diff --git a/includes/class-wc-api.php b/includes/class-wc-api.php
index 1bd0c4a6129..eb33cbf35f9 100644
--- a/includes/class-wc-api.php
+++ b/includes/class-wc-api.php
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 <?php
 /**
- * WooCommerce API class loader.
+ * WC-API endpoint handler.
  *
- * This handles APIs in WooCommerce. These include:
+ * This handles API related functionality in WooCommerce.
  * - wc-api endpoint - Commonly used by Payment gateways for callbacks.
  * - Legacy REST API - Deprecated in 2.6.0. @see class-wc-legacy-api.php
  * - WP REST API - The main REST API in WooCommerce which is built on top of the WP REST API.
@@ -24,24 +24,11 @@ class WC_API extends WC_Legacy_API {
 	public function init() {
 		parent::init();
 		add_action( 'init', array( $this, 'add_endpoint' ), 0 );
-		add_action( 'init', array( $this, 'rest_api_init' ) );
 		add_filter( 'query_vars', array( $this, 'add_query_vars' ), 0 );
 		add_action( 'parse_request', array( $this, 'handle_api_requests' ), 0 );
 		add_action( 'rest_api_init', array( $this, 'register_wp_admin_settings' ) );
 	}
 
-	/**
-	 * Call the Server class from the Rest API package.
-	 *
-	 * @see \Automattic\WooCommerce\RestApi\Server
-	 */
-	public function rest_api_init() {
-		if ( $this->is_rest_api_loaded() || version_compare( PHP_VERSION, '5.6.0', '<' ) ) {
-			return;
-		}
-		\Automattic\WooCommerce\RestApi\Server::instance()->init();
-	}
-
 	/**
 	 * Get the version of the REST API package being ran.
 	 *
@@ -82,7 +69,7 @@ class WC_API extends WC_Legacy_API {
 	 */
 	public function get_endpoint_data( $endpoint, $params = array() ) {
 		if ( ! $this->is_rest_api_loaded() ) {
-			$this->rest_api_init();
+			return new WP_Error( 'rest_api_unavailable', __( 'The Rest API is unavailable.', 'woocommerce' ) );
 		}
 		$request = new \WP_REST_Request( 'GET', $endpoint );
 		if ( $params ) {
diff --git a/includes/class-woocommerce.php b/includes/class-woocommerce.php
index f45b3636ae8..09f2df8c1c1 100644
--- a/includes/class-woocommerce.php
+++ b/includes/class-woocommerce.php
@@ -180,6 +180,7 @@ final class WooCommerce {
 		register_shutdown_function( array( $this, 'log_errors' ) );
 
 		add_action( 'plugins_loaded', array( $this, 'on_plugins_loaded' ), -1 );
+		add_action( 'plugins_loaded', array( $this, 'init_packages' ) );
 		add_action( 'after_setup_theme', array( $this, 'setup_environment' ) );
 		add_action( 'after_setup_theme', array( $this, 'include_template_functions' ), 11 );
 		add_action( 'init', array( $this, 'init' ), 0 );
@@ -191,6 +192,21 @@ final class WooCommerce {
 		add_action( 'deactivated_plugin', array( $this, 'deactivated_plugin' ) );
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Load any WooCommerce packages.
+	 *
+	 * Most packages will have their own init routines, so this is used early once plugins are loaded.
+	 *
+	 * @since 3.7.0
+	 */
+	public function init_packages() {
+		if ( version_compare( PHP_VERSION, '5.6.0', '<' ) ) {
+			return;
+		}
+		\Automattic\WooCommerce\Blocks\Library::instance()->init();
+		\Automattic\WooCommerce\RestApi\Server::instance()->init();
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Ensures fatal errors are logged so they can be picked up in the status report.
 	 *
@@ -540,11 +556,6 @@ final class WooCommerce {
 		$this->deprecated_hook_handlers['actions'] = new WC_Deprecated_Action_Hooks();
 		$this->deprecated_hook_handlers['filters'] = new WC_Deprecated_Filter_Hooks();
 
-		// Init any packages.
-		if ( version_compare( PHP_VERSION, '5.6.0', '>=' ) ) {
-			\Automattic\WooCommerce\Blocks\Library::instance()->init();
-		}
-
 		// Classes/actions loaded for the frontend and for ajax requests.
 		if ( $this->is_request( 'frontend' ) ) {
 			wc_load_cart();
diff --git a/includes/legacy/class-wc-legacy-api.php b/includes/legacy/class-wc-legacy-api.php
index c10cccb3bf2..f99eae731d5 100644
--- a/includes/legacy/class-wc-legacy-api.php
+++ b/includes/legacy/class-wc-legacy-api.php
@@ -271,6 +271,13 @@ class WC_Legacy_API {
 		$this->server->serve_request();
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Rest API Init.
+	 *
+	 * @deprecated since 3.7.0 - REST API clases autoload.
+	 */
+	public function rest_api_init() {}
+
 	/**
 	 * Include REST API classes.
 	 *