diff --git a/plugins/woocommerce/changelog/51728-fix-issue-51711 b/plugins/woocommerce/changelog/51728-fix-issue-51711
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..dd4438a354b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/woocommerce/changelog/51728-fix-issue-51711
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+Significance: patch
+Type: tweak
+Comment: This PR reverts a change that hasn't yet been released, so no changelog is required.
+
diff --git a/plugins/woocommerce/includes/class-wc-brands.php b/plugins/woocommerce/includes/class-wc-brands.php
index 71e1fa71299..43732102f01 100644
--- a/plugins/woocommerce/includes/class-wc-brands.php
+++ b/plugins/woocommerce/includes/class-wc-brands.php
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ class WC_Brands {
 	public function __construct() {
 		$this->template_url = apply_filters( 'woocommerce_template_url', 'woocommerce/' ); // phpcs:ignore WooCommerce.Commenting.CommentHooks.MissingHookComment
 
-		add_action( 'plugins_loaded', array( $this, 'register_hooks' ), 2 );
+		add_action( 'plugins_loaded', array( $this, 'register_hooks' ), 11 );
 
 		$this->register_shortcodes();
 	}
diff --git a/plugins/woocommerce/src/Internal/Brands.php b/plugins/woocommerce/src/Internal/Brands.php
index 7ac3cdbab05..4abd1c6fc0b 100644
--- a/plugins/woocommerce/src/Internal/Brands.php
+++ b/plugins/woocommerce/src/Internal/Brands.php
@@ -25,11 +25,6 @@ class Brands {
 			return;
 		}
 
-		// If the WooCommerce Brands plugin is activated via the WP CLI using the '--skip-plugins' flag, deactivate it here.
-		if ( function_exists( 'wc_brands_init' ) ) {
-			remove_action( 'plugins_loaded', 'wc_brands_init', 1 );
-		}
-
 		include_once WC_ABSPATH . 'includes/class-wc-brands.php';
 		include_once WC_ABSPATH . 'includes/class-wc-brands-coupons.php';
 		include_once WC_ABSPATH . 'includes/class-wc-brands-brand-settings-manager.php';
@@ -58,4 +53,19 @@ class Brands {
 		}
 		return ( $assignment <= 6 ); // Considering 5% of the 0-120 range.
 	}
+
+	/**
+	 * If WooCommerce Brands gets activated forcibly, without WooCommerce active (e.g. via '--skip-plugins'),
+	 * remove WooCommerce Brands initialization functions early on in the 'plugins_loaded' timeline.
+	 */
+	public static function prepare() {
+
+		if ( ! self::is_enabled() ) {
+			return;
+		}
+
+		if ( function_exists( 'wc_brands_init' ) ) {
+			remove_action( 'plugins_loaded', 'wc_brands_init', 1 );
+		}
+	}
 }
diff --git a/plugins/woocommerce/src/Packages.php b/plugins/woocommerce/src/Packages.php
index eb251bbc908..568ec63c509 100644
--- a/plugins/woocommerce/src/Packages.php
+++ b/plugins/woocommerce/src/Packages.php
@@ -66,7 +66,8 @@ class Packages {
 	 * @since 3.7.0
 	 */
 	public static function init() {
-		add_action( 'plugins_loaded', array( __CLASS__, 'on_init' ), 0 );
+		add_action( 'plugins_loaded', array( __CLASS__, 'prepare_packages' ), -100 );
+		add_action( 'plugins_loaded', array( __CLASS__, 'on_init' ), 10 );
 
 		// Prevent plugins already merged into WooCommerce core from getting activated as standalone plugins.
 		add_action( 'activate_plugin', array( __CLASS__, 'deactivate_merged_plugins' ) );
@@ -149,6 +150,18 @@ class Packages {
 		return array_key_exists( $package, self::get_enabled_packages() );
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Prepare merged packages for initialization.
+	 * Especially useful when running actions early in the 'plugins_loaded' timeline.
+	 */
+	public static function prepare_packages() {
+		foreach ( self::get_enabled_packages() as $package_name => $package_class ) {
+			if ( method_exists( $package_class, 'prepare' ) ) {
+				call_user_func( array( $package_class, 'prepare' ) );
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Deactivates merged feature plugins.
 	 *