diff --git a/core/plugins.vim b/core/plugins.vim
index 3d9dce3..89d792b 100644
--- a/core/plugins.vim
+++ b/core/plugins.vim
@@ -362,16 +362,20 @@ if exists('g:started_by_firenvim') && g:started_by_firenvim
       \ }
   \ }
 
-  function! s:setup_firenvim() abort
-    set noruler noshowcmd
-    set laststatus=0 showtabline=0
+  function s:setup_firenvim() abort
+    set signcolumn=no
+    set noruler
+    set noshowcmd
+    set laststatus=0
+    set showtabline=0
   endfunction
 
   augroup firenvim
     autocmd!
-    autocmd FileType text call s:setup_firenvim()
-    autocmd BufNewFile github.com_*.txt set filetype=markdown
-    autocmd BufNewFile stackoverflow.com_*.txt set filetype=markdown
+    autocmd BufEnter * call s:setup_firenvim()
+    autocmd BufEnter sqlzoo*.txt set filetype=sql
+    autocmd BufEnter github.com_*.txt set filetype=markdown
+    autocmd BufEnter stackoverflow.com_*.txt set filetype=markdown
   augroup END
 endif
 
diff --git a/lua/plugins.lua b/lua/plugins.lua
index f09d6b9..c4f7dc3 100644
--- a/lua/plugins.lua
+++ b/lua/plugins.lua
@@ -28,6 +28,11 @@ vim.cmd("packadd packer.nvim")
 local packer = require("packer")
 local packer_util = require("packer.util")
 
+-- check if firenvim is active
+local firenvim_not_active = function()
+  return not vim.g.started_by_firenvim
+end
+
 packer.startup {
   function(use)
     -- it is recommended to put impatient.nvim before any other plugins
@@ -130,13 +135,19 @@ packer.startup {
     use {
       "nvim-lualine/lualine.nvim",
       event = "VimEnter",
+      cond = firenvim_not_active,
       config = [[require('config.statusline')]],
     }
 
-    use { "akinsho/bufferline.nvim", event = "VimEnter", config = [[require('config.bufferline')]] }
+    use { "akinsho/bufferline.nvim", event = "VimEnter",
+      cond = firenvim_not_active,
+      config = [[require('config.bufferline')]] }
 
     -- fancy start screen
-    use { "glepnir/dashboard-nvim", event = "VimEnter", config = [[require('config.dashboard-nvim')]] }
+    use { "glepnir/dashboard-nvim", event = "VimEnter",
+      cond = firenvim_not_active,
+      config = [[require('config.dashboard-nvim')]]
+    }
 
     use {
       "lukas-reineke/indent-blankline.nvim",