diff --git a/core/core-configuration-layer.el b/core/core-configuration-layer.el
index 2bfdb0323..8142ec63e 100644
--- a/core/core-configuration-layer.el
+++ b/core/core-configuration-layer.el
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 (require 'ht)
 (require 'core-dotspacemacs)
 (require 'core-funcs)
+(require 'core-progress-bar)
 (require 'core-spacemacs-buffer)
 
 (defvar configuration-layer--refresh-package-timeout dotspacemacs-elpa-timeout
@@ -559,8 +560,8 @@ refreshed during the current session."
   ;; check if layer list has changed since last dump
   (when (file-exists-p
          configuration-layer--last-dotspacemacs-configuration-layers-file)
-    (load-file
-     configuration-layer--last-dotspacemacs-configuration-layers-file))
+    (load configuration-layer--last-dotspacemacs-configuration-layers-file
+          nil (not init-file-debug)))
   (let ((layers dotspacemacs-configuration-layers))
     (dotspacemacs|call-func dotspacemacs/layers "Calling dotfile layers...")
     ;; `dotspacemacs--configuration-layers-saved' is used to detect if the layer
@@ -1884,9 +1885,7 @@ RNAME is the name symbol of another existing layer."
 
 (defun configuration-layer//configure-packages (packages)
   "Configure all passed PACKAGES honoring the steps order."
-  (setq spacemacs-loading-dots-chunk-threshold
-        (/ (length configuration-layer--used-packages)
-           spacemacs-loading-dots-chunk-count))
+  (spacemacs/init-progress-bar (length packages))
   (spacemacs-buffer/message "+ Configuring bootstrap packages...")
   (configuration-layer//configure-packages-2
    (configuration-layer/filter-objects
@@ -1910,7 +1909,6 @@ RNAME is the name symbol of another existing layer."
   "Configure all passed PACKAGES."
   (let (packages-to-configure)
     (dolist (pkg-name packages)
-      (spacemacs-buffer/loading-animation)
       (let ((pkg (configuration-layer/get-package pkg-name)))
         (cond
          ((oref pkg :lazy-install)
@@ -2022,6 +2020,7 @@ LAYER must not be the owner of PKG."
 
 (defun configuration-layer//configure-package (pkg)
   "Configure PKG object, i.e. call its post-init function."
+  (spacemacs/update-progress-bar)
   (let* ((pkg-name (oref pkg :name))
          (owner (car (oref pkg :owners))))
     ;; init
diff --git a/core/core-progress-bar.el b/core/core-progress-bar.el
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..220c1aab0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/core-progress-bar.el
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+;;; core-progress-bar.el --- Spacemacs Core File
+;;
+;; Copyright (c) 2012-2018 Sylvain Benner & Contributors
+;;
+;; Author: Sylvain Benner <sylvain.benner@gmail.com>
+;; URL: https://github.com/syl20bnr/spacemacs
+;;
+;; This file is not part of GNU Emacs.
+;;
+;;; License: GPLv3
+(require 'core-spacemacs-buffer)
+
+(defvar spacemacs-loading-char ?█)
+(defvar spacemacs-loading-char-light ?░)
+(defvar spacemacs-loading-string "")
+(defvar spacemacs-loading-counter 0)
+(defvar spacemacs-loading-value 0)
+(defvar spacemacs-loading-dots-chunk-count 5)
+(defvar spacemacs-loading-dots-count 0)
+(defvar spacemacs-loading-dots-chunk-size 0)
+(defvar spacemacs-loading-dots-chunk-threshold 0)
+
+(defun spacemacs/init-progress-bar (max)
+  "Initialize the progress bar."
+  (setq spacemacs-loading-dots-count (window-total-size nil 'width))
+  (setq spacemacs-loading-dots-chunk-size (/ spacemacs-loading-dots-count
+                                             spacemacs-loading-dots-chunk-count))
+  (setq spacemacs-loading-dots-chunk-threshold
+        (- (/ max spacemacs-loading-dots-chunk-count) 5))
+  (setq spacemacs-loading-counter 0)
+  (setq spacemacs-loading-value 0)
+  (spacemacs-buffer/set-mode-line (make-string spacemacs-loading-dots-count
+                                               spacemacs-loading-char-light))
+  (spacemacs//redisplay))
+
+(defun spacemacs/update-progress-bar ()
+  "Update progress bar by incrementing its value by 1.
+Display the progress bar by chunks of size `spacemacs--loading-dots-chunk-threshold'"
+  (when (and (not noninteractive)
+             dotspacemacs-loading-progress-bar)
+    (setq spacemacs-loading-counter (1+ spacemacs-loading-counter))
+    (setq spacemacs-loading-value (1+ spacemacs-loading-value))
+    (when (>= spacemacs-loading-counter
+              spacemacs-loading-dots-chunk-threshold)
+      (let* ((progress
+              (max 0 (* spacemacs-loading-dots-chunk-size
+                        (floor (/ spacemacs-loading-value
+                                  spacemacs-loading-dots-chunk-threshold)))))
+             (remain (max 0 (- spacemacs-loading-dots-count progress))))
+        (setq spacemacs-loading-counter 0)
+        (setq spacemacs-loading-string
+              (concat (make-string progress spacemacs-loading-char)
+                      (make-string remain spacemacs-loading-char-light)))
+        (spacemacs-buffer/set-mode-line spacemacs-loading-string))
+      (spacemacs//redisplay))))
+
+(provide 'core-progress-bar)
diff --git a/core/core-spacemacs-buffer.el b/core/core-spacemacs-buffer.el
index 0f7a97042..cd82b7157 100644
--- a/core/core-spacemacs-buffer.el
+++ b/core/core-spacemacs-buffer.el
@@ -571,28 +571,6 @@ If MESSAGEBUF is not nil then MSG is also written in message buffer."
       (when messagebuf
         (message "(Spacemacs) %s" msg)))))
 
-(defun spacemacs-buffer/loading-animation ()
-  "Display the progress bar by chunks of size `spacemacs--loading-dots-chunk-threshold'."
-  (when (and (not noninteractive)
-             dotspacemacs-loading-progress-bar)
-    (setq spacemacs-loading-counter (1+ spacemacs-loading-counter))
-    (setq spacemacs-loading-value (1+ spacemacs-loading-value))
-    (when (>= spacemacs-loading-counter spacemacs-loading-dots-chunk-threshold)
-      (let ((suffix (format "> %s/%s" spacemacs-loading-value
-                            (length configuration-layer--used-packages))))
-        (setq spacemacs-loading-counter 0)
-        (setq spacemacs-loading-string
-              (make-string
-               (max 0
-                    (- (* spacemacs-loading-dots-chunk-size
-                          (floor (/ spacemacs-loading-value
-                                    spacemacs-loading-dots-chunk-threshold)))
-                       (length suffix)))
-               spacemacs-loading-char))
-        (spacemacs-buffer/set-mode-line
-         (concat spacemacs-loading-string suffix)))
-      (spacemacs//redisplay))))
-
 (defmacro spacemacs-buffer||add-shortcut
     (shortcut-char search-label &optional no-next-line)
   "Add a single-key keybinding for quick navigation in the home buffer.
diff --git a/core/core-spacemacs.el b/core/core-spacemacs.el
index 832c61120..79ac93f78 100644
--- a/core/core-spacemacs.el
+++ b/core/core-spacemacs.el
@@ -36,19 +36,6 @@
   :group 'starter-kit
   :prefix 'spacemacs-)
 
-;; loading progress bar variables
-(defvar spacemacs-loading-char ?█)
-(defvar spacemacs-loading-string "")
-(defvar spacemacs-loading-counter 0)
-(defvar spacemacs-loading-value 0)
-;; (defvar spacemacs-loading-text "Loading")
-;; (defvar spacemacs-loading-done-text "Ready!")
-(defvar spacemacs-loading-dots-chunk-count 3)
-(defvar spacemacs-loading-dots-count (window-total-size nil 'width))
-(defvar spacemacs-loading-dots-chunk-size
-  (/ spacemacs-loading-dots-count spacemacs-loading-dots-chunk-count))
-(defvar spacemacs-loading-dots-chunk-threshold 0)
-
 (defvar spacemacs-post-user-config-hook nil
   "Hook run after dotspacemacs/user-config")
 (defvar spacemacs-post-user-config-hook-run nil
diff --git a/tests/core/core-configuration-layer-utest.el b/tests/core/core-configuration-layer-utest.el
index 6eeaa3c7a..6a97f7e52 100644
--- a/tests/core/core-configuration-layer-utest.el
+++ b/tests/core/core-configuration-layer-utest.el
@@ -2221,7 +2221,7 @@
     (defun layer1/init-pkg () (push 'init witness))
     (defun layer2/pre-init-pkg () (push 'pre-init witness))
     (mocker-let
-     ((spacemacs-buffer/loading-animation nil ((:output nil))))
+     ((spacemacs/update-progress-bar nil ((:output nil))))
      (configuration-layer//configure-packages-2 `(,(oref pkg :name)))
      (should (equal '(init pre-init) witness)))))
 
@@ -2239,7 +2239,7 @@
     (defun layer1/init-pkg () (push 'init witness))
     (defun layer2/post-init-pkg () (push 'post-init witness))
     (mocker-let
-     ((spacemacs-buffer/loading-animation nil ((:output nil))))
+     ((spacemacs/update-progress-bar nil ((:output nil))))
      (configuration-layer//configure-packages-2 `(,(oref pkg :name)))
      (should (equal '(post-init init) witness)))))
 
@@ -2251,7 +2251,7 @@
     (helper--add-packages (list pkg) t)
     (mocker-let
      ((configuration-layer//configure-package (p) ((:occur 1)))
-      (spacemacs-buffer/loading-animation nil ((:output nil))))
+      (spacemacs/update-progress-bar nil ((:output nil))))
      (configuration-layer//configure-packages-2 `(,(oref pkg :name))))))
 
 (ert-deftest test-configure-packages-2--site-package-is-configured()
@@ -2262,7 +2262,7 @@
     (helper--add-packages (list pkg) t)
     (mocker-let
      ((configuration-layer//configure-package (p) ((:occur 1)))
-      (spacemacs-buffer/loading-animation nil ((:output nil))))
+      (spacemacs/update-progress-bar nil ((:output nil))))
      (configuration-layer//configure-packages-2 `(,(oref pkg :name))))))
 
 (ert-deftest test-configure-packages-2--toggle-t-is-configured ()
@@ -2273,7 +2273,7 @@
     (helper--add-packages (list pkg) t)
     (mocker-let
      ((configuration-layer//configure-package (p) ((:occur 1)))
-      (spacemacs-buffer/loading-animation nil ((:output nil))))
+      (spacemacs/update-progress-bar nil ((:output nil))))
      (configuration-layer//configure-packages-2 `(,(oref pkg :name))))))
 
 (ert-deftest test-configure-packages-2--toggle-nil-is-not-configured ()
@@ -2284,7 +2284,7 @@
     (helper--add-packages (list pkg) t)
     (mocker-let
      ((configuration-layer//configure-package (p) nil)
-      (spacemacs-buffer/loading-animation nil ((:output nil)))
+      (spacemacs/update-progress-bar nil ((:output nil)))
       (spacemacs-buffer/message (m) ((:output nil))))
      (configuration-layer//configure-packages-2 `(,(oref pkg :name))))))
 
@@ -2296,7 +2296,7 @@
     (helper--add-packages (list pkg) t)
     (mocker-let
      ((configuration-layer//configure-package (p) ((:occur 1)))
-      (spacemacs-buffer/loading-animation nil ((:output nil))))
+      (spacemacs/update-progress-bar nil ((:output nil))))
      (configuration-layer//configure-packages-2 `(,(oref pkg :name))))))
 
 (ert-deftest test-configure-packages-2--protected-excluded-package-is-configured()
@@ -2307,7 +2307,7 @@
     (helper--add-packages (list pkg) t)
     (mocker-let
      ((configuration-layer//configure-package (p) ((:occur 1)))
-      (spacemacs-buffer/loading-animation nil ((:output nil))))
+      (spacemacs/update-progress-bar nil ((:output nil))))
      (configuration-layer//configure-packages-2 `(,(oref pkg :name))))))
 
 (ert-deftest test-configure-packages-2--excluded-package-is-not-configured()
@@ -2318,7 +2318,7 @@
     (helper--add-packages (list pkg) t)
     (mocker-let
      ((configuration-layer//configure-package (p) nil)
-      (spacemacs-buffer/loading-animation nil ((:output nil)))
+      (spacemacs/update-progress-bar nil ((:output nil)))
       (spacemacs-buffer/message (m) ((:output nil))))
      (configuration-layer//configure-packages-2 `(,(oref pkg :name))))))
 
@@ -2330,7 +2330,7 @@
     (helper--add-packages (list pkg) t)
     (mocker-let
      ((configuration-layer//configure-package (p) nil)
-      (spacemacs-buffer/loading-animation nil ((:output nil)))
+      (spacemacs/update-progress-bar nil ((:output nil)))
       (spacemacs-buffer/message (m) ((:output nil))))
      (configuration-layer//configure-packages-2 `(,(oref pkg :name))))))
 
@@ -2343,7 +2343,7 @@
     (helper--add-packages (list pkg) t)
     (mocker-let
      ((configuration-layer//configure-package (p) nil)
-      (spacemacs-buffer/loading-animation nil ((:output nil)))
+      (spacemacs/update-progress-bar nil ((:output nil)))
       (spacemacs-buffer/message (m) ((:output nil))))
      (configuration-layer//configure-packages-2 `(,(oref pkg :name))))))
 
@@ -2355,7 +2355,7 @@
     (helper--add-packages (list pkg) t)
     (mocker-let
      ((configuration-layer//configure-package (p) nil)
-      (spacemacs-buffer/loading-animation nil ((:output nil)))
+      (spacemacs/update-progress-bar nil ((:output nil)))
       (spacemacs-buffer/message (m) ((:output nil))))
      (configuration-layer//configure-packages-2 `(,(oref pkg :name))))))
 
@@ -2371,7 +2371,7 @@
     (helper--add-layers `(,(cfgl-layer "layer1" :name 'layer1 :dir "/path/")) t)
     (helper--add-packages (list pkg) t)
     (mocker-let
-     ((spacemacs-buffer/loading-animation nil ((:output nil)))
+     ((spacemacs/update-progress-bar nil ((:output nil)))
       (configuration-layer//configure-package (p) ((:occur 1))))
      (configuration-layer//configure-packages-2 `(,(oref pkg :name)))
      (push "/path/local/pkg/" expected-load-path)
@@ -2386,7 +2386,7 @@
         (mocker-mock-default-record-cls 'mocker-stub-record))
     (helper--add-packages (list pkg) t)
     (mocker-let
-     ((spacemacs-buffer/loading-animation nil ((:output nil))))
+     ((spacemacs/update-progress-bar nil ((:output nil))))
      (configuration-layer//configure-packages-2 `(,(oref pkg :name)))
      (push (file-name-as-directory
             (concat configuration-layer-private-directory "local/pkg"))
@@ -2402,7 +2402,7 @@
         (mocker-mock-default-record-cls 'mocker-stub-record))
     (helper--add-packages (list pkg) t)
     (mocker-let
-     ((spacemacs-buffer/loading-animation nil ((:output nil)))
+     ((spacemacs/update-progress-bar nil ((:output nil)))
       (spacemacs-buffer/message (m) ((:output nil))))
      (configuration-layer//configure-packages-2 `(,(oref pkg :name)))
      (should (equal load-path old-load-path)))))
@@ -2419,7 +2419,7 @@
         (mocker-mock-default-record-cls 'mocker-stub-record))
     (helper--add-packages (list pkg) t)
     (mocker-let
-     ((spacemacs-buffer/loading-animation nil ((:output nil))))
+     ((spacemacs/update-progress-bar nil ((:output nil))))
      (configuration-layer//configure-packages-2 `(,(oref pkg :name)))
      (push spacemacs-docs-directory expected-load-path)
      (should (equal expected-load-path load-path)))))
@@ -2435,7 +2435,7 @@
         (mocker-mock-default-record-cls 'mocker-stub-record))
     (helper--add-packages (list pkg) t)
     (mocker-let
-     ((spacemacs-buffer/loading-animation nil ((:output nil)))
+     ((spacemacs/update-progress-bar nil ((:output nil)))
       (configuration-layer//warning
        (msg &rest args)
        ((:record-cls 'mocker-stub-record :output nil :occur 1))))