diff --git a/packages/core/src/application_init.ts b/packages/core/src/application_init.ts
index 3c5f6ae3b0..554c120d9d 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/application_init.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/application_init.ts
@@ -8,9 +8,7 @@
 
 import {isPromise} from '../src/util/lang';
 
-import {Inject, Injectable, InjectionToken, Optional, inject} from './di';
-import {defineInjectable} from './di/defs';
-
+import {Inject, Injectable, InjectionToken, Optional} from './di';
 
 
 /**
@@ -24,22 +22,8 @@ export const APP_INITIALIZER = new InjectionToken<Array<() => void>>('Applicatio
  *
  * @experimental
  */
+@Injectable()
 export class ApplicationInitStatus {
-  // `ngInjectableDef` is required in core-level code because it sits behind
-  // the injector and any code the loads it inside may run into a dependency
-  // loop (because Injectable is also in core. Do not use the code below
-  // (use @Injectable({ providedIn, factory }))  instead...
-  /**
-   * @internal
-   * @nocollapse
-   */
-  static ngInjectableDef = defineInjectable({
-    providedIn: 'root',
-    factory: function ApplicationInitStatus_Factory() {
-      return new ApplicationInitStatus(inject(APP_INITIALIZER));
-    }
-  });
-
   private resolve: Function;
   private reject: Function;
   private initialized = false;
diff --git a/packages/core/src/application_module.ts b/packages/core/src/application_module.ts
index 2ba332383c..affd64c99c 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/application_module.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/application_module.ts
@@ -6,11 +6,13 @@
  * found in the LICENSE file at https://angular.io/license
  */
 
+import {ApplicationInitStatus} from './application_init';
+import {ApplicationRef} from './application_ref';
 import {APP_ID_RANDOM_PROVIDER} from './application_tokens';
 import {IterableDiffers, KeyValueDiffers, defaultIterableDiffers, defaultKeyValueDiffers} from './change_detection/change_detection';
 import {Inject, Optional, SkipSelf} from './di/metadata';
-import {APP_ROOT} from './di/scope';
 import {LOCALE_ID} from './i18n/tokens';
+import {Compiler} from './linker/compiler';
 import {NgModule} from './metadata';
 
 export function _iterableDiffersFactory() {
@@ -26,14 +28,17 @@ export function _localeFactory(locale?: string): string {
 }
 
 /**
+ * This module includes the providers of @angular/core that are needed
+ * to bootstrap components via `ApplicationRef`.
+ *
  * @experimental
  */
 @NgModule({
   providers: [
+    ApplicationRef,
+    ApplicationInitStatus,
+    Compiler,
     APP_ID_RANDOM_PROVIDER,
-    // wen-workers need this value to be here since WorkerApp is defined
-    // ontop of this application
-    {provide: APP_ROOT, useValue: true},
     {provide: IterableDiffers, useFactory: _iterableDiffersFactory},
     {provide: KeyValueDiffers, useFactory: _keyValueDiffersFactory},
     {
@@ -44,4 +49,6 @@ export function _localeFactory(locale?: string): string {
   ]
 })
 export class ApplicationModule {
+  // Inject ApplicationRef to make it eager...
+  constructor(appRef: ApplicationRef) {}
 }
diff --git a/packages/core/src/application_ref.ts b/packages/core/src/application_ref.ts
index e1de29f1f5..ce30069931 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/application_ref.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/application_ref.ts
@@ -16,8 +16,7 @@ import {isPromise} from '../src/util/lang';
 import {ApplicationInitStatus} from './application_init';
 import {APP_BOOTSTRAP_LISTENER, PLATFORM_INITIALIZER} from './application_tokens';
 import {Console} from './console';
-import {Injectable, InjectionToken, Injector, StaticProvider, inject} from './di';
-import {defineInjectable} from './di/defs';
+import {Injectable, InjectionToken, Injector, StaticProvider} from './di';
 import {CompilerFactory, CompilerOptions} from './linker/compiler';
 import {ComponentFactory, ComponentRef} from './linker/component_factory';
 import {ComponentFactoryBoundToModule, ComponentFactoryResolver} from './linker/component_factory_resolver';
@@ -362,26 +361,8 @@ function optionsReducer<T extends Object>(dst: any, objs: T | T[]): T {
  *
  *
  */
+@Injectable()
 export class ApplicationRef {
-  // `ngInjectableDef` is required in core-level code because it sits behind
-  // the injector and any code the loads it inside may run into a dependency
-  // loop (because Injectable is also in core. Do not use the code below
-  // (use @Injectable({ providedIn, factory }))  instead...
-  /**
-   * @internal
-   * @nocollapse
-   */
-  static ngInjectableDef = defineInjectable({
-    providedIn: 'root',
-    factory: function ApplicationRef_Factory() {
-      // Type as any is used here due to a type-related bug in injector with abstract classes
-      // (#23528)
-      return new ApplicationRef(
-          inject(NgZone), inject(Console), inject(Injector as any), inject(ErrorHandler),
-          inject(ComponentFactoryResolver as any), inject(ApplicationInitStatus));
-    }
-  });
-
   /** @internal */
   static _tickScope: WtfScopeFn = wtfCreateScope('ApplicationRef#tick()');
   private _bootstrapListeners: ((compRef: ComponentRef<any>) => void)[] = [];
diff --git a/packages/core/src/linker/compiler.ts b/packages/core/src/linker/compiler.ts
index ba0283657b..d9e5acec94 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/linker/compiler.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/linker/compiler.ts
@@ -6,8 +6,7 @@
  * found in the LICENSE file at https://angular.io/license
  */
 
-import {Injectable, InjectionToken, StaticProvider, inject} from '../di';
-import {defineInjectable} from '../di/defs';
+import {Injectable, InjectionToken, StaticProvider} from '../di';
 import {MissingTranslationStrategy} from '../i18n/tokens';
 import {ViewEncapsulation} from '../metadata';
 import {Type} from '../type';
@@ -16,7 +15,6 @@ import {ComponentFactory} from './component_factory';
 import {NgModuleFactory} from './ng_module_factory';
 
 
-
 /**
  * Combination of NgModuleFactory and ComponentFactorys.
  *
@@ -43,17 +41,8 @@ function _throwError() {
  * of components.
  *
  */
+@Injectable()
 export class Compiler {
-  // `ngInjectableDef` is required in core-level code because it sits behind
-  // the injector and any code the loads it inside may run into a dependency
-  // loop (because Injectable is also in core. Do not use the code below
-  // (use @Injectable({ providedIn, factory }))  instead...
-  /**
-   * @internal
-   * @nocollapse
-   */
-  static ngInjectableDef = defineInjectable({providedIn: 'root', factory: () => new Compiler()});
-
   /**
    * Compiles the given NgModule and all of its components. All templates of the components listed
    * in `entryComponents` have to be inlined.
diff --git a/packages/platform-server/src/styles_host.ts b/packages/platform-server/src/styles_host.ts
index 531ea3db3a..fa19f0faeb 100644
--- a/packages/platform-server/src/styles_host.ts
+++ b/packages/platform-server/src/styles_host.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
  * found in the LICENSE file at https://angular.io/license
  */
 
-import {Inject, Injectable, Optional} from '@angular/core';
+import {ApplicationRef, Inject, Injectable, Optional} from '@angular/core';
 import {DOCUMENT, ɵDomAdapter as DomAdapter, ɵSharedStylesHost as SharedStylesHost, ɵTRANSITION_ID, ɵgetDOM as getDOM} from '@angular/platform-browser';
 
 @Injectable()
diff --git a/packages/upgrade/test/common/downgrade_component_adapter_spec.ts b/packages/upgrade/test/common/downgrade_component_adapter_spec.ts
index 54c81478c4..c428c24bd8 100644
--- a/packages/upgrade/test/common/downgrade_component_adapter_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/upgrade/test/common/downgrade_component_adapter_spec.ts
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
  * Use of this source code is governed by an MIT-style license that can be
  * found in the LICENSE file at https://angular.io/license
  */
-import {Compiler, Component, ComponentFactory, ComponentRef, Injector, NgModule, Testability, TestabilityRegistry} from '@angular/core';
+import {ApplicationRef, Compiler, Component, ComponentFactory, ComponentRef, Injector, NgModule, Testability, TestabilityRegistry} from '@angular/core';
 import {TestBed, getTestBed, inject} from '@angular/core/testing';
 import * as angular from '@angular/upgrade/src/common/angular1';
 import {DowngradeComponentAdapter, groupNodesBySelector} from '@angular/upgrade/src/common/downgrade_component_adapter';
diff --git a/tools/public_api_guard/core/core.d.ts b/tools/public_api_guard/core/core.d.ts
index 5730fd9d7c..d781017237 100644
--- a/tools/public_api_guard/core/core.d.ts
+++ b/tools/public_api_guard/core/core.d.ts
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ export declare class ApplicationInitStatus {
 
 /** @experimental */
 export declare class ApplicationModule {
+    constructor(appRef: ApplicationRef);
 }
 
 export declare class ApplicationRef {