diff --git a/.eslintrc.json b/.eslintrc.json
index 68b11e8f33..5802418918 100644
--- a/.eslintrc.json
+++ b/.eslintrc.json
@@ -193,7 +193,6 @@
                 "realm_logo": false,
                 "realm_night_logo": false,
                 "recent_topics": false,
-                "reload": false,
                 "reminder": false,
                 "resize": false,
                 "scroll_bar": false,
diff --git a/frontend_tests/node_tests/channel.js b/frontend_tests/node_tests/channel.js
index 247add709d..0131d6999a 100644
--- a/frontend_tests/node_tests/channel.js
+++ b/frontend_tests/node_tests/channel.js
@@ -3,17 +3,22 @@
 const {strict: assert} = require("assert");
 
 const _ = require("lodash");
+const rewiremock = require("rewiremock/node");
 
 const {set_global, zrequire} = require("../zjsunit/namespace");
 const {run_test} = require("../zjsunit/test");
 
-const reload = set_global("reload", {});
+const reload = {__esModule: true};
+
+rewiremock("../../static/js/reload").with(reload);
 
 set_global("setTimeout", (f, delay) => {
     assert.equal(delay, 0);
     f();
 });
 
+rewiremock.enable();
+
 const channel = zrequire("channel");
 
 const default_stub_xhr = "default-stub-xhr";
@@ -310,3 +315,4 @@ run_test("xhr_error_message", () => {
     msg = "some message";
     assert.equal(channel.xhr_error_message(msg, xhr), "some message: file not found");
 });
+rewiremock.disable();
diff --git a/frontend_tests/node_tests/dispatch.js b/frontend_tests/node_tests/dispatch.js
index d869cdfa86..9fa0c3af2f 100644
--- a/frontend_tests/node_tests/dispatch.js
+++ b/frontend_tests/node_tests/dispatch.js
@@ -41,7 +41,8 @@ const notifications = set_global("notifications", {});
 const reactions = set_global("reactions", {});
 const realm_icon = set_global("realm_icon", {});
 const realm_logo = set_global("realm_logo", {});
-const reload = set_global("reload", {});
+const reload = {__esModule: true};
+rewiremock("../../static/js/reload").with(reload);
 const scroll_bar = set_global("scroll_bar", {});
 const settings_account = set_global("settings_account", {});
 const settings_bots = set_global("settings_bots", {});
diff --git a/frontend_tests/node_tests/transmit.js b/frontend_tests/node_tests/transmit.js
index fd86927de1..e6e41eaf79 100644
--- a/frontend_tests/node_tests/transmit.js
+++ b/frontend_tests/node_tests/transmit.js
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@ const noop = () => {};
 const page_params = set_global("page_params", {});
 const channel = {__esModule: true};
 rewiremock("../../static/js/channel").with(channel);
-const reload = set_global("reload", {});
+const reload = {__esModule: true};
+rewiremock("../../static/js/reload").with(reload);
 const reload_state = {__esModule: true};
 rewiremock("../../static/js/reload_state").with(reload_state);
 const sent_messages = set_global("sent_messages", {
diff --git a/frontend_tests/node_tests/ui_init.js b/frontend_tests/node_tests/ui_init.js
index 755b83d841..a69221a43b 100644
--- a/frontend_tests/node_tests/ui_init.js
+++ b/frontend_tests/node_tests/ui_init.js
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ const message_viewport = {
 rewiremock("../../static/js/message_viewport").with(message_viewport);
 set_global("panels", {initialize() {}});
 set_global("popovers", {initialize() {}});
-set_global("reload", {initialize() {}});
+rewiremock("../../static/js/reload").with({initialize() {}});
 set_global("scroll_bar", {initialize() {}});
 const server_events = set_global("server_events", {initialize() {}});
 set_global("settings_sections", {initialize() {}});
diff --git a/static/js/channel.js b/static/js/channel.js
index 616998c0c5..52964e7c76 100644
--- a/static/js/channel.js
+++ b/static/js/channel.js
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import * as reload from "./reload";
 import * as reload_state from "./reload_state";
 
 const pending_requests = [];
diff --git a/static/js/global.d.ts b/static/js/global.d.ts
index f7994f54d3..aca5865b3d 100644
--- a/static/js/global.d.ts
+++ b/static/js/global.d.ts
@@ -66,7 +66,6 @@ declare let reactions: any;
 declare let realm_icon: any;
 declare let realm_logo: any;
 declare let recent_topics: any;
-declare let reload: any;
 declare let reminder: any;
 declare let resize: any;
 declare let scroll_bar: any;
diff --git a/static/js/reload.js b/static/js/reload.js
index 03ddf072dc..6279199ab9 100644
--- a/static/js/reload.js
+++ b/static/js/reload.js
@@ -1,9 +1,7 @@
-"use strict";
-
-const {localstorage} = require("./localstorage");
-const narrow_state = require("./narrow_state");
-const reload_state = require("./reload_state");
-const util = require("./util");
+import {localstorage} from "./localstorage";
+import * as narrow_state from "./narrow_state";
+import * as reload_state from "./reload_state";
+import * as util from "./util";
 
 // Read https://zulip.readthedocs.io/en/latest/subsystems/hashchange-system.html
 function preserve_state(send_after_reload, save_pointer, save_narrow, save_compose) {
@@ -95,7 +93,7 @@ function preserve_state(send_after_reload, save_pointer, save_narrow, save_compo
 
 // Check if we're doing a compose-preserving reload.  This must be
 // done before the first call to get_events
-exports.initialize = function () {
+export function initialize() {
     const location = window.location.toString();
     const hash_fragment = location.slice(location.indexOf("#") + 1);
 
@@ -173,7 +171,7 @@ exports.initialize = function () {
 
     activity.set_new_user_input(false);
     hashchange.changehash(vars.oldhash);
-};
+}
 
 function do_reload_app(send_after_reload, save_pointer, save_narrow, save_compose, message) {
     if (reload_state.is_in_progress()) {
@@ -223,7 +221,7 @@ function do_reload_app(send_after_reload, save_pointer, save_narrow, save_compos
     window.location.reload(true);
 }
 
-exports.initiate = function (options) {
+export function initiate(options) {
     options = {
         immediate: false,
         save_pointer: true,
@@ -324,7 +322,7 @@ exports.initiate = function (options) {
         idle_control = $(document).idle({idle: basic_idle_timeout, onIdle: reload_from_idle});
         $(document).on("compose_started.zulip", compose_started_handler);
     }
-};
+}
 
 window.addEventListener("beforeunload", () => {
     // When navigating away from the page do not try to reload.
@@ -335,5 +333,3 @@ window.addEventListener("beforeunload", () => {
     blueslip.log("Setting reload_in_progress in beforeunload handler");
     reload_state.set_state_to_in_progress();
 });
-
-window.reload = exports;
diff --git a/static/js/server_events.js b/static/js/server_events.js
index da8146d0e1..48c6b761e3 100644
--- a/static/js/server_events.js
+++ b/static/js/server_events.js
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ const _ = require("lodash");
 
 const channel = require("./channel");
 const echo = require("./echo");
+const reload = require("./reload");
 const reload_state = require("./reload_state");
 const server_events_dispatch = require("./server_events_dispatch");
 // Docs: https://zulip.readthedocs.io/en/latest/subsystems/events-system.html
diff --git a/static/js/server_events_dispatch.js b/static/js/server_events_dispatch.js
index cc4555a9c9..64ed8d5331 100644
--- a/static/js/server_events_dispatch.js
+++ b/static/js/server_events_dispatch.js
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import * as muting_ui from "./muting_ui";
 import * as narrow_state from "./narrow_state";
 import * as peer_data from "./peer_data";
 import * as people from "./people";
+import * as reload from "./reload";
 import * as settings_config from "./settings_config";
 import * as submessage from "./submessage";
 import * as user_groups from "./user_groups";
diff --git a/static/js/transmit.js b/static/js/transmit.js
index fefe91a26c..83f540b116 100644
--- a/static/js/transmit.js
+++ b/static/js/transmit.js
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 const channel = require("./channel");
 const people = require("./people");
+const reload = require("./reload");
 const reload_state = require("./reload_state");
 
 exports.send_message = function (request, on_success, error) {
diff --git a/static/js/ui_init.js b/static/js/ui_init.js
index 920c875c96..0ea3564c75 100644
--- a/static/js/ui_init.js
+++ b/static/js/ui_init.js
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ const muting = require("./muting");
 const people = require("./people");
 const pm_conversations = require("./pm_conversations");
 const pm_list = require("./pm_list");
+const reload = require("./reload");
 const rows = require("./rows");
 const spoilers = require("./spoilers");
 const topic_list = require("./topic_list");
diff --git a/static/js/unread_ops.js b/static/js/unread_ops.js
index 21e5112592..34f8135daf 100644
--- a/static/js/unread_ops.js
+++ b/static/js/unread_ops.js
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 const channel = require("./channel");
 const message_viewport = require("./message_viewport");
+const reload = require("./reload");
 const unread_ui = require("./unread_ui");
 
 exports.mark_all_as_read = function () {