diff --git a/src/converse-controlbox.js b/src/converse-controlbox.js
index 66abbfa55..4b93a5b0e 100644
--- a/src/converse-controlbox.js
+++ b/src/converse-controlbox.js
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
     define("converse-controlbox", [
             "converse-core",
             "converse-api",
+            "converse-rosterview",
             // TODO: remove this dependency
             "converse-chatview"
     ], factory);
@@ -172,12 +173,9 @@
              * loaded by converse.js's plugin machinery.
              */
             var converse = this.converse;
-            var settings = {
+            this.updateSettings({
                 show_controlbox_by_default: false,
-            };
-            _.extend(converse.default_settings, settings);
-            _.extend(converse, settings);
-            _.extend(converse, _.pick(converse.user_settings, Object.keys(settings)));
+            });
 
             var STATUSES = {
                 'dnd': __('This contact is busy'),
diff --git a/src/converse-notification.js b/src/converse-notification.js
index 5e6bccfa3..6907f64dd 100644
--- a/src/converse-notification.js
+++ b/src/converse-notification.js
@@ -28,16 +28,14 @@
              * loaded by converse.js's plugin machinery.
              */
             var converse = this.converse;
-            // Configuration values for this plugin
-            var settings = {
+
+            this.updateSettings({
                 show_desktop_notifications: true,
                 play_sounds: false,
                 sounds_path: '/sounds/',
                 notification_icon: '/logo/conversejs.png'
-            };
-            _.extend(converse.default_settings, settings);
-            _.extend(converse, settings);
-            _.extend(converse, _.pick(converse.user_settings, Object.keys(settings)));
+            });
+
 
             converse.isOnlyChatStateNotification = function ($msg) {
                 // See XEP-0085 Chat State Notification
diff --git a/src/converse-ping.js b/src/converse-ping.js
index e67c1f017..2fcbc7d72 100644
--- a/src/converse-ping.js
+++ b/src/converse-ping.js
@@ -46,13 +46,10 @@
              * loaded by converse.js's plugin machinery.
              */
             var converse = this.converse;
-            // Configuration values for this plugin
-            var settings = {
+
+            this.updateSettings({
                 ping_interval: 180 //in seconds
-            };
-            _.extend(converse.default_settings, settings);
-            _.extend(converse, settings);
-            _.extend(converse, _.pick(converse.user_settings, Object.keys(settings)));
+            });
 
             converse.ping = function (jid, success, error, timeout) {
                 // XXX: We could first check here if the server advertised that
diff --git a/src/converse-register.js b/src/converse-register.js
index eabd31edd..4da1e545a 100644
--- a/src/converse-register.js
+++ b/src/converse-register.js
@@ -80,16 +80,12 @@
              * loaded by converse.js's plugin machinery.
              */
             var converse = this.converse;
-            // For translations
-            // Configuration values for this plugin
-            var settings = {
+
+            this.updateSettings({
                 allow_registration: true,
                 domain_placeholder: __(" e.g. conversejs.org"),  // Placeholder text shown in the domain input on the registration form
                 providers_link: 'https://xmpp.net/directory.php', // Link to XMPP providers shown on registration page
-            };
-            _.extend(converse.default_settings, settings);
-            _.extend(converse, settings);
-            _.extend(converse, _.pick(converse.user_settings, Object.keys(settings)));
+            });
 
 
             converse.RegisterPanel = Backbone.View.extend({