diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 6d7ec86fcf408..c6877416ae1cb 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 ## v1.42.0
 
 - [core] fixed logger level propagation when log config file changes at runtime [#12566](https://github.com/eclipse-theia/theia/pull/12566) - Contributed on behalf of STMicroelectronics
+- [core] improve frontend startup time [#12936](https://github.com/eclipse-theia/theia/pull/12936) - Contributed by STMicroelectronics
 - [vsx-registry] added a hint to extension fetching ENOTFOUND errors [#12858](https://github.com/eclipse-theia/theia/pull/12858) - Contributed by STMicroelectronics
 
 ## v1.41.0 - 08/31/2023
diff --git a/packages/core/src/browser/common-frontend-contribution.ts b/packages/core/src/browser/common-frontend-contribution.ts
index 7df314fd08cb5..c446f1e88c729 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/browser/common-frontend-contribution.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/browser/common-frontend-contribution.ts
@@ -428,6 +428,7 @@ export class CommonFrontendContribution implements FrontendApplicationContributi
     protected pinnedKey: ContextKey<boolean>;
 
     async configure(app: FrontendApplication): Promise<void> {
+        // FIXME: This request blocks valuable startup time (~200ms).
         const configDirUri = await this.environments.getConfigDirUri();
         // Global settings
         this.encodingRegistry.registerOverride({
diff --git a/packages/debug/src/browser/debug-frontend-application-contribution.ts b/packages/debug/src/browser/debug-frontend-application-contribution.ts
index 4ca406c3860b4..5e833a8a39f29 100644
--- a/packages/debug/src/browser/debug-frontend-application-contribution.ts
+++ b/packages/debug/src/browser/debug-frontend-application-contribution.ts
@@ -473,8 +473,8 @@ export class DebugFrontendApplicationContribution extends AbstractViewContributi
 
         this.schemaUpdater.update();
         this.configurations.load();
-        await this.breakpointManager.load();
-        await this.watchManager.load();
+        this.breakpointManager.load();
+        this.watchManager.load();
     }
 
     onStop(): void {
diff --git a/packages/editor/src/browser/editor-navigation-contribution.ts b/packages/editor/src/browser/editor-navigation-contribution.ts
index 9aa98da47d800..36c5ed2ad6d50 100644
--- a/packages/editor/src/browser/editor-navigation-contribution.ts
+++ b/packages/editor/src/browser/editor-navigation-contribution.ts
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ export class EditorNavigationContribution implements Disposable, FrontendApplica
     }
 
     async onStart(): Promise<void> {
-        await this.restoreState();
+        this.restoreState();
     }
 
     onStop(): void {
diff --git a/packages/terminal/src/browser/terminal-frontend-contribution.ts b/packages/terminal/src/browser/terminal-frontend-contribution.ts
index a4feb00b0c0a6..5ca103b796db7 100644
--- a/packages/terminal/src/browser/terminal-frontend-contribution.ts
+++ b/packages/terminal/src/browser/terminal-frontend-contribution.ts
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ export class TerminalFrontendContribution implements FrontendApplicationContribu
     }
 
     async onStart(app: FrontendApplication): Promise<void> {
-        await this.contributeDefaultProfiles();
+        this.contributeDefaultProfiles();
 
         this.terminalPreferences.onPreferenceChanged(e => {
             if (e.preferenceName.startsWith('terminal.integrated.')) {