diff --git a/.eslintrc.json b/.eslintrc.json
index b5c3d86eea..70daf8d1f6 100644
--- a/.eslintrc.json
+++ b/.eslintrc.json
@@ -145,7 +145,6 @@
                 "message_list": false,
                 "narrow": false,
                 "page_params": false,
-                "panels": false,
                 "pointer": false,
                 "realm_night_logo": false,
                 "recent_topics": false,
diff --git a/frontend_tests/node_tests/dispatch.js b/frontend_tests/node_tests/dispatch.js
index 4914e65dda..def62700c5 100644
--- a/frontend_tests/node_tests/dispatch.js
+++ b/frontend_tests/node_tests/dispatch.js
@@ -121,7 +121,6 @@ const user_status = zrequire("user_status");
 const emoji = zrequire("emoji", "shared/js/emoji");
 
 const server_events_dispatch = zrequire("server_events_dispatch");
-zrequire("panels");
 
 function dispatch(ev) {
     server_events_dispatch.dispatch_normal_event(ev);
diff --git a/frontend_tests/node_tests/ui_init.js b/frontend_tests/node_tests/ui_init.js
index fa5ee00aae..bee82cd661 100644
--- a/frontend_tests/node_tests/ui_init.js
+++ b/frontend_tests/node_tests/ui_init.js
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ const message_viewport = {
     initialize() {},
 };
 rewiremock("../../static/js/message_viewport").with(message_viewport);
-set_global("panels", {initialize() {}});
+rewiremock("../../static/js/panels").with({initialize() {}});
 rewiremock("../../static/js/popovers").with({initialize() {}});
 rewiremock("../../static/js/reload").with({initialize() {}});
 rewiremock("../../static/js/scroll_bar").with({initialize() {}});
diff --git a/static/js/bundles/app.js b/static/js/bundles/app.js
index 2d52d77aa6..ad6822f121 100644
--- a/static/js/bundles/app.js
+++ b/static/js/bundles/app.js
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@ import "../dropdown_list_widget";
 import "../settings_profile_fields";
 import "../settings";
 import "../ui_init";
-import "../panels";
 import "../recent_topics";
 import "../search_pill_widget";
 import "../desktop_integration";
diff --git a/static/js/global.d.ts b/static/js/global.d.ts
index 6e9189a484..ff689ad95d 100644
--- a/static/js/global.d.ts
+++ b/static/js/global.d.ts
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ declare let message_events: any;
 declare let message_list: any;
 declare let narrow: any;
 declare let page_params: any;
-declare let panels: any;
 declare let pointer: any;
 declare let recent_topics: any;
 declare let search_pill_widget: any;
diff --git a/static/js/panels.js b/static/js/panels.js
index 39069885be..c7383fd29c 100644
--- a/static/js/panels.js
+++ b/static/js/panels.js
@@ -1,11 +1,9 @@
-"use strict";
+import {localstorage} from "./localstorage";
+import * as notifications from "./notifications";
+import * as unread_ui from "./unread_ui";
+import * as util from "./util";
 
-const {localstorage} = require("./localstorage");
-const notifications = require("./notifications");
-const unread_ui = require("./unread_ui");
-const util = require("./util");
-
-const resize_app = function () {
+export function resize_app() {
     const panels_height = $("#panels").height();
     $("body > .app").height("calc(100% - " + panels_height + "px)");
 
@@ -16,9 +14,7 @@ const resize_app = function () {
         $(".header").height() +
         Number.parseInt($(".header").css("paddingBottom"), 10);
     $("#floating_recipient_bar").css("top", frb_top + "px");
-};
-
-exports.resize_app = resize_app;
+}
 
 const show_step = function ($process, step) {
     $process
@@ -51,7 +47,7 @@ function should_show_notifications(ls) {
     );
 }
 
-exports.check_profile_incomplete = function () {
+export function check_profile_incomplete() {
     if (!page_params.is_admin) {
         return;
     }
@@ -67,24 +63,24 @@ exports.check_profile_incomplete = function () {
     } else {
         $("[data-process='profile-incomplete']").hide();
     }
-};
+}
 
-exports.initialize = function () {
+export function initialize() {
     const ls = localstorage();
     if (page_params.insecure_desktop_app) {
-        exports.open($("[data-process='insecure-desktop-app']"));
+        open($("[data-process='insecure-desktop-app']"));
     } else if (page_params.warn_no_email === true && page_params.is_admin) {
         // if email has not been set up and the user is the admin,
         // display a warning to tell them to set up an email server.
-        exports.open($("[data-process='email-server']"));
+        open($("[data-process='email-server']"));
     } else if (should_show_notifications(ls)) {
-        exports.open($("[data-process='notifications']"));
+        open($("[data-process='notifications']"));
     } else if (unread_ui.should_display_bankruptcy_banner()) {
-        exports.open($("[data-process='bankruptcy']"));
+        open($("[data-process='bankruptcy']"));
     } else {
         // TODO: This should be restructured with separate check and
         // show calls.
-        exports.check_profile_incomplete();
+        check_profile_incomplete();
     }
 
     // Configure click handlers.
@@ -127,12 +123,10 @@ exports.initialize = function () {
             $(this).click();
         }
     });
-};
+}
 
-exports.open = function ($process) {
+export function open($process) {
     $("[data-process]").hide();
     $process.show();
     resize_app();
-};
-
-window.panels = exports;
+}
diff --git a/static/js/recent_topics.js b/static/js/recent_topics.js
index b2c5b69ed7..0a027258ad 100644
--- a/static/js/recent_topics.js
+++ b/static/js/recent_topics.js
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ const muting = require("./muting");
 const narrow_state = require("./narrow_state");
 const navigate = require("./navigate");
 const notifications = require("./notifications");
+const panels = require("./panels");
 const people = require("./people");
 const recent_senders = require("./recent_senders");
 const stream_data = require("./stream_data");
diff --git a/static/js/resize.js b/static/js/resize.js
index 45502a01ef..0b9cfa0cf1 100644
--- a/static/js/resize.js
+++ b/static/js/resize.js
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import autosize from "autosize";
 import * as condense from "./condense";
 import * as message_viewport from "./message_viewport";
 import * as navigate from "./navigate";
+import * as panels from "./panels";
 import * as popovers from "./popovers";
 import * as util from "./util";
 
diff --git a/static/js/server_events_dispatch.js b/static/js/server_events_dispatch.js
index dfa19bae41..33bbae3cb0 100644
--- a/static/js/server_events_dispatch.js
+++ b/static/js/server_events_dispatch.js
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import * as narrow_state from "./narrow_state";
 import * as night_mode from "./night_mode";
 import * as notifications from "./notifications";
 import * as overlays from "./overlays";
+import * as panels from "./panels";
 import * as peer_data from "./peer_data";
 import * as people from "./people";
 import * as reactions from "./reactions";
diff --git a/static/js/ui_init.js b/static/js/ui_init.js
index 7805d153c9..24ce315455 100644
--- a/static/js/ui_init.js
+++ b/static/js/ui_init.js
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ import * as muting from "./muting";
 import * as navigate from "./navigate";
 import * as notifications from "./notifications";
 import * as overlays from "./overlays";
+import * as panels from "./panels";
 import * as people from "./people";
 import * as pm_conversations from "./pm_conversations";
 import * as pm_list from "./pm_list";