diff --git a/packages/kbn-interpreter/src/common/index.js b/packages/kbn-interpreter/src/common/index.js
index fbf7d9bd0d6f..7205b76839c8 100644
--- a/packages/kbn-interpreter/src/common/index.js
+++ b/packages/kbn-interpreter/src/common/index.js
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@
  * under the License.
  */
 
-export { functionsRegistry } from './lib/functions_registry';
-export { typesRegistry } from './lib/types_registry';
+export { FunctionsRegistry } from './lib/functions_registry';
+export { TypesRegistry } from './lib/types_registry';
 export { createError } from './interpreter/create_error';
 export { interpretProvider } from './interpreter/interpret';
 export { serializeProvider } from './lib/serialize';
diff --git a/packages/kbn-interpreter/src/common/interpreter/interpret.js b/packages/kbn-interpreter/src/common/interpreter/interpret.js
index d2a786cd3c85..934f35b856d8 100644
--- a/packages/kbn-interpreter/src/common/interpreter/interpret.js
+++ b/packages/kbn-interpreter/src/common/interpreter/interpret.js
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ import { each, keys, last, mapValues, reduce, zipObject } from 'lodash';
 import { getType } from '../lib/get_type';
 import { fromExpression } from '../lib/ast';
 import { getByAlias } from '../lib/get_by_alias';
-import { typesRegistry } from '../lib/types_registry';
 import { castProvider } from './cast';
 import { createError } from './create_error';
 
@@ -103,7 +102,7 @@ export function interpretProvider(config) {
     }
 
     // Validate the function output against the type definition's validate function
-    const type = typesRegistry.get(fnDef.type);
+    const type = handlers.types[fnDef.type];
     if (type && type.validate) {
       try {
         type.validate(fnOutput);
diff --git a/packages/kbn-interpreter/src/common/lib/functions_registry.js b/packages/kbn-interpreter/src/common/lib/functions_registry.js
index 1c71707d8472..dbf34cf2aa6a 100644
--- a/packages/kbn-interpreter/src/common/lib/functions_registry.js
+++ b/packages/kbn-interpreter/src/common/lib/functions_registry.js
@@ -20,10 +20,8 @@
 import { Registry } from './registry';
 import { Fn } from './fn';
 
-class FunctionsRegistry extends Registry {
+export class FunctionsRegistry extends Registry {
   wrapper(obj) {
     return new Fn(obj);
   }
 }
-
-export const functionsRegistry = new FunctionsRegistry();
diff --git a/packages/kbn-interpreter/src/common/lib/types_registry.js b/packages/kbn-interpreter/src/common/lib/types_registry.js
index 97e28875d7e2..ef4ddffa6318 100644
--- a/packages/kbn-interpreter/src/common/lib/types_registry.js
+++ b/packages/kbn-interpreter/src/common/lib/types_registry.js
@@ -20,10 +20,8 @@
 import { Registry } from './registry';
 import { Type } from './type';
 
-class TypesRegistry extends Registry {
+export class TypesRegistry extends Registry {
   wrapper(obj) {
     return new Type(obj);
   }
 }
-
-export const typesRegistry = new TypesRegistry();
diff --git a/packages/kbn-interpreter/src/public/browser_registries.js b/packages/kbn-interpreter/src/public/browser_registries.js
index 312c934cdede..3fd4b1a866a0 100644
--- a/packages/kbn-interpreter/src/public/browser_registries.js
+++ b/packages/kbn-interpreter/src/public/browser_registries.js
@@ -19,18 +19,7 @@
 
 import $script from 'scriptjs';
 
-let resolvePromise = null;
-let called = false;
-
-let populatePromise = new Promise(_resolve => {
-  resolvePromise = _resolve;
-});
-
-export const getBrowserRegistries = () => {
-  return populatePromise;
-};
-
-const loadBrowserRegistries = (registries, basePath) => {
+export const loadBrowserRegistries = (registries, basePath) => {
   const remainingTypes = Object.keys(registries);
   const populatedTypes = {};
 
@@ -56,27 +45,3 @@ const loadBrowserRegistries = (registries, basePath) => {
     loadType();
   });
 };
-
-export const populateBrowserRegistries = (registries, basePath) => {
-  if (called) {
-    const oldPromise = populatePromise;
-    let newResolve;
-    populatePromise = new Promise(_resolve => {
-      newResolve = _resolve;
-    });
-    oldPromise.then(oldTypes => {
-      loadBrowserRegistries(registries, basePath).then(newTypes => {
-        newResolve({
-          ...oldTypes,
-          ...newTypes,
-        });
-      });
-    });
-    return populatePromise;
-  }
-  called = true;
-  loadBrowserRegistries(registries, basePath).then(registries => {
-    resolvePromise(registries);
-  });
-  return populatePromise;
-};
diff --git a/packages/kbn-interpreter/src/public/index.js b/packages/kbn-interpreter/src/public/index.js
index de8caad1dbc5..a886c9dd78cd 100644
--- a/packages/kbn-interpreter/src/public/index.js
+++ b/packages/kbn-interpreter/src/public/index.js
@@ -17,6 +17,6 @@
  * under the License.
  */
 
-export { populateBrowserRegistries, getBrowserRegistries } from './browser_registries';
+export { loadBrowserRegistries } from './browser_registries';
 export { createSocket } from './socket';
-export { initializeInterpreter, interpretAst } from './interpreter';
+export { initializeInterpreter } from './interpreter';
diff --git a/packages/kbn-interpreter/src/public/interpreter.js b/packages/kbn-interpreter/src/public/interpreter.js
index ba38df27b6f8..45042ef4002c 100644
--- a/packages/kbn-interpreter/src/public/interpreter.js
+++ b/packages/kbn-interpreter/src/public/interpreter.js
@@ -19,18 +19,28 @@
 
 import { socketInterpreterProvider } from '../common/interpreter/socket_interpret';
 import { serializeProvider } from '../common/lib/serialize';
-import { getSocket } from './socket';
-import { typesRegistry } from '../common/lib/types_registry';
 import { createHandlers } from './create_handlers';
-import { functionsRegistry } from '../common/lib/functions_registry';
-import { getBrowserRegistries } from './browser_registries';
 
-let socket;
-let resolve;
-const functionList = new Promise(_resolve => (resolve = _resolve));
+export async function initializeInterpreter(socket, typesRegistry, functionsRegistry) {
+  let resolve;
+  const functionList = new Promise(_resolve => (resolve = _resolve));
 
-export async function initializeInterpreter() {
-  socket = getSocket();
+  const getInitializedFunctions = async () => {
+    return functionList;
+  };
+
+  const interpretAst = async (ast, context, handlers) => {
+    // Load plugins before attempting to get functions, otherwise this gets racey
+    const serverFunctionList = await functionList;
+    const interpretFn = await socketInterpreterProvider({
+      types: typesRegistry.toJS(),
+      handlers: { ...handlers, ...createHandlers(socket) },
+      functions: functionsRegistry.toJS(),
+      referableFunctions: serverFunctionList,
+      socket: socket,
+    });
+    return interpretFn(ast, context);
+  };
 
   // Listen for interpreter runs
   socket.on('run', ({ ast, context, id }) => {
@@ -42,23 +52,20 @@ export async function initializeInterpreter() {
   });
 
   // Create the function list
-  socket.emit('getFunctionList');
-  socket.once('functionList', resolve);
-  return functionList;
+  let gotFunctionList = false;
+  socket.once('functionList', (fl) => {
+    gotFunctionList = true;
+    resolve(fl);
+  });
+
+  const interval = setInterval(() => {
+    if (gotFunctionList) {
+      clearInterval(interval);
+      return;
+    }
+    socket.emit('getFunctionList');
+  }, 1000);
+
+  return { getInitializedFunctions, interpretAst };
 }
 
-// Use the above promise to seed the interpreter with the functions it can defer to
-export async function interpretAst(ast, context) {
-  // Load plugins before attempting to get functions, otherwise this gets racey
-  return Promise.all([functionList, getBrowserRegistries()])
-    .then(([serverFunctionList]) => {
-      return socketInterpreterProvider({
-        types: typesRegistry.toJS(),
-        handlers: createHandlers(socket),
-        functions: functionsRegistry.toJS(),
-        referableFunctions: serverFunctionList,
-        socket: socket,
-      });
-    })
-    .then(interpretFn => interpretFn(ast, context));
-}
diff --git a/packages/kbn-interpreter/src/public/socket.js b/packages/kbn-interpreter/src/public/socket.js
index e3a2068086b3..7d209e09c688 100644
--- a/packages/kbn-interpreter/src/public/socket.js
+++ b/packages/kbn-interpreter/src/public/socket.js
@@ -18,22 +18,13 @@
  */
 
 import io from 'socket.io-client';
-import { functionsRegistry } from '../common/lib/functions_registry';
-import { getBrowserRegistries } from './browser_registries';
 
 const SOCKET_CONNECTION_TIMEOUT = 5000; // timeout in ms
-let socket;
 
-export async function createSocket(basePath) {
-  if (socket != null) return socket;
+export async function createSocket(basePath, functionsRegistry) {
 
-  return new Promise((resolve, rej) => {
-    const reject = p => {
-      socket = null; // reset the socket on errors
-      rej(p);
-    };
-
-    socket = io({
+  return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+    const socket = io({
       path: `${basePath}/socket.io`,
       transports: ['polling', 'websocket'],
       transportOptions: {
@@ -49,12 +40,11 @@ export async function createSocket(basePath) {
     });
 
     socket.on('getFunctionList', () => {
-      const pluginsLoaded = getBrowserRegistries();
-      pluginsLoaded.then(() => socket.emit('functionList', functionsRegistry.toJS()));
+      socket.emit('functionList', functionsRegistry.toJS());
     });
 
     socket.on('connect', () => {
-      resolve();
+      resolve(socket);
       socket.off('connectionFailed', errorHandler);
       socket.off('connect_error', errorHandler);
       socket.off('connect_timeout', errorHandler);
@@ -71,8 +61,3 @@ export async function createSocket(basePath) {
     socket.on('connect_timeout', errorHandler);
   });
 }
-
-export function getSocket() {
-  if (!socket) throw new Error('getSocket failed, socket has not been created');
-  return socket;
-}
diff --git a/packages/kbn-interpreter/src/server/index.js b/packages/kbn-interpreter/src/server/index.js
index 3815cad550d0..24d463d668b3 100644
--- a/packages/kbn-interpreter/src/server/index.js
+++ b/packages/kbn-interpreter/src/server/index.js
@@ -17,6 +17,6 @@
  * under the License.
  */
 
-export { populateServerRegistries, getServerRegistries } from './server_registries';
+export { populateServerRegistries } from './server_registries';
 export { getPluginPaths } from './get_plugin_paths';
 export { pluginPaths } from './plugin_paths';
diff --git a/packages/kbn-interpreter/src/server/server_registries.js b/packages/kbn-interpreter/src/server/server_registries.js
index 2a456bee7de0..307401cf9a0b 100644
--- a/packages/kbn-interpreter/src/server/server_registries.js
+++ b/packages/kbn-interpreter/src/server/server_registries.js
@@ -17,55 +17,38 @@
  * under the License.
  */
 
-import { typesRegistry } from '../common/lib/types_registry';
-import { functionsRegistry as serverFunctions } from '../common/lib/functions_registry';
 import { getPluginPaths } from './get_plugin_paths';
 
-const registries = {
-  serverFunctions: serverFunctions,
-  commonFunctions: serverFunctions,
-  types: typesRegistry,
-};
 
-let resolve = null;
-let called = false;
+export const populateServerRegistries = registries => {
+  if (!registries) throw new Error('registries are required');
 
-const populatePromise = new Promise(_resolve => {
-  resolve = _resolve;
-});
+  return new Promise(resolve => {
+    const remainingTypes = Object.keys(registries);
+    const populatedTypes = {};
 
-export const getServerRegistries = () => {
-  return populatePromise;
-};
+    const loadType = () => {
+      const type = remainingTypes.pop();
+      getPluginPaths(type).then(paths => {
+        global.canvas = global.canvas || {};
+        global.canvas.register = d => registries[type].register(d);
 
-export const populateServerRegistries = types => {
-  if (called) {
-    return populatePromise;
-  }
-  called = true;
-  if (!types || !types.length) throw new Error('types is required');
+        paths.forEach(path => {
+          require(path); // eslint-disable-line import/no-dynamic-require
+        });
 
-  const remainingTypes = types;
-  const populatedTypes = {};
+        delete global.canvas;
 
-  const loadType = () => {
-    const type = remainingTypes.pop();
-    getPluginPaths(type).then(paths => {
-      global.canvas = global.canvas || {};
-      global.canvas.register = d => registries[type].register(d);
-
-      paths.forEach(path => {
-        require(path); // eslint-disable-line import/no-dynamic-require
+        populatedTypes[type] = registries[type];
+        if (remainingTypes.length) {
+          loadType();
+        }
+        else {
+          resolve(populatedTypes);
+        }
       });
+    };
 
-      delete global.canvas;
-
-      populatedTypes[type] = registries[type];
-      if (remainingTypes.length) loadType();
-      else resolve(populatedTypes);
-    });
-  };
-
-  if (remainingTypes.length) loadType();
-  return populatePromise;
+    if (remainingTypes.length) loadType();
+  });
 };
diff --git a/packages/kbn-interpreter/tasks/build/webpack.config.js b/packages/kbn-interpreter/tasks/build/webpack.config.js
index 5d5afc92a249..5f4faea438c0 100644
--- a/packages/kbn-interpreter/tasks/build/webpack.config.js
+++ b/packages/kbn-interpreter/tasks/build/webpack.config.js
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ module.exports = function ({ sourceMaps }, { watch }) {
     entry: {
       'types/all': resolve(PLUGIN_SOURCE_DIR, 'types/register.js'),
       'functions/browser/all': resolve(PLUGIN_SOURCE_DIR, 'functions/browser/register.js'),
+      'functions/browser/common': resolve(PLUGIN_SOURCE_DIR, 'functions/common/register.js'),
     },
 
     // there were problems with the node and web targets since this code is actually
diff --git a/src/legacy/core_plugins/interpreter/index.js b/src/legacy/core_plugins/interpreter/index.js
index 21ab23f1b837..1235b7a471f8 100644
--- a/src/legacy/core_plugins/interpreter/index.js
+++ b/src/legacy/core_plugins/interpreter/index.js
@@ -25,11 +25,6 @@ export default function (kibana) {
     id: 'interpreter',
     require: ['kibana', 'elasticsearch'],
     publicDir: resolve(__dirname, 'public'),
-    uiExports: {
-      hacks: [
-        'plugins/interpreter/load_browser_plugins.js',
-      ],
-    },
     init,
   });
 }
diff --git a/src/legacy/core_plugins/interpreter/init.js b/src/legacy/core_plugins/interpreter/init.js
index 74d07d60b480..1d7a994a45ad 100644
--- a/src/legacy/core_plugins/interpreter/init.js
+++ b/src/legacy/core_plugins/interpreter/init.js
@@ -18,10 +18,16 @@
  */
 
 import { routes } from './server/routes';
-import { functionsRegistry } from '@kbn/interpreter/common';
+import { FunctionsRegistry, TypesRegistry } from '@kbn/interpreter/common';
 import { populateServerRegistries } from '@kbn/interpreter/server';
 
 export default async function (server /*options*/) {
+
+  const registries = {
+    serverFunctions: new FunctionsRegistry(),
+    types: new TypesRegistry()
+  };
+
   server.injectUiAppVars('canvas', () => {
     const config = server.config();
     const basePath = config.get('server.basePath');
@@ -35,12 +41,14 @@ export default async function (server /*options*/) {
       kbnIndex: config.get('kibana.index'),
       esShardTimeout: config.get('elasticsearch.shardTimeout'),
       esApiVersion: config.get('elasticsearch.apiVersion'),
-      serverFunctions: functionsRegistry.toArray(),
+      serverFunctions: registries.serverFunctions.toArray(),
       basePath,
       reportingBrowserType,
     };
   });
 
-  await populateServerRegistries(['serverFunctions', 'types']);
+  await populateServerRegistries(registries);
+
+  server.expose(registries);
   routes(server);
 }
diff --git a/src/legacy/core_plugins/interpreter/public/load_browser_plugins.js b/src/legacy/core_plugins/interpreter/public/functions_registry.js
similarity index 71%
rename from src/legacy/core_plugins/interpreter/public/load_browser_plugins.js
rename to src/legacy/core_plugins/interpreter/public/functions_registry.js
index a8c43ceaaebb..410095d9c19f 100644
--- a/src/legacy/core_plugins/interpreter/public/load_browser_plugins.js
+++ b/src/legacy/core_plugins/interpreter/public/functions_registry.js
@@ -17,13 +17,7 @@
  * under the License.
  */
 
-import chrome from 'ui/chrome';
-import { populateBrowserRegistries } from '@kbn/interpreter/public';
-import { typesRegistry, functionsRegistry } from '@kbn/interpreter/common';
 
-const types = {
-  browserFunctions: functionsRegistry,
-  types: typesRegistry
-};
+import { FunctionsRegistry } from '@kbn/interpreter/common';
 
-populateBrowserRegistries(types, chrome.getBasePath());
+export const functionsRegistry = new FunctionsRegistry();
diff --git a/src/legacy/core_plugins/interpreter/public/interpreter.js b/src/legacy/core_plugins/interpreter/public/interpreter.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..f31e29c58ce3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/legacy/core_plugins/interpreter/public/interpreter.js
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+/*
+ * Licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one or more contributor
+ * license agreements. See the NOTICE file distributed with
+ * this work for additional information regarding copyright
+ * ownership. Elasticsearch B.V. licenses this file to you under
+ * the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may
+ * not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing,
+ * software distributed under the License is distributed on an
+ * "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY
+ * KIND, either express or implied.  See the License for the
+ * specific language governing permissions and limitations
+ * under the License.
+ */
+
+
+import { initializeInterpreter, loadBrowserRegistries, createSocket } from '@kbn/interpreter/public';
+import chrome from 'ui/chrome';
+import { functionsRegistry } from './functions_registry';
+import { typesRegistry } from './types_registry';
+
+const basePath = chrome.getBasePath();
+
+const types = {
+  browserFunctions: functionsRegistry,
+  types: typesRegistry
+};
+
+let _resolve;
+let _interpreterPromise;
+
+const initialize = async () => {
+  await loadBrowserRegistries(types, basePath);
+  const socket = await createSocket(basePath, functionsRegistry);
+  initializeInterpreter(socket, typesRegistry, functionsRegistry).then(interpreter => {
+    _resolve({ interpreter, socket });
+  });
+};
+
+export const getInterpreter = async () => {
+  if (!_interpreterPromise) {
+    _interpreterPromise = new Promise(resolve => _resolve = resolve);
+    initialize();
+  }
+  return await _interpreterPromise;
+};
+
+export const interpretAst = async (...params) => {
+  const { interpreter } = await getInterpreter();
+  return await interpreter.interpretAst(...params);
+};
+
+export const updateInterpreterFunctions = async () => {
+  const { socket } =  await getInterpreter();
+  socket.emit('updateFunctionList');
+};
diff --git a/src/legacy/core_plugins/interpreter/public/types_registry.js b/src/legacy/core_plugins/interpreter/public/types_registry.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..10eada72e2c1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/legacy/core_plugins/interpreter/public/types_registry.js
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+/*
+ * Licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one or more contributor
+ * license agreements. See the NOTICE file distributed with
+ * this work for additional information regarding copyright
+ * ownership. Elasticsearch B.V. licenses this file to you under
+ * the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may
+ * not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing,
+ * software distributed under the License is distributed on an
+ * "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY
+ * KIND, either express or implied.  See the License for the
+ * specific language governing permissions and limitations
+ * under the License.
+ */
+
+
+import { TypesRegistry } from '@kbn/interpreter/common';
+
+export const typesRegistry = new TypesRegistry();
diff --git a/src/legacy/core_plugins/interpreter/server/lib/route_expression/browser.js b/src/legacy/core_plugins/interpreter/server/lib/route_expression/browser.js
index 0fe27f4d27c6..4b3d43ef9aca 100644
--- a/src/legacy/core_plugins/interpreter/server/lib/route_expression/browser.js
+++ b/src/legacy/core_plugins/interpreter/server/lib/route_expression/browser.js
@@ -22,36 +22,46 @@ import uuid from 'uuid/v4';
 export const browser = ({ socket, serialize, deserialize }) => {
   // Note that we need to be careful about how many times routeExpressionProvider is called, because of the socket.once below.
   // It's too bad we can't get a list of browser plugins on the server
-  const getClientFunctions = new Promise(resolve => {
-    socket.emit('getFunctionList');
-    socket.once('functionList', resolve);
+
+  let getFunctionsPromise;
+  socket.on('updateFunctionList', () => {
+    getFunctionsPromise = undefined;
   });
 
-  return getClientFunctions.then(functions => {
-    return {
-      interpret: (ast, context) => {
-        return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
-          const id = uuid();
-          const listener = resp => {
-            if (resp.type === 'msgError') {
-              const { value } = resp;
-              // cast error strings back into error instances
-              const err = value instanceof Error ? value : new Error(value);
-              if (value.stack) err.stack = value.stack;
-              // Reject's with a legit error. Check! Environments should always reject with an error when something bad happens
-              reject(err);
-            } else {
-              resolve(deserialize(resp.value));
-            }
-          };
+  const getFunctions = async () => {
+    if (!getFunctionsPromise) {
+      getFunctionsPromise = new Promise(resolve => {
+        socket.once('functionList', resolve);
+        socket.emit('getFunctionList');
+      });
+    }
 
-          // {type: msgSuccess or msgError, value: foo}. Doesn't matter if it's success or error, we do the same thing for now
-          socket.once(`resp:${id}`, listener);
+    return Object.keys(await getFunctionsPromise);
+  };
 
-          socket.emit('run', { ast, context: serialize(context), id });
-        });
-      },
-      getFunctions: () => Object.keys(functions),
-    };
-  });
+  return {
+    interpret: (ast, context) => {
+      return new Promise(async (resolve, reject) => {
+        await getFunctions();
+        const id = uuid();
+        const listener = resp => {
+          if (resp.type === 'msgError') {
+            const { value } = resp;
+            // cast error strings back into error instances
+            const err = value instanceof Error ? value : new Error(value);
+            if (value.stack) err.stack = value.stack;
+            // Reject's with a legit error. Check! Environments should always reject with an error when something bad happens
+            reject(err);
+          } else {
+            resolve(deserialize(resp.value));
+          }
+        };
+
+        // {type: msgSuccess or msgError, value: foo}. Doesn't matter if it's success or error, we do the same thing for now
+        socket.once(`resp:${id}`, listener);
+
+        socket.emit('run', { ast, context: serialize(context), id });
+      });
+    }, getFunctions
+  };
 };
diff --git a/src/legacy/core_plugins/interpreter/server/lib/route_expression/index.js b/src/legacy/core_plugins/interpreter/server/lib/route_expression/index.js
index cd56b7e7bfe7..7098572ce2b4 100644
--- a/src/legacy/core_plugins/interpreter/server/lib/route_expression/index.js
+++ b/src/legacy/core_plugins/interpreter/server/lib/route_expression/index.js
@@ -23,8 +23,8 @@ export const routeExpressionProvider = environments => {
   async function routeExpression(ast, context = null) {
     // List of environments in order of preference
 
-    return Promise.all(environments).then(environments => {
-      const environmentFunctions = environments.map(env => env.getFunctions());
+    return Promise.all(environments).then(async environments => {
+      const environmentFunctions = await Promise.all(environments.map(env => env.getFunctions()));
 
       // Grab name of the first function in the chain
       const fnName = ast.chain[0].function.toLowerCase();
diff --git a/src/legacy/core_plugins/interpreter/server/lib/route_expression/server.js b/src/legacy/core_plugins/interpreter/server/lib/route_expression/server.js
index 23fe1487ddcc..663e84235578 100644
--- a/src/legacy/core_plugins/interpreter/server/lib/route_expression/server.js
+++ b/src/legacy/core_plugins/interpreter/server/lib/route_expression/server.js
@@ -17,12 +17,11 @@
  * under the License.
  */
 
-import { getServerRegistries } from '@kbn/interpreter/server';
 import { interpretProvider } from '@kbn/interpreter/common';
 import { createHandlers } from '../create_handlers';
 
 export const server = async ({ onFunctionNotFound, server, request }) => {
-  const { serverFunctions, types } = await getServerRegistries(['serverFunctions', 'types']);
+  const { serverFunctions, types } = server.plugins.interpreter;
 
   return {
     interpret: (ast, context) => {
diff --git a/src/legacy/core_plugins/interpreter/server/lib/route_expression/thread/worker.js b/src/legacy/core_plugins/interpreter/server/lib/route_expression/thread/worker.js
index e26e3052aedc..cef00153e0fc 100644
--- a/src/legacy/core_plugins/interpreter/server/lib/route_expression/thread/worker.js
+++ b/src/legacy/core_plugins/interpreter/server/lib/route_expression/thread/worker.js
@@ -19,10 +19,15 @@
 
 import uuid from 'uuid/v4';
 import { populateServerRegistries } from '@kbn/interpreter/server';
-import { interpretProvider, serializeProvider } from '@kbn/interpreter/common';
+import { interpretProvider, serializeProvider, FunctionsRegistry, TypesRegistry } from '@kbn/interpreter/common';
 
 // We actually DO need populateServerRegistries here since this is a different node process
-const pluginsReady = populateServerRegistries(['commonFunctions', 'types']);
+const registries = {
+  commonFunctions: new FunctionsRegistry(),
+  types: new TypesRegistry(),
+};
+
+const pluginsReady = populateServerRegistries(registries);
 const heap = {};
 
 process.on('message', msg => {
diff --git a/src/legacy/core_plugins/interpreter/server/routes/socket.js b/src/legacy/core_plugins/interpreter/server/routes/socket.js
index 8befd511937e..6201eaf70ca8 100644
--- a/src/legacy/core_plugins/interpreter/server/routes/socket.js
+++ b/src/legacy/core_plugins/interpreter/server/routes/socket.js
@@ -18,8 +18,7 @@
  */
 
 import socket from 'socket.io';
-import { serializeProvider, typesRegistry } from '@kbn/interpreter/common';
-import { getServerRegistries } from '@kbn/interpreter/server';
+import { serializeProvider } from '@kbn/interpreter/common';
 import { routeExpressionProvider } from '../lib/route_expression/index';
 import { browser } from '../lib/route_expression/browser';
 import { thread } from '../lib/route_expression/thread/index';
@@ -54,7 +53,7 @@ export function socketApi(server) {
     const request = await getModifiedRequest(server, socket);
     if (!request) return; // do nothing without the request object
 
-    const types = typesRegistry.toJS();
+    const types = server.plugins.interpreter.types.toJS();
     const { serialize, deserialize } = serializeProvider(types);
 
     // I'd love to find a way to generalize all of these, but they each need a different set of things
@@ -70,9 +69,7 @@ export function socketApi(server) {
     }
 
     socket.on('getFunctionList', () => {
-      getServerRegistries().then(({ serverFunctions }) =>
-        socket.emit('functionList', serverFunctions.toJS())
-      );
+      socket.emit('functionList', server.plugins.interpreter.serverFunctions.toJS());
     });
 
     socket.on('run', async ({ ast, context, id }) => {
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/canvas/index.js b/x-pack/plugins/canvas/index.js
index ed3e8557d403..030d43684eca 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/canvas/index.js
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/canvas/index.js
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ export function canvas(kibana) {
   return new kibana.Plugin({
     id: CANVAS_APP,
     configPrefix: 'xpack.canvas',
-    require: ['kibana', 'elasticsearch', 'xpack_main'],
+    require: ['kibana', 'elasticsearch', 'xpack_main', 'interpreter'],
     publicDir: resolve(__dirname, 'public'),
     uiExports: {
       app: {
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/canvas/init.js b/x-pack/plugins/canvas/init.js
index d91c7e8a70e5..e04197670928 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/canvas/init.js
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/canvas/init.js
@@ -4,14 +4,14 @@
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License.
  */
 
-import { functionsRegistry } from '@kbn/interpreter/common';
-import { populateServerRegistries } from '@kbn/interpreter/server';
 import { routes } from './server/routes';
 import { commonFunctions } from './common/functions';
 import { registerCanvasUsageCollector } from './server/usage';
 import { loadSampleData } from './server/sample_data';
 
 export default async function(server /*options*/) {
+  const functionsRegistry = server.plugins.interpreter.serverFunctions;
+
   server.injectUiAppVars('canvas', async () => {
     const config = server.config();
     const basePath = config.get('server.basePath');
@@ -40,8 +40,5 @@ export default async function(server /*options*/) {
 
   registerCanvasUsageCollector(server);
   loadSampleData(server);
-
-  // Do not initialize the app until the registries are populated
-  await populateServerRegistries(['serverFunctions', 'types']);
   routes(server);
 }
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/components/app/index.js b/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/components/app/index.js
index ad9cf615dd1c..688696bc8586 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/components/app/index.js
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/components/app/index.js
@@ -4,11 +4,9 @@
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License.
  */
 
-import {
-  createSocket,
-  initializeInterpreter,
-  populateBrowserRegistries,
-} from '@kbn/interpreter/public';
+import { functionsRegistry } from 'plugins/interpreter/functions_registry';
+import { getInterpreter, updateInterpreterFunctions } from 'plugins/interpreter/interpreter';
+import { loadBrowserRegistries } from '@kbn/interpreter/public';
 import { connect } from 'react-redux';
 import { compose, withProps } from 'recompose';
 import { getAppReady, getBasePath } from '../../state/selectors/app';
@@ -54,11 +52,12 @@ const mapDispatchToProps = dispatch => ({
   // TODO: the correct socket path should come from upstream, using the constant here is not ideal
   setAppReady: basePath => async () => {
     try {
+      // wait for core interpreter to load
+      await getInterpreter();
       // initialize the socket and interpreter
-      await createSocket(basePath);
-      loadPrivateBrowserFunctions();
-      await populateBrowserRegistries(types, basePath);
-      await initializeInterpreter();
+      loadPrivateBrowserFunctions(functionsRegistry);
+      await updateInterpreterFunctions();
+      await loadBrowserRegistries(types, basePath);
 
       // set app state to ready
       dispatch(appReady());
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/components/datasource/datasource_preview/index.js b/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/components/datasource/datasource_preview/index.js
index 7cb5a6f3c54f..0e696aafbe5b 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/components/datasource/datasource_preview/index.js
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/components/datasource/datasource_preview/index.js
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License.
  */
 
-import { interpretAst } from '@kbn/interpreter/public';
+import { interpretAst } from 'plugins/interpreter/interpreter';
 import { pure, compose, lifecycle, withState, branch, renderComponent } from 'recompose';
 import { PropTypes } from 'prop-types';
 import { Loading } from '../../loading';
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/components/function_form_list/index.js b/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/components/function_form_list/index.js
index 00046c65c947..feea4b2f1b7c 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/components/function_form_list/index.js
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/components/function_form_list/index.js
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License.
  */
 
-import { interpretAst } from '@kbn/interpreter/public';
+import { interpretAst } from 'plugins/interpreter/interpreter';
 import { compose, withProps } from 'recompose';
 import { get } from 'lodash';
 import { toExpression } from '@kbn/interpreter/common';
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/functions/filters.js b/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/functions/filters.js
index ca78b119d2a5..5871366c1c0d 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/functions/filters.js
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/functions/filters.js
@@ -4,8 +4,9 @@
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License.
  */
 
-import { interpretAst } from '@kbn/interpreter/public';
-import { fromExpression, typesRegistry } from '@kbn/interpreter/common';
+import { interpretAst } from 'plugins/interpreter/interpreter';
+import { typesRegistry } from 'plugins/interpreter/types_registry';
+import { fromExpression } from '@kbn/interpreter/common';
 import { getState } from '../state/store';
 import { getGlobalFilterExpression } from '../state/selectors/workpad';
 
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/lib/function_definitions.js b/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/lib/function_definitions.js
index 40b122f2f6a0..ec40105f72e3 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/lib/function_definitions.js
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/lib/function_definitions.js
@@ -4,12 +4,11 @@
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License.
  */
 
+import { functionsRegistry } from 'plugins/interpreter/functions_registry';
 import uniqBy from 'lodash.uniqby';
-import { getBrowserRegistries } from '@kbn/interpreter/public';
 import { getServerFunctions } from '../state/selectors/app';
 
 export async function getFunctionDefinitions(state) {
-  const { browserFunctions } = await getBrowserRegistries();
   const serverFunctions = getServerFunctions(state);
-  return uniqBy(serverFunctions.concat(browserFunctions.toArray()), 'name');
+  return uniqBy(serverFunctions.concat(functionsRegistry.toArray()), 'name');
 }
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/lib/functions_registry.js b/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/lib/functions_registry.js
deleted file mode 100644
index f90fe453e9a1..000000000000
--- a/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/lib/functions_registry.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,8 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
- * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License;
- * you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License.
- */
-
-// export the common registry here, so it's available in plugin public code
-export { functionsRegistry } from '@kbn/interpreter/common';
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/lib/load_private_browser_functions.js b/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/lib/load_private_browser_functions.js
index 85b995c026a1..ce57ffd33e8b 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/lib/load_private_browser_functions.js
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/lib/load_private_browser_functions.js
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
 
 import { commonFunctions } from '../../common/functions';
 import { clientFunctions } from '../functions';
-import { functionsRegistry } from './functions_registry';
 
 /*
   Functions loaded here use PRIVATE APIs
@@ -15,11 +14,11 @@ import { functionsRegistry } from './functions_registry';
   few of these things as we can't thread them.
 */
 
-function addFunction(fnDef) {
-  functionsRegistry.register(fnDef);
-}
+export const loadPrivateBrowserFunctions = functionsRegistry => {
+  function addFunction(fnDef) {
+    functionsRegistry.register(fnDef);
+  }
 
-export const loadPrivateBrowserFunctions = () => {
   clientFunctions.forEach(addFunction);
   commonFunctions.forEach(addFunction);
 };
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/lib/run_interpreter.js b/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/lib/run_interpreter.js
index f9a890b77f14..d3f4de306778 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/lib/run_interpreter.js
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/lib/run_interpreter.js
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License.
  */
 
-import { interpretAst } from '@kbn/interpreter/public';
+import { interpretAst } from 'plugins/interpreter/interpreter';
 import { fromExpression, getType } from '@kbn/interpreter/common';
 import { notify } from './notify';
 
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/lib/types_registry.js b/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/lib/types_registry.js
deleted file mode 100644
index 292e1547f482..000000000000
--- a/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/lib/types_registry.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,8 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
- * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License;
- * you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License.
- */
-
-// export the common registry here, so it's available in plugin public code
-export { typesRegistry } from '@kbn/interpreter/common';
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/state/actions/elements.js b/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/state/actions/elements.js
index f6a4a16db743..55fb48fd8f02 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/state/actions/elements.js
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/state/actions/elements.js
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License.
  */
 
-import { interpretAst } from '@kbn/interpreter/public';
+import { interpretAst } from 'plugins/interpreter/interpreter';
 import { createAction } from 'redux-actions';
 import { createThunk } from 'redux-thunks';
 import { set, del } from 'object-path-immutable';
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/canvas/tasks/helpers/webpack.plugins.js b/x-pack/plugins/canvas/tasks/helpers/webpack.plugins.js
index e2385c87b546..341112e55335 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/canvas/tasks/helpers/webpack.plugins.js
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/canvas/tasks/helpers/webpack.plugins.js
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ export function getWebpackConfig({ devtool, watch } = {}) {
       'uis/datasources/all': path.join(sourceDir, 'uis/datasources/register.js'),
       'uis/arguments/all': path.join(sourceDir, 'uis/arguments/register.js'),
       'functions/browser/all': path.join(sourceDir, 'functions/browser/register.js'),
+      'functions/browser/common': path.join(sourceDir, 'functions/common/register.js'),
       'templates/all': path.join(sourceDir, 'templates/register.js'),
       'uis/tags/all': path.join(sourceDir, 'uis/tags/register.js'),
     },