diff --git a/electrum/plugin.py b/electrum/plugin.py
index 3ef989614..7350e0241 100644
--- a/electrum/plugin.py
+++ b/electrum/plugin.py
@@ -290,11 +290,7 @@ class Plugins(DaemonThread):
             else:
                 zipfile = zipimport.zipimporter(metadata['path'])
                 init_spec = zipfile.find_spec(name)
-            module = self.exec_module_from_spec(init_spec, base_name)
-            # import config vars
-            if hasattr(module, 'config_vars'):
-                for cv in module.config_vars:
-                    setattr(SimpleConfig, cv.key().upper(), cv)
+            self.exec_module_from_spec(init_spec, base_name)
             if name == "trustedcoin":
                 # removes trustedcoin after loading to not show it in the list of plugins
                 del self.internal_plugin_metadata[name]
diff --git a/electrum/plugins/payserver/__init__.py b/electrum/plugins/payserver/__init__.py
index d8b55e48c..9e10d3f76 100644
--- a/electrum/plugins/payserver/__init__.py
+++ b/electrum/plugins/payserver/__init__.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
-from electrum.simple_config import ConfigVar
-config_vars = [
-    ConfigVar('payserver_port', default=8080, type_=int),
-    ConfigVar('payserver_root', default='/r', type_=str),
-    ConfigVar('payserver_allow_create_invoice', default=False, type_=bool),
-]
+from electrum.simple_config import ConfigVar, SimpleConfig
+
+SimpleConfig.PAYSERVER_PORT = ConfigVar('payserver_port', default=8080, type_=int)
+SimpleConfig.PAYSERVER_ROOT = ConfigVar('payserver_root', default='/r', type_=str)
+SimpleConfig.PAYSERVER_ALLOW_CREATE_INVOICE = ConfigVar('payserver_allow_create_invoice', default=False, type_=bool)
diff --git a/electrum/plugins/swapserver/__init__.py b/electrum/plugins/swapserver/__init__.py
index 6868d31b3..0aeeb4629 100644
--- a/electrum/plugins/swapserver/__init__.py
+++ b/electrum/plugins/swapserver/__init__.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
-from electrum.simple_config import ConfigVar
-config_vars = [
-    ConfigVar('swapserver_port', default=None, type_=int),
-    ConfigVar('swapserver_fee_millionths', default=5000, type_=int),
-    ConfigVar('swapserver_ann_pow_nonce', default=0, type_=int),
-]
+from electrum.simple_config import ConfigVar, SimpleConfig
+
+SimpleConfig.SWAPSERVER_PORT = ConfigVar('swapserver_port', default=None, type_=int)
+SimpleConfig.SWAPSERVER_FEE_MILLIONTHS = ConfigVar('swapserver_fee_millionths', default=5000, type_=int)
+SimpleConfig.SWAPSERVER_ANN_POW_NONCE = ConfigVar('swapserver_ann_pow_nonce', default=0, type_=int)
diff --git a/electrum/plugins/watchtower/__init__.py b/electrum/plugins/watchtower/__init__.py
index 1a35470fc..35384fbdc 100644
--- a/electrum/plugins/watchtower/__init__.py
+++ b/electrum/plugins/watchtower/__init__.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
-from electrum.simple_config import ConfigVar
-config_vars = [
-    ConfigVar('watchtower_server_port', default=None, type_=int),
-    ConfigVar('watchtower_server_user', default=None, type_=str),
-    ConfigVar('watchtower_server_password', default=None, type_=str),
-]
+from electrum.simple_config import ConfigVar, SimpleConfig
+
+SimpleConfig.WATCHTOWER_SERVER_PORT = ConfigVar('watchtower_server_port', default=None, type_=int)
+SimpleConfig.WATCHTOWER_SERVER_USER = ConfigVar('watchtower_server_user', default=None, type_=str)
+SimpleConfig.WATCHTOWER_SERVER_PASSWORD = ConfigVar('watchtower_server_password', default=None, type_=str)