diff --git a/src/action.rs b/src/action.rs
index f7ddd6f1..b7162896 100644
--- a/src/action.rs
+++ b/src/action.rs
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 
 #[cfg(feature = "winit")]
 use crate::app;
+#[cfg(feature = "single-instance")]
+use crate::dbus_activation;
 
 pub const fn app<M>(message: M) -> Action<M> {
     Action::App(message)
@@ -24,9 +26,9 @@ pub enum Action<M> {
     #[cfg(feature = "winit")]
     /// Internal messages to be handled by libcosmic.
     Cosmic(app::Action),
-    #[cfg(all(feature = "winit", feature = "single-instance"))]
+    #[cfg(feature = "single-instance")]
     /// Dbus activation messages
-    DbusActivation(app::DbusActivationMessage),
+    DbusActivation(dbus_activation::Message),
     /// Do nothing
     None,
 }
diff --git a/src/app/cosmic.rs b/src/app/cosmic.rs
index 5e3e3fb5..919e6042 100644
--- a/src/app/cosmic.rs
+++ b/src/app/cosmic.rs
@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@ where
 
         #[cfg(feature = "single-instance")]
         if self.app.core().single_instance {
-            subscriptions.push(super::single_instance_subscription::<T>());
+            subscriptions.push(crate::dbus_activation::subscription::<T>());
         }
 
         Subscription::batch(subscriptions)
diff --git a/src/app/mod.rs b/src/app/mod.rs
index 5541bdca..1ebc63d1 100644
--- a/src/app/mod.rs
+++ b/src/app/mod.rs
@@ -27,15 +27,6 @@ use iced::window;
 use iced::{Length, Subscription};
 pub use settings::Settings;
 use std::borrow::Cow;
-use url::Url;
-#[cfg(feature = "single-instance")]
-use {
-    iced_futures::futures::channel::mpsc::{Receiver, Sender},
-    iced_futures::futures::SinkExt,
-    std::any::TypeId,
-    std::collections::HashMap,
-    zbus::{interface, proxy, zvariant::Value},
-};
 
 pub(crate) fn iced_settings<App: Application>(
     settings: Settings,
@@ -146,142 +137,6 @@ pub fn run<App: Application>(settings: Settings, flags: App::Flags) -> iced::Res
     }
 }
 
-#[cfg(feature = "single-instance")]
-#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
-pub struct DbusActivationMessage<Action = String, Args = Vec<String>> {
-    pub activation_token: Option<String>,
-    pub desktop_startup_id: Option<String>,
-    pub msg: DbusActivationDetails<Action, Args>,
-}
-
-#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
-pub enum DbusActivationDetails<Action = String, Args = Vec<String>> {
-    Activate,
-    Open {
-        url: Vec<Url>,
-    },
-    /// action can be deserialized as Flags
-    ActivateAction {
-        action: Action,
-        args: Args,
-    },
-}
-#[cfg(feature = "single-instance")]
-#[derive(Debug, Default)]
-pub struct DbusActivation(Option<Sender<DbusActivationMessage>>);
-#[cfg(feature = "single-instance")]
-impl DbusActivation {
-    #[must_use]
-    pub fn new() -> Self {
-        Self(None)
-    }
-
-    pub fn rx(&mut self) -> Receiver<DbusActivationMessage> {
-        let (tx, rx) = iced_futures::futures::channel::mpsc::channel(10);
-        self.0 = Some(tx);
-        rx
-    }
-}
-
-#[cfg(feature = "single-instance")]
-#[proxy(interface = "org.freedesktop.DbusActivation", assume_defaults = true)]
-pub trait DbusActivationInterface {
-    /// Activate the application.
-    fn activate(&mut self, platform_data: HashMap<&str, Value<'_>>) -> zbus::Result<()>;
-
-    /// Open the given URIs.
-    fn open(
-        &mut self,
-        uris: Vec<&str>,
-        platform_data: HashMap<&str, Value<'_>>,
-    ) -> zbus::Result<()>;
-
-    /// Activate the given action.
-    fn activate_action(
-        &mut self,
-        action_name: &str,
-        parameter: Vec<&str>,
-        platform_data: HashMap<&str, Value<'_>>,
-    ) -> zbus::Result<()>;
-}
-
-#[cfg(feature = "single-instance")]
-#[interface(name = "org.freedesktop.DbusActivation")]
-impl DbusActivation {
-    async fn activate(&mut self, platform_data: HashMap<&str, Value<'_>>) {
-        if let Some(tx) = &mut self.0 {
-            let _ = tx
-                .send(DbusActivationMessage {
-                    activation_token: platform_data.get("activation-token").and_then(|t| match t {
-                        Value::Str(t) => Some(t.to_string()),
-                        _ => None,
-                    }),
-                    desktop_startup_id: platform_data.get("desktop-startup-id").and_then(
-                        |t| match t {
-                            Value::Str(t) => Some(t.to_string()),
-                            _ => None,
-                        },
-                    ),
-                    msg: DbusActivationDetails::Activate,
-                })
-                .await;
-        }
-    }
-
-    async fn open(&mut self, uris: Vec<&str>, platform_data: HashMap<&str, Value<'_>>) {
-        if let Some(tx) = &mut self.0 {
-            let _ = tx
-                .send(DbusActivationMessage {
-                    activation_token: platform_data.get("activation-token").and_then(|t| match t {
-                        Value::Str(t) => Some(t.to_string()),
-                        _ => None,
-                    }),
-                    desktop_startup_id: platform_data.get("desktop-startup-id").and_then(
-                        |t| match t {
-                            Value::Str(t) => Some(t.to_string()),
-                            _ => None,
-                        },
-                    ),
-                    msg: DbusActivationDetails::Open {
-                        url: uris.iter().filter_map(|u| Url::parse(u).ok()).collect(),
-                    },
-                })
-                .await;
-        }
-    }
-
-    async fn activate_action(
-        &mut self,
-        action_name: &str,
-        parameter: Vec<&str>,
-        platform_data: HashMap<&str, Value<'_>>,
-    ) {
-        if let Some(tx) = &mut self.0 {
-            let _ = tx
-                .send(DbusActivationMessage {
-                    activation_token: platform_data.get("activation-token").and_then(|t| match t {
-                        Value::Str(t) => Some(t.to_string()),
-                        _ => None,
-                    }),
-                    desktop_startup_id: platform_data.get("desktop-startup-id").and_then(
-                        |t| match t {
-                            Value::Str(t) => Some(t.to_string()),
-                            _ => None,
-                        },
-                    ),
-                    msg: DbusActivationDetails::ActivateAction {
-                        action: action_name.to_string(),
-                        args: parameter
-                            .iter()
-                            .map(std::string::ToString::to_string)
-                            .collect(),
-                    },
-                })
-                .await;
-        }
-    }
-}
-
 #[cfg(feature = "single-instance")]
 /// Launch a COSMIC application with the given [`Settings`].
 /// If the application is already running, the arguments will be passed to the
@@ -293,6 +148,8 @@ where
     App::Flags: CosmicFlags,
     App::Message: Clone + std::fmt::Debug + Send + 'static,
 {
+    use std::collections::HashMap;
+
     let activation_token = std::env::var("XDG_ACTIVATION_TOKEN").ok();
 
     let override_single = std::env::var("COSMIC_SINGLE_INSTANCE")
@@ -309,7 +166,7 @@ where
         return run::<App>(settings, flags);
     };
 
-    if DbusActivationInterfaceProxyBlocking::builder(&conn)
+    if crate::dbus_activation::DbusActivationInterfaceProxyBlocking::builder(&conn)
         .destination(App::APP_ID)
         .ok()
         .and_then(|b| b.path(path).ok())
@@ -576,7 +433,7 @@ where
 
     /// Handles dbus activation messages
     #[cfg(feature = "single-instance")]
-    fn dbus_activation(&mut self, msg: DbusActivationMessage) -> Task<Self::Message> {
+    fn dbus_activation(&mut self, msg: crate::dbus_activation::Message) -> Task<Self::Message> {
         Task::none()
     }
 }
@@ -935,75 +792,6 @@ impl<App: Application> ApplicationExt for App {
     }
 }
 
-#[cfg(feature = "single-instance")]
-fn single_instance_subscription<App: ApplicationExt>() -> Subscription<crate::Action<App::Message>>
-{
-    use iced_futures::futures::StreamExt;
-    iced_futures::Subscription::run_with_id(
-        TypeId::of::<DbusActivation>(),
-        iced::stream::channel(10, move |mut output| async move {
-            let mut single_instance: DbusActivation = DbusActivation::new();
-            let mut rx = single_instance.rx();
-            if let Ok(builder) = zbus::ConnectionBuilder::session() {
-                let path: String = format!("/{}", App::APP_ID.replace('.', "/"));
-                if let Ok(conn) = builder.build().await {
-                    // XXX Setup done this way seems to be more reliable.
-                    //
-                    // the docs for serve_at seem to imply it will replace the
-                    // existing interface at the requested path, but it doesn't
-                    // seem to work that way all the time. The docs for
-                    // object_server().at() imply it won't replace the existing
-                    // interface.
-                    //
-                    // request_name is used either way, with the builder or
-                    // with the connection, but it must be done after the
-                    // object server is setup.
-                    if conn.object_server().at(path, single_instance).await != Ok(true) {
-                        tracing::error!("Failed to serve dbus");
-                        std::process::exit(1);
-                    }
-                    if conn.request_name(App::APP_ID).await.is_err() {
-                        tracing::error!("Failed to serve dbus");
-                        std::process::exit(1);
-                    }
-
-                    #[cfg(feature = "smol")]
-                    let handle = {
-                        std::thread::spawn(move || {
-                            let conn_clone = _conn.clone();
-
-                            zbus::block_on(async move {
-                                loop {
-                                    conn_clone.executor().tick().await;
-                                }
-                            })
-                        })
-                    };
-                    while let Some(mut msg) = rx.next().await {
-                        if let Some(token) = msg.activation_token.take() {
-                            if let Err(err) = output
-                                .send(crate::Action::Cosmic(Action::Activate(token)))
-                                .await
-                            {
-                                tracing::error!(?err, "Failed to send message");
-                            }
-                        }
-                        if let Err(err) = output.send(crate::Action::DbusActivation(msg)).await {
-                            tracing::error!(?err, "Failed to send message");
-                        }
-                    }
-                }
-            } else {
-                tracing::warn!("Failed to connect to dbus for single instance");
-            }
-
-            loop {
-                iced::futures::pending!();
-            }
-        }),
-    )
-}
-
 const EMBEDDED_FONTS: &[&[u8]] = &[
     include_bytes!("../../res/open-sans/OpenSans-Light.ttf"),
     include_bytes!("../../res/open-sans/OpenSans-Regular.ttf"),
diff --git a/src/dbus_activation.rs b/src/dbus_activation.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..84b5d000
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/dbus_activation.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,214 @@
+// Copyright 2024 System76 <info@system76.com>
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: MPL-2.0
+
+use {
+    crate::ApplicationExt,
+    iced::Subscription,
+    iced_futures::futures::{
+        channel::mpsc::{Receiver, Sender},
+        SinkExt,
+    },
+    std::{any::TypeId, collections::HashMap},
+    url::Url,
+    zbus::{interface, proxy, zvariant::Value},
+};
+
+pub fn subscription<App: ApplicationExt>() -> Subscription<crate::Action<App::Message>> {
+    use iced_futures::futures::StreamExt;
+    iced_futures::Subscription::run_with_id(
+        TypeId::of::<DbusActivation>(),
+        iced::stream::channel(10, move |mut output| async move {
+            let mut single_instance: DbusActivation = DbusActivation::new();
+            let mut rx = single_instance.rx();
+            if let Ok(builder) = zbus::ConnectionBuilder::session() {
+                let path: String = format!("/{}", App::APP_ID.replace('.', "/"));
+                if let Ok(conn) = builder.build().await {
+                    // XXX Setup done this way seems to be more reliable.
+                    //
+                    // the docs for serve_at seem to imply it will replace the
+                    // existing interface at the requested path, but it doesn't
+                    // seem to work that way all the time. The docs for
+                    // object_server().at() imply it won't replace the existing
+                    // interface.
+                    //
+                    // request_name is used either way, with the builder or
+                    // with the connection, but it must be done after the
+                    // object server is setup.
+                    if conn.object_server().at(path, single_instance).await != Ok(true) {
+                        tracing::error!("Failed to serve dbus");
+                        std::process::exit(1);
+                    }
+                    if conn.request_name(App::APP_ID).await.is_err() {
+                        tracing::error!("Failed to serve dbus");
+                        std::process::exit(1);
+                    }
+
+                    #[cfg(feature = "smol")]
+                    let handle = {
+                        std::thread::spawn(move || {
+                            let conn_clone = _conn.clone();
+
+                            zbus::block_on(async move {
+                                loop {
+                                    conn_clone.executor().tick().await;
+                                }
+                            })
+                        })
+                    };
+                    while let Some(mut msg) = rx.next().await {
+                        if let Some(token) = msg.activation_token.take() {
+                            if let Err(err) = output
+                                .send(crate::Action::Cosmic(crate::app::Action::Activate(token)))
+                                .await
+                            {
+                                tracing::error!(?err, "Failed to send message");
+                            }
+                        }
+                        if let Err(err) = output.send(crate::Action::DbusActivation(msg)).await {
+                            tracing::error!(?err, "Failed to send message");
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            } else {
+                tracing::warn!("Failed to connect to dbus for single instance");
+            }
+
+            loop {
+                iced::futures::pending!();
+            }
+        }),
+    )
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
+pub struct Message<Action = String, Args = Vec<String>> {
+    pub activation_token: Option<String>,
+    pub desktop_startup_id: Option<String>,
+    pub msg: Details<Action, Args>,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
+pub enum Details<Action = String, Args = Vec<String>> {
+    Activate,
+    Open {
+        url: Vec<Url>,
+    },
+    /// action can be deserialized as Flags
+    ActivateAction {
+        action: Action,
+        args: Args,
+    },
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Default)]
+pub struct DbusActivation(Option<Sender<Message>>);
+
+impl DbusActivation {
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn new() -> Self {
+        Self(None)
+    }
+
+    pub fn rx(&mut self) -> Receiver<Message> {
+        let (tx, rx) = iced_futures::futures::channel::mpsc::channel(10);
+        self.0 = Some(tx);
+        rx
+    }
+}
+
+#[proxy(interface = "org.freedesktop.DbusActivation", assume_defaults = true)]
+pub trait DbusActivationInterface {
+    /// Activate the application.
+    fn activate(&mut self, platform_data: HashMap<&str, Value<'_>>) -> zbus::Result<()>;
+
+    /// Open the given URIs.
+    fn open(
+        &mut self,
+        uris: Vec<&str>,
+        platform_data: HashMap<&str, Value<'_>>,
+    ) -> zbus::Result<()>;
+
+    /// Activate the given action.
+    fn activate_action(
+        &mut self,
+        action_name: &str,
+        parameter: Vec<&str>,
+        platform_data: HashMap<&str, Value<'_>>,
+    ) -> zbus::Result<()>;
+}
+
+#[interface(name = "org.freedesktop.DbusActivation")]
+impl DbusActivation {
+    async fn activate(&mut self, platform_data: HashMap<&str, Value<'_>>) {
+        if let Some(tx) = &mut self.0 {
+            let _ = tx
+                .send(Message {
+                    activation_token: platform_data.get("activation-token").and_then(|t| match t {
+                        Value::Str(t) => Some(t.to_string()),
+                        _ => None,
+                    }),
+                    desktop_startup_id: platform_data.get("desktop-startup-id").and_then(
+                        |t| match t {
+                            Value::Str(t) => Some(t.to_string()),
+                            _ => None,
+                        },
+                    ),
+                    msg: Details::Activate,
+                })
+                .await;
+        }
+    }
+
+    async fn open(&mut self, uris: Vec<&str>, platform_data: HashMap<&str, Value<'_>>) {
+        if let Some(tx) = &mut self.0 {
+            let _ = tx
+                .send(Message {
+                    activation_token: platform_data.get("activation-token").and_then(|t| match t {
+                        Value::Str(t) => Some(t.to_string()),
+                        _ => None,
+                    }),
+                    desktop_startup_id: platform_data.get("desktop-startup-id").and_then(
+                        |t| match t {
+                            Value::Str(t) => Some(t.to_string()),
+                            _ => None,
+                        },
+                    ),
+                    msg: Details::Open {
+                        url: uris.iter().filter_map(|u| Url::parse(u).ok()).collect(),
+                    },
+                })
+                .await;
+        }
+    }
+
+    async fn activate_action(
+        &mut self,
+        action_name: &str,
+        parameter: Vec<&str>,
+        platform_data: HashMap<&str, Value<'_>>,
+    ) {
+        if let Some(tx) = &mut self.0 {
+            let _ = tx
+                .send(Message {
+                    activation_token: platform_data.get("activation-token").and_then(|t| match t {
+                        Value::Str(t) => Some(t.to_string()),
+                        _ => None,
+                    }),
+                    desktop_startup_id: platform_data.get("desktop-startup-id").and_then(
+                        |t| match t {
+                            Value::Str(t) => Some(t.to_string()),
+                            _ => None,
+                        },
+                    ),
+                    msg: Details::ActivateAction {
+                        action: action_name.to_string(),
+                        args: parameter
+                            .iter()
+                            .map(std::string::ToString::to_string)
+                            .collect(),
+                    },
+                })
+                .await;
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 397357d8..0515911d 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -34,9 +34,6 @@ pub mod core;
 #[doc(inline)]
 pub use core::Core;
 
-pub use iced::Task;
-pub mod task;
-
 pub mod config;
 
 #[doc(inline)]
@@ -45,6 +42,11 @@ pub use cosmic_config;
 #[doc(inline)]
 pub use cosmic_theme;
 
+#[cfg(feature = "single-instance")]
+pub mod dbus_activation;
+#[cfg(feature = "single-instance")]
+pub use dbus_activation::DbusActivation;
+
 #[cfg(feature = "desktop")]
 pub mod desktop;
 
@@ -99,6 +101,9 @@ pub use cctk;
 
 pub mod surface;
 
+pub use iced::Task;
+pub mod task;
+
 pub mod theme;
 
 #[doc(inline)]
diff --git a/src/surface/action.rs b/src/surface/action.rs
index 21709e74..af7cc2de 100644
--- a/src/surface/action.rs
+++ b/src/surface/action.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,9 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: MPL-2.0
 
 use super::Action;
+#[cfg(feature = "winit")]
 use crate::Application;
+
 use std::{any::Any, sync::Arc};
 
 /// Used to produce a destroy popup message from within a widget.