diff --git a/src/core/public/core_system.ts b/src/core/public/core_system.ts
index 7ea27304cac8..0f1d1c267899 100644
--- a/src/core/public/core_system.ts
+++ b/src/core/public/core_system.ts
@@ -235,17 +235,6 @@ export class CoreSystem {
         uiSettings,
       });
 
-      // set default value for filtered nav links
-      const navLinksService = chrome.navLinks;
-      const chromeNavLinks$ = navLinksService.getNavLinks$();
-      chromeNavLinks$.subscribe((chromeNavLinks) => {
-        const filteredNavLinks = new Map<string, ChromeNavLink>();
-        chromeNavLinks.forEach((chromeNavLink) =>
-          filteredNavLinks.set(chromeNavLink.id, chromeNavLink)
-        );
-        navLinksService.setFilteredNavLinks(filteredNavLinks);
-      });
-
       this.coreApp.start({ application, http, notifications, uiSettings });
 
       application.registerMountContext(this.coreContext.coreId, 'core', () => ({
diff --git a/src/plugins/workspace/public/plugin.ts b/src/plugins/workspace/public/plugin.ts
index 5afa25d4d5d5..c3173ed5e024 100644
--- a/src/plugins/workspace/public/plugin.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/workspace/public/plugin.ts
@@ -151,6 +151,16 @@ export class WorkspacesPlugin implements Plugin<{}, {}, WorkspacesPluginSetupDep
   public start(core: CoreStart) {
     // If workspace feature is disabled, it will not load the workspace plugin
     if (core.uiSettings.get('workspace:enabled') === false) {
+      // set default value for filtered nav links
+      const navLinksService = core.chrome.navLinks;
+      const chromeNavLinks$ = navLinksService.getNavLinks$();
+      chromeNavLinks$.subscribe((chromeNavLinks) => {
+        const filteredNavLinks = new Map<string, ChromeNavLink>();
+        chromeNavLinks.forEach((chromeNavLink) =>
+          filteredNavLinks.set(chromeNavLink.id, chromeNavLink)
+        );
+        navLinksService.setFilteredNavLinks(filteredNavLinks);
+      });
       return {};
     }