diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/lms_initialization/__init__.py b/lms/djangoapps/lms_initialization/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a89aa1b1b1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/lms_initialization/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+"""
+Initialization app for the LMS
+"""
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/lms_initialization/apps.py b/lms/djangoapps/lms_initialization/apps.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..12002ca0b0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/lms_initialization/apps.py
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+"""
+Initialization app for the LMS
+
+This app consists solely of a ready method in its AppConfig, and should be
+included early in the INSTALLED_APPS list.
+"""
+
+import analytics
+from django.apps import AppConfig
+from django.conf import settings
+
+
+class LMSInitializationConfig(AppConfig):
+    """
+    Application Configuration for lms_initialization.
+    """
+    name = 'lms_initialization'
+    verbose_name = 'LMS Initialization'
+
+    def ready(self):
+        """
+        Global LMS initialization methods are called here.  This runs after
+        settings have loaded, but before most other djangoapp initializations.
+        """
+        self._initialize_analytics()
+
+    def _initialize_analytics(self):
+        """
+        Initialize Segment analytics module by setting the write_key.
+        """
+        if settings.LMS_SEGMENT_KEY:
+            analytics.write_key = settings.LMS_SEGMENT_KEY
diff --git a/lms/envs/common.py b/lms/envs/common.py
index 1517e8be6d..61787e1077 100644
--- a/lms/envs/common.py
+++ b/lms/envs/common.py
@@ -2016,6 +2016,9 @@ INSTALLED_APPS = [
     'django.contrib.staticfiles',
     'djcelery',
 
+    # Initialization
+    'lms_initialization.apps.LMSInitializationConfig',
+
     # Common views
     'openedx.core.djangoapps.common_views',
 
diff --git a/lms/startup.py b/lms/startup.py
index d5836dad34..969093f34a 100644
--- a/lms/startup.py
+++ b/lms/startup.py
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ settings.INSTALLED_APPS  # pylint: disable=pointless-statement
 
 from openedx.core.lib.django_startup import autostartup
 from openedx.core.release import doc_version
-import analytics
 
 from openedx.core.djangoapps.monkey_patch import django_db_models_options
 
@@ -50,10 +49,6 @@ def run():
     # Mako requires the directories to be added after the django setup.
     microsite.enable_microsites(log)
 
-    # Initialize Segment analytics module by setting the write_key.
-    if settings.LMS_SEGMENT_KEY:
-        analytics.write_key = settings.LMS_SEGMENT_KEY
-
     # register any dependency injections that we need to support in edx_proctoring
     # right now edx_proctoring is dependent on the openedx.core.djangoapps.credit and
     # lms.djangoapps.grades