diff --git a/modules/tools/lsp/packages.el b/modules/tools/lsp/packages.el
index c57dc0689..9dc4998f1 100644
--- a/modules/tools/lsp/packages.el
+++ b/modules/tools/lsp/packages.el
@@ -13,23 +13,13 @@
           :recipe (:host github :repo "jdtsmith/eglot-booster")
           :pin "cab7803c4f0adc7fff9da6680f90110674bb7a22")))
 
-  ;; HACK: Ensure lsp-mode is built with lsp-use-plists on, but also that
-  ;;   `lsp-use-plists' isn't set *before* the package is rebuilt (which would
-  ;;   break things).
+  ;; lsp-mode must be rebuilt if this variable is changed, so expose it here so
+  ;; users can change it from $DOOMDIR/packages.el.
   (defvar lsp-use-plists t)
-  (add-hook 'straight-use-package-pre-build-functions
-            (lambda (package)
-              (when (equal package "lsp-mode")
-                (let ((default-directory (doom-path doom-profile-dir doom-profile-init-dir-name))
-                      (gen-file "01-modules-lsp-use-plists.el"))
-                  (if (not lsp-use-plists)
-                      (when (file-exists-p gen-file)
-                        (delete-file gen-file))
-                    (setenv "LSP_USE_PLISTS" "1")  ; ensure the setting propagates to child processes
-                    (add-to-list 'doom-profile-generators
-                                 (list gen-file (fn! `((setenv "LSP_USE_PLISTS" "1"))))))))))
 
-  (package! lsp-mode :pin "c74a723870f86cf9d1b7aee5e6e2add10d9ce127")
+  (package! lsp-mode
+    :pin "c74a723870f86cf9d1b7aee5e6e2add10d9ce127"
+    :env `(("LSP_USE_PLISTS" . ,(and lsp-use-plists "1"))))
   (package! lsp-ui :pin "030d36960338fd633a98b332bc3734c412c25ca6")
   (when (modulep! :completion ivy)
     (package! lsp-ivy :pin "2927cbc776477e23d4a1062568d55793eed33c51"))