diff --git a/layers/+spacemacs/spacemacs-evil/packages.el b/layers/+spacemacs/spacemacs-evil/packages.el
index 2a822c75b..265bd58a1 100644
--- a/layers/+spacemacs/spacemacs-evil/packages.el
+++ b/layers/+spacemacs/spacemacs-evil/packages.el
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@
 
 (defun spacemacs-evil/init-evil-args ()
   (use-package evil-args
+    :defer t
     :init
     (progn
       ;; bind evil-args text objects