diff --git a/common/djangoapps/course_modes/apps.py b/common/djangoapps/course_modes/apps.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d0b1b2c32c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common/djangoapps/course_modes/apps.py
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+
+from django.apps import AppConfig
+
+
+class CourseModesConfig(AppConfig):
+    name = 'course_modes'
+    verbose_name = "Course Modes"
+
+    def ready(self):
+        import course_modes.signals  # pylint: disable=unused-import
diff --git a/common/djangoapps/course_modes/startup.py b/common/djangoapps/course_modes/startup.py
deleted file mode 100644
index c2e0f4d49d..0000000000
--- a/common/djangoapps/course_modes/startup.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,4 +0,0 @@
-"""
-Setup the signals on startup.
-"""
-import course_modes.signals  # pylint: disable=unused-import