Ok, so here it is again with the media-keys initialization deferred to the main loop. The session loading time is looking much etter, but still too slow ;) Here is the profiling log this time (up until the main loop runs): 0.000000 0.000000 MARK: (null) main: start 0.000071 0.000071 MARK: (null) parse_args: start 0.007133 0.007062 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon parse_args: end 0.007147 0.000014 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon main: start opening gtk display 0.017005 0.009858 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon main: end opening gtk display 0.017275 0.000270 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon main: start gnome_settings_manager_new 0.017582 0.000307 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon main: end gnome_settings_manager_new 0.017598 0.000016 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_settings_manager_start: start 0.017605 0.000007 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_settings_manager_start: start initializing plugins 0.018212 0.000607 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon _load_all: start 0.018224 0.000012 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon _load_dir: start 0.018293 0.000069 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon _load_file: start /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/sound.gnome-settings-plugin 0.018344 0.000051 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_settings_plugin_info_fill_from_file: start /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/sound.gnome-settings-plugin 0.018489 0.000145 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_settings_plugin_info_fill_from_file: end /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/sound.gnome-settings-plugin 0.018908 0.000419 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon _load_file: end /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/sound.gnome-settings-plugin 0.018924 0.000016 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon _load_file: start /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/cursor.gnome-settings-plugin 0.018931 0.000007 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_settings_plugin_info_fill_from_file: start /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/cursor.gnome-settings-plugin 0.019000 0.000069 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_settings_plugin_info_fill_from_file: end /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/cursor.gnome-settings-plugin 0.019058 0.000058 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon _load_file: end /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/cursor.gnome-settings-plugin 0.019071 0.000013 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon _load_file: start /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/ubuntuone.gnome-settings-plugin 0.019076 0.000005 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_settings_plugin_info_fill_from_file: start /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/ubuntuone.gnome-settings-plugin 0.019126 0.000050 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_settings_plugin_info_fill_from_file: end /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/ubuntuone.gnome-settings-plugin 0.019158 0.000032 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon _load_file: end /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/ubuntuone.gnome-settings-plugin 0.019169 0.000011 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon _load_file: start /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/clipboard.gnome-settings-plugin 0.019174 0.000005 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_settings_plugin_info_fill_from_file: start /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/clipboard.gnome-settings-plugin 0.019270 0.000096 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_settings_plugin_info_fill_from_file: end /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/clipboard.gnome-settings-plugin 0.019306 0.000036 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon _load_file: end /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/clipboard.gnome-settings-plugin 0.019318 0.000012 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon _load_file: start /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/xsettings.gnome-settings-plugin 0.019322 0.000004 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_settings_plugin_info_fill_from_file: start /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/xsettings.gnome-settings-plugin 0.019419 0.000097 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_settings_plugin_info_fill_from_file: end /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/xsettings.gnome-settings-plugin 0.019454 0.000035 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon _load_file: end /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/xsettings.gnome-settings-plugin 0.019466 0.000012 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon _load_file: start /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/background.gnome-settings-plugin 0.019471 0.000005 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_settings_plugin_info_fill_from_file: start /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/background.gnome-settings-plugin 0.019567 0.000096 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_settings_plugin_info_fill_from_file: end /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/background.gnome-settings-plugin 0.019623 0.000056 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon _load_file: end /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/background.gnome-settings-plugin 0.019635 0.000012 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon _load_file: start /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/smartcard.gnome-settings-plugin 0.019640 0.000005 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_settings_plugin_info_fill_from_file: start /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/smartcard.gnome-settings-plugin 0.019710 0.000070 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_settings_plugin_info_fill_from_file: end /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/smartcard.gnome-settings-plugin 0.019768 0.000058 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon _load_file: end /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/smartcard.gnome-settings-plugin 0.019786 0.000018 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon _load_file: start /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/keyboard.gnome-settings-plugin 0.019793 0.000007 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_settings_plugin_info_fill_from_file: start /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/keyboard.gnome-settings-plugin 0.019942 0.000149 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_settings_plugin_info_fill_from_file: end /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/keyboard.gnome-settings-plugin 0.019998 0.000056 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon _load_file: end /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/keyboard.gnome-settings-plugin 0.020014 0.000016 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon _load_file: start /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/media-keys.gnome-settings-plugin 0.020020 0.000006 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_settings_plugin_info_fill_from_file: start /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/media-keys.gnome-settings-plugin 0.020136 0.000116 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_settings_plugin_info_fill_from_file: end /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/media-keys.gnome-settings-plugin 0.020173 0.000037 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon _load_file: end /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/media-keys.gnome-settings-plugin 0.020186 0.000013 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon _load_file: start /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/housekeeping.gnome-settings-plugin 0.020190 0.000004 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_settings_plugin_info_fill_from_file: start /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/housekeeping.gnome-settings-plugin 0.020233 0.000043 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_settings_plugin_info_fill_from_file: end /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/housekeeping.gnome-settings-plugin 0.020267 0.000034 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon _load_file: end /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/housekeeping.gnome-settings-plugin 0.020278 0.000011 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon _load_file: start /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/xrandr.gnome-settings-plugin 0.020282 0.000004 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_settings_plugin_info_fill_from_file: start /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/xrandr.gnome-settings-plugin 0.020373 0.000091 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_settings_plugin_info_fill_from_file: end /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/xrandr.gnome-settings-plugin 0.020405 0.000032 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon _load_file: end /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/xrandr.gnome-settings-plugin 0.020416 0.000011 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon _load_file: start /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/color.gnome-settings-plugin 0.020420 0.000004 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_settings_plugin_info_fill_from_file: start /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/color.gnome-settings-plugin 0.020475 0.000055 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_settings_plugin_info_fill_from_file: end /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/color.gnome-settings-plugin 0.020512 0.000037 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon _load_file: end /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/color.gnome-settings-plugin 0.020522 0.000010 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon _load_file: start /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/wacom.gnome-settings-plugin 0.020527 0.000005 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_settings_plugin_info_fill_from_file: start /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/wacom.gnome-settings-plugin 0.020570 0.000043 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_settings_plugin_info_fill_from_file: end /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/wacom.gnome-settings-plugin 0.020602 0.000032 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon _load_file: end /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/wacom.gnome-settings-plugin 0.020624 0.000022 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon _load_file: start /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/a11y-settings.gnome-settings-plugin 0.020633 0.000009 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_settings_plugin_info_fill_from_file: start /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/a11y-settings.gnome-settings-plugin 0.020705 0.000072 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_settings_plugin_info_fill_from_file: end /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/a11y-settings.gnome-settings-plugin 0.020741 0.000036 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon _load_file: end /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/a11y-settings.gnome-settings-plugin 0.020752 0.000011 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon _load_file: start /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/keybindings.gnome-settings-plugin 0.020756 0.000004 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_settings_plugin_info_fill_from_file: start /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/keybindings.gnome-settings-plugin 0.020841 0.000085 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_settings_plugin_info_fill_from_file: end /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/keybindings.gnome-settings-plugin 0.020874 0.000033 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon _load_file: end /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/keybindings.gnome-settings-plugin 0.020885 0.000011 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon _load_file: start /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/print-notifications.gnome-settings-plugin 0.020889 0.000004 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_settings_plugin_info_fill_from_file: start /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/print-notifications.gnome-settings-plugin 0.020957 0.000068 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_settings_plugin_info_fill_from_file: end /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/print-notifications.gnome-settings-plugin 0.020990 0.000033 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon _load_file: end /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/print-notifications.gnome-settings-plugin 0.021001 0.000011 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon _load_file: start /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/power.gnome-settings-plugin 0.021005 0.000004 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_settings_plugin_info_fill_from_file: start /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/power.gnome-settings-plugin 0.021060 0.000055 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_settings_plugin_info_fill_from_file: end /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/power.gnome-settings-plugin 0.021093 0.000033 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon _load_file: end /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/power.gnome-settings-plugin 0.021104 0.000011 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon _load_file: start /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/gconf.gnome-settings-plugin 0.021108 0.000004 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_settings_plugin_info_fill_from_file: start /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/gconf.gnome-settings-plugin 0.021160 0.000052 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_settings_plugin_info_fill_from_file: end /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/gconf.gnome-settings-plugin 0.021192 0.000032 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon _load_file: end /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/gconf.gnome-settings-plugin 0.021203 0.000011 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon _load_file: start /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/a11y-keyboard.gnome-settings-plugin 0.021207 0.000004 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_settings_plugin_info_fill_from_file: start /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/a11y-keyboard.gnome-settings-plugin 0.021298 0.000091 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_settings_plugin_info_fill_from_file: end /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/a11y-keyboard.gnome-settings-plugin 0.021333 0.000035 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon _load_file: end /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/a11y-keyboard.gnome-settings-plugin 0.021345 0.000012 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon _load_file: start /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/mouse.gnome-settings-plugin 0.021349 0.000004 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_settings_plugin_info_fill_from_file: start /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/mouse.gnome-settings-plugin 0.021437 0.000088 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_settings_plugin_info_fill_from_file: end /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/mouse.gnome-settings-plugin 0.021473 0.000036 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon _load_file: end /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon-3.0/mouse.gnome-settings-plugin 0.021494 0.000021 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon _load_dir: end 0.021503 0.000009 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon load_plugin_module: start power 0.022671 0.001168 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon load_plugin_module: end power 0.022692 0.000021 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gsd_power_manager_start: start 0.498809 0.476117 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gsd_power_manager_start: end 0.498835 0.000026 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon load_plugin_module: start color 0.499997 0.001162 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon load_plugin_module: end color 0.500007 0.000010 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gsd_color_manager_start: start 0.500052 0.000045 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gsd_color_manager_start: end 0.500071 0.000019 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon load_plugin_module: start xrandr 0.500613 0.000542 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon load_plugin_module: end xrandr 0.500630 0.000017 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gsd_xrandr_manager_start: start 1.755545 1.254915 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gsd_xrandr_manager_start: end 1.755562 0.000017 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon load_plugin_module: start xsettings 1.757180 0.001618 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon load_plugin_module: end xsettings 1.757187 0.000007 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_xsettings_manager_start: start 1.758566 0.001379 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon update_xft_settings: start 1.758641 0.000075 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon xft_settings_set_xsettings: start 1.758654 0.000013 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon xft_settings_set_xsettings: end 1.758660 0.000006 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon xft_settings_set_xresources: start 1.759109 0.000449 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon xft_settings_set_xresources: end 1.759119 0.000010 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon update_xft_settings: end 1.759125 0.000006 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon start_fontconfig_monitor: start 1.761906 0.002781 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon start_fontconfig_monitor: end 1.761918 0.000012 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_xsettings_manager_start: end 1.761934 0.000016 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon load_plugin_module: start sound 1.764817 0.002883 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon load_plugin_module: end sound 1.764825 0.000008 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gsd_sound_manager_start: start 1.765040 0.000215 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gsd_sound_manager_start: end 1.765053 0.000013 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon load_plugin_module: start wacom 1.766451 0.001398 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon load_plugin_module: end wacom 1.766456 0.000005 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gsd_wacom_manager_start: start 1.766462 0.000006 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gsd_wacom_manager_start: end 1.766472 0.000010 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon load_plugin_module: start keyboard 1.772156 0.005684 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon load_plugin_module: end keyboard 1.772164 0.000008 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gsd_keyboard_manager_start: start 1.772170 0.000006 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gsd_keyboard_manager_start: end 1.772180 0.000010 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon load_plugin_module: start mouse 1.773549 0.001369 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon load_plugin_module: end mouse 1.773555 0.000006 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gsd_mouse_manager_start: start 1.773686 0.000131 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gsd_mouse_manager_start: end 1.773703 0.000017 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon load_plugin_module: start a11y-keyboard 1.774431 0.000728 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon load_plugin_module: end a11y-keyboard 1.774443 0.000012 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gsd_a11y_keyboard_manager_start: start 1.774451 0.000008 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gsd_a11y_keyboard_manager_start: end 1.774463 0.000012 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon load_plugin_module: start a11y-settings 1.774641 0.000178 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon load_plugin_module: end a11y-settings 1.774652 0.000011 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gsd_a11y_settings_manager_start: start 1.774762 0.000110 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gsd_a11y_settings_manager_start: end 1.774775 0.000013 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon load_plugin_module: start smartcard 1.778521 0.003746 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon load_plugin_module: end smartcard 1.778575 0.000054 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon load_plugin_module: start keybindings 1.779877 0.001302 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon load_plugin_module: end keybindings 1.779886 0.000009 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gsd_keybindings_manager_start: start 1.816229 0.036343 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gsd_keybindings_manager_start: end 1.816258 0.000029 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon load_plugin_module: start background 1.817457 0.001199 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon load_plugin_module: end background 1.817464 0.000007 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gsd_background_manager_start: start 1.819090 0.001626 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gsd_background_manager_start: end 1.819118 0.000028 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon load_plugin_module: start media-keys 1.819957 0.000839 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon load_plugin_module: end media-keys 1.819963 0.000006 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gsd_media_keys_manager_start: start 1.819966 0.000003 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gsd_media_keys_manager_start: start gvc_mixer_control_new 1.821009 0.001043 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gsd_media_keys_manager_start: end gvc_mixer_control_new 1.821061 0.000052 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gsd_media_keys_manager_start: end 1.821078 0.000017 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon load_plugin_module: start print-notifications 1.824568 0.003490 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon load_plugin_module: end print-notifications 1.824577 0.000009 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gsd_print_notifications_manager_start: start 1.831197 0.006620 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gsd_print_notifications_manager_start: end 1.831234 0.000037 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon load_plugin_module: start clipboard 1.831847 0.000613 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon load_plugin_module: end clipboard 1.831857 0.000010 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gsd_clipboard_manager_start: start 1.831873 0.000016 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gsd_clipboard_manager_start: end 1.831888 0.000015 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon load_plugin_module: start cursor 1.832248 0.000360 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon load_plugin_module: end cursor 1.832258 0.000010 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gsd_cursor_manager_start: start 1.832266 0.000008 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gsd_cursor_manager_start: end 1.832278 0.000012 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon load_plugin_module: start gconf 1.832552 0.000274 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon load_plugin_module: end gconf 1.843539 0.010987 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon load_plugin_module: start housekeeping 1.844209 0.000670 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon load_plugin_module: end housekeeping 1.844219 0.000010 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gsd_housekeeping_manager_start: start 1.844517 0.000298 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gsd_housekeeping_manager_start: end 1.844531 0.000014 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon _load_all: end 1.844537 0.000006 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_settings_manager_start: end initializing plugins 1.844543 0.000006 MARK: gnome-settings-daemon gnome_settings_manager_start: end