --git a/DiscordChatExporter.Gui/Views/MainView.axaml b/DiscordChatExporter.Gui/Views/MainView.axaml
index f78dee0b..c8be563d 100644
--- a/DiscordChatExporter.Gui/Views/MainView.axaml
+++ b/DiscordChatExporter.Gui/Views/MainView.axaml
@@ -14,12 +14,9 @@
     Icon="/favicon.ico"
     RenderOptions.BitmapInterpolationMode="HighQuality"
     WindowStartupLocation="CenterScreen">
-    <dialogHostAvalonia:DialogHost
-        x:Name="DialogHost"
-        CloseOnClickAway="False"
-        Loaded="DialogHost_OnLoaded">
+    <dialogHostAvalonia:DialogHost x:Name="DialogHost" CloseOnClickAway="False">
         <materialStyles:SnackbarHost HostName="Root" SnackbarMaxCounts="3">
             <ContentControl Content="{Binding Dashboard}" />
         </materialStyles:SnackbarHost>
     </dialogHostAvalonia:DialogHost>
-</Window>
\ No newline at end of file
+</Window>
diff --git a/DiscordChatExporter.Gui/Views/MainView.axaml.cs b/DiscordChatExporter.Gui/Views/MainView.axaml.cs
index 9e3b4767..c8af1889 100644
--- a/DiscordChatExporter.Gui/Views/MainView.axaml.cs
+++ b/DiscordChatExporter.Gui/Views/MainView.axaml.cs
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-using Avalonia.Interactivity;
-using DiscordChatExporter.Gui.Framework;
+using DiscordChatExporter.Gui.Framework;
 using DiscordChatExporter.Gui.ViewModels;
 
 namespace DiscordChatExporter.Gui.Views;
@@ -7,7 +6,4 @@ namespace DiscordChatExporter.Gui.Views;
 public partial class MainView : Window<MainViewModel>
 {
     public MainView() => InitializeComponent();
-
-    private void DialogHost_OnLoaded(object? sender, RoutedEventArgs args) =>
-        DataContext.InitializeCommand.Execute(null);
 }