diff --git a/api/kiwi_vpn_api/config.py b/api/kiwi_vpn_api/config.py
index 783a0d8..11d6136 100644
--- a/api/kiwi_vpn_api/config.py
+++ b/api/kiwi_vpn_api/config.py
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ Pydantic models might have convenience methods attached.
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
-import functools
 import json
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta
 from enum import Enum
@@ -36,25 +35,14 @@ class Settings(BaseSettings):
     docs_url: str | None = "/docs"
     redoc_url: str | None = "/redoc"
 
-    @classmethod
-    @functools.lru_cache
-    def load(cls) -> Settings:
-        return cls()
-
-    @classmethod
-    @property
-    def _(cls) -> Settings:
-        """
-        Shorthand for load()
-        """
-
-        return cls.load()
-
     @property
     def config_file(self) -> Path:
         return self.data_dir.joinpath(self.config_file_name)
 
 
+SETTINGS = Settings()
+
+
 class DBType(Enum):
     """
     Supported database types
@@ -73,7 +61,7 @@ class DBConfig(BaseModel):
     user: str | None = None
     password: str | None = None
     host: str | None = None
-    database: str | None = str(Settings._.data_dir.joinpath("kiwi-vpn.db"))
+    database: str | Path | None = SETTINGS.data_dir.joinpath("kiwi-vpn.db")
 
     mysql_driver: str = "pymysql"
     mysql_args: list[str] = ["charset=utf8mb4"]
@@ -253,7 +241,7 @@ class Config(BaseModel):
     crypto: CryptoConfig
     server_dn: ServerDN
 
-    __singleton: Config | None = None
+    __instance: Config | None = None
 
     @classmethod
     def load(cls) -> Config | None:
@@ -261,16 +249,15 @@ class Config(BaseModel):
         Load configuration from config file
         """
 
-        if cls.__singleton is not None:
-            return cls.__singleton
+        if cls.__instance is None:
+            try:
+                with open(SETTINGS.config_file, "r") as config_file:
+                    cls.__instance = cls.parse_obj(json.load(config_file))
 
-        try:
-            with open(Settings._.config_file, "r") as config_file:
-                cls.__singleton = Config.parse_obj(json.load(config_file))
-                return cls.__singleton
+            except FileNotFoundError:
+                pass
 
-        except FileNotFoundError:
-            return None
+        return cls.__instance
 
     @classmethod
     @property
@@ -280,7 +267,7 @@ class Config(BaseModel):
         """
 
         if (config := cls.load()) is None:
-            raise FileNotFoundError(Settings._.config_file)
+            raise FileNotFoundError(SETTINGS.config_file)
 
         return config
 
@@ -289,5 +276,5 @@ class Config(BaseModel):
         Save configuration to config file
         """
 
-        with open(Settings._.config_file, "w") as config_file:
+        with open(SETTINGS.config_file, "w") as config_file:
             config_file.write(self.json(indent=2))
diff --git a/api/kiwi_vpn_api/easyrsa.py b/api/kiwi_vpn_api/easyrsa.py
index bbdd86d..ab2d1f6 100644
--- a/api/kiwi_vpn_api/easyrsa.py
+++ b/api/kiwi_vpn_api/easyrsa.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ from cryptography import x509
 from passlib import pwd
 from pydantic import BaseModel
 
-from .config import Config, KeyAlgorithm, Settings
+from .config import SETTINGS, Config, KeyAlgorithm
 from .db import Connection, Device
 
 
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ class EasyRSA:
         Where certificates are stored
         """
 
-        return Settings._.data_dir.joinpath("pki")
+        return SETTINGS.data_dir.joinpath("pki")
 
     @property
     def ca_password(self) -> str:
diff --git a/api/kiwi_vpn_api/main.py b/api/kiwi_vpn_api/main.py
index 1daaba9..c7307f1 100755
--- a/api/kiwi_vpn_api/main.py
+++ b/api/kiwi_vpn_api/main.py
@@ -12,12 +12,10 @@ If run directly, uses `uvicorn` to run the app.
 import uvicorn
 from fastapi import FastAPI
 
-from .config import Config, Settings
+from .config import SETTINGS, Config
 from .db import Connection, User
 from .routers import main_router
 
-settings = Settings._
-
 app = FastAPI(
     title="kiwi-vpn API",
     description="This API enables the `kiwi-vpn` service.",
@@ -29,9 +27,9 @@ app = FastAPI(
         "name": "MIT License",
         "url": "https://opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.php",
     },
-    openapi_url=settings.openapi_url,
-    docs_url=settings.docs_url if not settings.production_mode else None,
-    redoc_url=settings.redoc_url if not settings.production_mode else None,
+    openapi_url=SETTINGS.openapi_url,
+    docs_url=SETTINGS.docs_url if not SETTINGS.production_mode else None,
+    redoc_url=SETTINGS.redoc_url if not SETTINGS.production_mode else None,
 )
 
 app.include_router(main_router)
diff --git a/api/kiwi_vpn_api/routers/__init__.py b/api/kiwi_vpn_api/routers/__init__.py
index 25a4dbf..e73812a 100644
--- a/api/kiwi_vpn_api/routers/__init__.py
+++ b/api/kiwi_vpn_api/routers/__init__.py
@@ -6,10 +6,10 @@ This file: Main API router definition.
 
 from fastapi import APIRouter
 
-from ..config import Settings
+from ..config import SETTINGS
 from . import admin, device, service, user
 
-main_router = APIRouter(prefix=f"/{Settings._.api_v1_prefix}")
+main_router = APIRouter(prefix=f"/{SETTINGS.api_v1_prefix}")
 
 main_router.include_router(admin.router)
 main_router.include_router(service.router)
diff --git a/api/kiwi_vpn_api/routers/_common.py b/api/kiwi_vpn_api/routers/_common.py
index 1869d2e..45a7bfd 100644
--- a/api/kiwi_vpn_api/routers/_common.py
+++ b/api/kiwi_vpn_api/routers/_common.py
@@ -5,11 +5,11 @@ Common dependencies for routers.
 from fastapi import Depends, HTTPException, status
 from fastapi.security import OAuth2PasswordBearer
 
-from ..config import Config, Settings
+from ..config import SETTINGS, Config
 from ..db import Device, User
 
 oauth2_scheme = OAuth2PasswordBearer(
-    tokenUrl=f"{Settings._.api_v1_prefix}/user/authenticate"
+    tokenUrl=f"{SETTINGS.api_v1_prefix}/user/authenticate"
 )