diff --git a/lua/core/utils.lua b/lua/core/utils.lua
index d7fa99b..d3e0df5 100644
--- a/lua/core/utils.lua
+++ b/lua/core/utils.lua
@@ -356,4 +356,27 @@ M.fg_bg = function(group, fgcol, bgcol)
    cmd("hi " .. group .. " guifg=" .. fgcol .. " guibg=" .. bgcol)
 end
 
+-- Override default config of a plugin based on the path provided in the chadrc
+
+-- FUNCTION: override_req, use `chadrc` plugin config override if present
+-- name = name inside `default_config` / `chadrc`
+-- default_req = run this if 'name' does not exist in `default_config` / `chadrc`
+-- if override or default_req start with `(`, then strip that and assume override calls a function, not a whole file
+M.override_req = function(name, default_req)
+   local override = require("core.utils").load_config().plugins.default_plugin_config_replace[name]
+   local result = default_req
+
+   if override ~= nil then
+      result = override
+   end
+
+   if string.match(result, "^%(") then
+      result = result:sub(2)
+      result = result:gsub("%)%.", "').", 1)
+      return "require('" .. result
+   else
+      return "require('" .. result .. "')"
+   end
+end
+
 return M
diff --git a/lua/plugins/init.lua b/lua/plugins/init.lua
index 078233d..39a3c14 100644
--- a/lua/plugins/init.lua
+++ b/lua/plugins/init.lua
@@ -8,38 +8,13 @@ local use = packer.use
 
 return packer.startup(function()
    local plugin_settings = require("core.utils").load_config().plugins
-
-   -- FUNCTION: override_req, use `chadrc` plugin config override if present
-   -- name = name inside `default_config` / `chadrc`
-   -- default_req = run this if 'name' does not exist in `default_config` / `chadrc`
-   -- if override or default_req start with `(`, then strip that and assume override calls a function, not a whole file
-   local override_req = function(name, default_req)
-      local override = require("core.utils").load_config().plugins.default_plugin_config_replace[name]
-      local result = default_req
-
-      if override ~= nil then
-         result = override
-      end
-
-      if string.match(result, "^%(") then
-         result = result:sub(2)
-         result = result:gsub("%)%.", "').", 1)
-         return "require('" .. result
-      else
-         return "require('" .. result .. "')"
-      end
-   end
+   local override_req = require("core.utils").override_req
 
    -- this is arranged on the basis of when a plugin starts
 
    -- this is the nvchad core repo containing utilities for some features like theme swticher, no need to lazy load
-   use {
-      "Nvchad/extensions",
-   }
-
-   use {
-      "nvim-lua/plenary.nvim",
-   }
+   use "Nvchad/extensions"
+   use "nvim-lua/plenary.nvim"
 
    use {
       "wbthomason/packer.nvim",
@@ -259,6 +234,6 @@ return packer.startup(function()
          require("core.mappings").telescope()
       end,
    }
-
+   -- load user defined plugins
    require("core.hooks").run("install_plugins", use)
 end)
diff --git a/lua/plugins/packerInit.lua b/lua/plugins/packerInit.lua
index 964ff59..cafdd4f 100644
--- a/lua/plugins/packerInit.lua
+++ b/lua/plugins/packerInit.lua
@@ -1,6 +1,4 @@
-local cmd = vim.cmd
-
-cmd "packadd packer.nvim"
+vim.cmd "packadd packer.nvim"
 
 local present, packer = pcall(require, "packer")
 
@@ -19,7 +17,7 @@ if not present then
       packer_path,
    }
 
-   cmd "packadd packer.nvim"
+   vim.cmd "packadd packer.nvim"
    present, packer = pcall(require, "packer")
 
    if present then
@@ -37,11 +35,10 @@ packer.init {
       prompt_border = "single",
    },
    git = {
-      clone_timeout = 600, -- Timeout, in seconds, for git clones
+      clone_timeout = 6000, -- seconds
    },
    auto_clean = true,
    compile_on_sync = true,
-   --    auto_reload_compiled = true
 }
 
 return packer