diff --git a/lib/wp/component-loader.c b/lib/wp/component-loader.c
index e72aee06..36d3958f 100644
--- a/lib/wp/component-loader.c
+++ b/lib/wp/component-loader.c
@@ -97,23 +97,26 @@ on_component_loader_load_done (WpComponentLoader * cl, GAsyncResult * res,
   WpCore *core = g_task_get_source_object (task);
 
   o = wp_component_loader_load_finish (cl, res, &error);
-  if (!o) {
+  if (error) {
     g_task_return_error (task, g_steal_pointer (&error));
     return;
   }
 
-  wp_trace_object (cl, "loaded object " WP_OBJECT_FORMAT, WP_OBJECT_ARGS (o));
+  if (o) {
+    wp_trace_object (cl, "loaded object " WP_OBJECT_FORMAT, WP_OBJECT_ARGS (o));
 
-  /* store object in the registry */
-  wp_registry_register_object (wp_core_get_registry (core), g_object_ref (o));
+    /* store object in the registry */
+    wp_registry_register_object (wp_core_get_registry (core), g_object_ref (o));
 
-  if (WP_IS_OBJECT (o)) {
-    /* WpObject needs to be activated */
-    wp_object_activate (WP_OBJECT (o), WP_OBJECT_FEATURES_ALL, NULL,
-        (GAsyncReadyCallback) on_object_activated, g_steal_pointer (&task));
-  } else {
-    g_task_return_boolean (task, TRUE);
+    if (WP_IS_OBJECT (o)) {
+      /* WpObject needs to be activated */
+      wp_object_activate (WP_OBJECT (o), WP_OBJECT_FEATURES_ALL, NULL,
+          (GAsyncReadyCallback) on_object_activated, g_steal_pointer (&task));
+      return;
+    }
   }
+
+  g_task_return_boolean (task, TRUE);
 }
 
 /*!
@@ -122,6 +125,10 @@ on_component_loader_load_done (WpComponentLoader * cl, GAsyncResult * res,
  * The \a type will determine which component loader to use. The following types
  * are built-in and will always work without a component loader:
  *  - "module" - Loads a WirePlumber module
+ *  - "array" - Loads multiple components interpreting the \a args as a JSON
+ *    array with component definitions, as they would appear in the
+ *    configuration file. When this type is used, \a component is ignored and
+ *    can be NULL
  *
  * \ingroup wpcomponentloader
  * \param self the core
diff --git a/lib/wp/private/internal-comp-loader.c b/lib/wp/private/internal-comp-loader.c
index a3b9469c..8e5cb492 100644
--- a/lib/wp/private/internal-comp-loader.c
+++ b/lib/wp/private/internal-comp-loader.c
@@ -12,6 +12,324 @@
 
 WP_DEFINE_LOCAL_LOG_TOPIC ("wp-internal-comp-loader")
 
+/*** ComponentData ***/
+
+enum
+{
+  NO_FAIL = 0x1,
+  IF_EXISTS = 0x2
+};
+
+struct _ComponentData
+{
+  gchar *name;
+  gchar *type;
+  gint priority;
+  gint flags;
+  WpSpaJson *deps;
+};
+typedef struct _ComponentData ComponentData;
+
+static gint
+component_cmp_func (const ComponentData *a, const ComponentData *b)
+{
+  return b->priority - a->priority;
+}
+
+static gint
+component_equal_func (const ComponentData *a, ComponentData * b)
+{
+  return
+      g_str_equal (a->name, b->name) && g_str_equal (a->type, b->type) ? 0 : 1;
+}
+
+static void
+component_data_free (ComponentData *self)
+{
+  g_clear_pointer (&self->name, g_free);
+  g_clear_pointer (&self->type, g_free);
+  g_clear_pointer (&self->deps, wp_spa_json_unref);
+  g_slice_free (ComponentData, self);
+}
+
+G_DEFINE_AUTOPTR_CLEANUP_FUNC (ComponentData, component_data_free)
+
+/*** components parser ***/
+
+static gint
+pick_default_component_priority (const char *type)
+{
+  if (g_str_equal (type, "module"))
+    /* regular module default priority */
+    return 110;
+  else if (g_str_equal (type, "script/lua"))
+    /* Lua Script default priority */
+    return 100;
+
+  return 100;
+}
+
+static void
+json_to_components_list (GList **list, WpSpaJson *json)
+{
+  g_autoptr (WpIterator) it = NULL;
+  g_auto (GValue) item = G_VALUE_INIT;
+
+  it = wp_spa_json_new_iterator (json);
+  for (; wp_iterator_next (it, &item); g_value_unset (&item)) {
+    WpSpaJson *cjson = g_value_get_boxed (&item);
+    g_autoptr (ComponentData) comp = g_slice_new0 (ComponentData);
+    g_autoptr (WpSpaJson) deps = NULL;
+    g_autoptr (WpSpaJson) flags = NULL;
+
+    /* Parse name and type (mandatory) */
+    if (!wp_spa_json_is_object (cjson) ||
+        !wp_spa_json_object_get (cjson,
+            "name", "s", &comp->name,
+            "type", "s", &comp->type,
+            NULL)) {
+      wp_warning ("component must have both a 'name' and a 'type'");
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    /* Parse priority (optional) */
+    if (!wp_spa_json_object_get (cjson, "priority", "i", &comp->priority,
+        NULL))
+      comp->priority = pick_default_component_priority (comp->type);
+
+    /* Parse deps (optional) */
+    if (wp_spa_json_object_get (cjson, "deps", "J", &deps, NULL)) {
+      if (wp_spa_json_is_array (deps)) {
+        comp->deps = g_steal_pointer (&deps);
+      } else {
+        wp_warning ("skipping component %s as its 'deps' is not a JSON array",
+            comp->name);
+        continue;
+      }
+    }
+
+    /* Parse flags (optional) */
+    if (wp_spa_json_object_get (cjson, "flags", "J", &flags, NULL)) {
+      if (flags && wp_spa_json_is_array (flags)) {
+        g_autoptr (WpIterator) it = wp_spa_json_new_iterator (flags);
+        g_auto (GValue) item = G_VALUE_INIT;
+
+        for (; wp_iterator_next (it, &item); g_value_unset (&item)) {
+          WpSpaJson *flag = g_value_get_boxed (&item);
+          g_autofree gchar *flag_str = wp_spa_json_parse_string (flag);
+
+          if (g_str_equal (flag_str, "ifexists"))
+            comp->flags |= IF_EXISTS;
+          else if (g_str_equal (flag_str, "nofail"))
+            comp->flags |= NO_FAIL;
+          else
+            wp_warning ("flag '%s' is not valid for component '%s'", flag_str,
+                comp->name);
+        }
+      } else {
+        wp_warning ("skipping component %s as its 'flags' is not a JSON array",
+            comp->name);
+        continue;
+      }
+    }
+
+    /* Insert component into the list if it does not exist */
+    if (!g_list_find_custom (*list, comp,
+        (GCompareFunc) component_equal_func)) {
+      wp_trace ("appended component '%s' of type '%s' with priority '%d'",
+          comp->name, comp->type, comp->priority);
+      *list = g_list_insert_sorted (*list, g_steal_pointer (&comp),
+          (GCompareFunc) component_cmp_func);
+    } else {
+      wp_debug ("ignoring component '%s' as it is already defined previously",
+          comp->name);
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+/*** WpComponentArrayLoadTask ***/
+
+struct _WpComponentArrayLoadTask
+{
+  WpTransition parent;
+  WpSpaJson *json;
+  GList *components;
+  GList *components_iter;
+  ComponentData *curr_component;
+};
+
+enum {
+  STEP_PARSE = WP_TRANSITION_STEP_CUSTOM_START,
+  STEP_LOAD_NEXT_1,
+  STEP_LOAD_NEXT_2,
+  STEP_CLEANUP,
+};
+
+G_DECLARE_FINAL_TYPE (WpComponentArrayLoadTask, wp_component_array_load_task,
+                      WP, COMPONENT_ARRAY_LOAD_TASK, WpTransition)
+G_DEFINE_TYPE (WpComponentArrayLoadTask, wp_component_array_load_task,
+               WP_TYPE_TRANSITION)
+
+static void
+wp_component_array_load_task_init (WpComponentArrayLoadTask * self)
+{
+}
+
+static gboolean
+component_meets_dependencies (WpCore *core, ComponentData *comp)
+{
+  g_autoptr (WpConf) conf = NULL;
+  g_autoptr (WpIterator) it = NULL;
+  g_auto (GValue) item = G_VALUE_INIT;
+
+  if (!comp->deps)
+    return TRUE;
+
+  /* Note that we consider the dependency valid by default if it is not
+   * found in the settings configuration section */
+  conf = wp_conf_get_instance (core);
+  it = wp_spa_json_new_iterator (comp->deps);
+  for (; wp_iterator_next (it, &item); g_value_unset (&item)) {
+    WpSpaJson *dep = g_value_get_boxed (&item);
+    g_autofree gchar *dep_str = wp_spa_json_parse_string (dep);
+    gboolean value = wp_conf_get_value_boolean (conf,
+        "wireplumber.settings", dep_str, TRUE);
+    if (!value)
+      return FALSE;
+  }
+
+  return TRUE;
+}
+
+static guint
+wp_component_array_load_task_get_next_step (WpTransition * transition, guint step)
+{
+  WpComponentArrayLoadTask *self = WP_COMPONENT_ARRAY_LOAD_TASK (transition);
+
+  switch (step) {
+  case WP_TRANSITION_STEP_NONE:     return STEP_PARSE;
+  case STEP_PARSE:                  return STEP_LOAD_NEXT_1;
+  case STEP_LOAD_NEXT_1:
+    return (self->components_iter) ? STEP_LOAD_NEXT_2 : STEP_CLEANUP;
+  case STEP_LOAD_NEXT_2:
+    return (self->components_iter) ? STEP_LOAD_NEXT_1 : STEP_CLEANUP;
+  case STEP_CLEANUP:                return WP_TRANSITION_STEP_NONE;
+  default:
+    g_return_val_if_reached (WP_TRANSITION_STEP_ERROR);
+  }
+}
+
+static void
+on_component_loaded (WpCore *core, GAsyncResult *res, gpointer data)
+{
+  WpComponentArrayLoadTask *self = WP_COMPONENT_ARRAY_LOAD_TASK (data);
+  g_autoptr (GError) error = NULL;
+
+  g_return_if_fail (self->curr_component);
+
+  if (!wp_core_load_component_finish (core, res, &error)) {
+    if (self->curr_component->flags & IF_EXISTS &&
+        error->domain == G_IO_ERROR &&
+        error->code == G_IO_ERROR_NOT_FOUND) {
+      wp_info_object (self, "skipping component '%s' with 'ifexists' flag "
+          "because the file does not exist", self->curr_component->name);
+      goto next;
+    } else if (self->curr_component->flags & NO_FAIL) {
+      wp_info_object (self, "skipping component '%s' with 'nofail' flag "
+          "due to error: %s", self->curr_component->name, error->message);
+      goto next;
+    }
+
+    wp_transition_return_error (WP_TRANSITION (self), g_error_new (
+        WP_DOMAIN_LIBRARY, WP_LIBRARY_ERROR_OPERATION_FAILED,
+        "failed to activate component '%s': %s", self->curr_component->name,
+        error->message));
+    return;
+  }
+
+next:
+  wp_transition_advance (WP_TRANSITION (self));
+}
+
+static void
+wp_component_array_load_task_execute_step (WpTransition * transition, guint step)
+{
+  WpComponentArrayLoadTask *self = WP_COMPONENT_ARRAY_LOAD_TASK (transition);
+  WpCore *core = wp_transition_get_source_object (transition);
+
+  switch (step) {
+  case STEP_PARSE:
+    if (!wp_spa_json_is_array (self->json)) {
+      wp_transition_return_error (transition, g_error_new (
+          WP_DOMAIN_LIBRARY, WP_LIBRARY_ERROR_INVALID_ARGUMENT,
+          "components section is not a JSON array"));
+      return;
+    }
+
+    json_to_components_list (&self->components, self->json);
+    self->components_iter = g_list_first (self->components);
+    wp_transition_advance (transition);
+    break;
+
+  case STEP_LOAD_NEXT_1:
+  case STEP_LOAD_NEXT_2:
+    self->curr_component = (ComponentData *) self->components_iter->data;
+
+    /* Advance iterator */
+    self->components_iter = g_list_next (self->components_iter);
+
+    /* Skip component if its dependencies are not met */
+    if (!component_meets_dependencies (core, self->curr_component)) {
+      wp_info_object (self, "... skipping component '%s' as its dependencies "
+          "are not met", self->curr_component->name);
+      wp_transition_advance (transition);
+      return;
+    }
+
+    /* Load the component */
+    wp_debug_object (self,
+        "... loading component '%s' ('%s') with priority '%d' and flags '%x'",
+        self->curr_component->name, self->curr_component->type,
+        self->curr_component->priority, self->curr_component->flags);
+    wp_core_load_component (core, self->curr_component->name,
+        self->curr_component->type, NULL, NULL,
+        (GAsyncReadyCallback) on_component_loaded, self);
+    break;
+
+  case STEP_CLEANUP:
+  case WP_TRANSITION_STEP_ERROR:
+    g_list_free_full (g_steal_pointer (&self->components),
+        (GDestroyNotify) component_data_free);
+    g_clear_pointer (&self->json, wp_spa_json_unref);
+    break;
+
+  default:
+    g_assert_not_reached ();
+  }
+}
+
+static void
+wp_component_array_load_task_class_init (WpComponentArrayLoadTaskClass * klass)
+{
+  WpTransitionClass * transition_class = (WpTransitionClass *) klass;
+  transition_class->get_next_step = wp_component_array_load_task_get_next_step;
+  transition_class->execute_step = wp_component_array_load_task_execute_step;
+}
+
+static WpTransition *
+wp_component_array_load_task_new (WpSpaJson *json,
+    gpointer source_object, GCancellable * cancellable,
+    GAsyncReadyCallback callback, gpointer callback_data)
+{
+  WpTransition *t = wp_transition_new (wp_component_array_load_task_get_type (),
+      source_object, cancellable, callback, callback_data);
+  WpComponentArrayLoadTask *task = WP_COMPONENT_ARRAY_LOAD_TASK (t);
+  task->json = wp_spa_json_ref (json);
+  return t;
+}
+
+/*** WpInternalCompLoader ***/
+
 struct _WpInternalCompLoader
 {
   GObject parent;
@@ -73,7 +391,7 @@ static gboolean
 wp_internal_comp_loader_supports_type (WpComponentLoader * cl,
     const gchar * type)
 {
-  return g_str_equal (type, "module");
+  return g_str_equal (type, "module") || g_str_equal (type, "array");
 }
 
 static void
@@ -81,18 +399,29 @@ wp_internal_comp_loader_load (WpComponentLoader * self, WpCore * core,
     const gchar * component, const gchar * type, WpSpaJson * args,
     GCancellable * cancellable, GAsyncReadyCallback callback, gpointer data)
 {
-  g_autoptr (GTask) task = g_task_new (self, cancellable, callback, data);
-  g_autoptr (GError) error = NULL;
-  g_autoptr (GObject) o = NULL;
+  if (g_str_equal (type, "module")) {
+    g_autoptr (GTask) task = g_task_new (self, cancellable, callback, data);
+    g_autoptr (GError) error = NULL;
+    g_autoptr (GObject) o = NULL;
 
-  g_task_set_source_tag (task, wp_internal_comp_loader_load);
+    g_task_set_source_tag (task, wp_internal_comp_loader_load);
 
-  /* load Module */
-  o = load_module (core, component, args, &error);
-  if (o)
-    g_task_return_pointer (task, g_steal_pointer (&o), g_object_unref);
-  else
-    g_task_return_error (task, g_steal_pointer (&error));
+    /* load module */
+    o = load_module (core, component, args, &error);
+    if (o)
+      g_task_return_pointer (task, g_steal_pointer (&o), g_object_unref);
+    else
+      g_task_return_error (task, g_steal_pointer (&error));
+  }
+  else if (g_str_equal (type, "array")) {
+    WpTransition *task = wp_component_array_load_task_new (args, core,
+        cancellable, callback, data);
+    wp_transition_set_source_tag (task, wp_internal_comp_loader_load);
+    wp_transition_advance (task);
+  }
+  else {
+    g_assert_not_reached ();
+  }
 }
 
 static GObject *
@@ -102,7 +431,12 @@ wp_internal_comp_loader_load_finish (WpComponentLoader * self,
   g_return_val_if_fail (
     g_async_result_is_tagged (res, wp_internal_comp_loader_load), NULL);
 
-  return g_task_propagate_pointer (G_TASK (res), error);
+  if (G_IS_TASK (res))
+    return g_task_propagate_pointer (G_TASK (res), error);
+  else {
+    wp_transition_finish (res, error);
+    return NULL;
+  }
 }
 
 static void
diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index f354ce07..4e5b5540 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -38,65 +38,18 @@ static GOptionEntry entries[] =
   { NULL }
 };
 
-struct _ComponentData
-{
-  gchar *name;
-  gchar *type;
-  gint priority;
-  gint flags;
-  WpSpaJson *deps;
-};
-typedef struct _ComponentData ComponentData;
-
-static gint
-component_cmp_func (const ComponentData *a, const ComponentData *b)
-{
-  return b->priority - a->priority;
-}
-
-static gint
-component_equal_func (const ComponentData *a, ComponentData * b)
-{
-  return
-      g_str_equal (a->name, b->name) && g_str_equal (a->type, b->type) ? 0 : 1;
-}
-
-static void
-component_data_free (ComponentData *self)
-{
-  g_clear_pointer (&self->name, g_free);
-  g_clear_pointer (&self->type, g_free);
-  g_clear_pointer (&self->deps, wp_spa_json_unref);
-  g_slice_free (ComponentData, self);
-}
-
-G_DEFINE_AUTOPTR_CLEANUP_FUNC (ComponentData, component_data_free)
-
-enum
-{
-  NO_FAIL = 0x1,
-  IF_EXISTS = 0x2
-};
-
-static void
-on_plugin_loaded (WpCore *core, GAsyncResult *res, gpointer user_data);
-
 /*** WpInitTransition ***/
 
 struct _WpInitTransition
 {
   WpTransition parent;
   WpObjectManager *om;
-  GList *components;
-  GList *components_iter;
-  ComponentData *curr_component;
 };
 
 enum {
   STEP_CONNECT = WP_TRANSITION_STEP_CUSTOM_START,
   STEP_CHECK_MEDIA_SESSION,
-  STEP_PARSE_COMPONENTS,
-  STEP_LOAD_ENABLE_COMPONENTS,
+  STEP_LOAD_COMPONENTS,
   STEP_CLEANUP,
 };
 
@@ -126,9 +79,8 @@ wp_init_transition_get_next_step (WpTransition * transition, guint step)
       return STEP_CONNECT;
     }
   }
-  case STEP_CHECK_MEDIA_SESSION:    return STEP_PARSE_COMPONENTS;
-  case STEP_PARSE_COMPONENTS:       return STEP_LOAD_ENABLE_COMPONENTS;
-  case STEP_LOAD_ENABLE_COMPONENTS: return STEP_CLEANUP;
+  case STEP_CHECK_MEDIA_SESSION:    return STEP_LOAD_COMPONENTS;
+  case STEP_LOAD_COMPONENTS:        return STEP_CLEANUP;
   case STEP_CLEANUP:                return WP_TRANSITION_STEP_NONE;
 
   default:
@@ -136,99 +88,6 @@ wp_init_transition_get_next_step (WpTransition * transition, guint step)
   }
 }
 
-static gboolean
-component_meets_dependencies (WpCore *core, ComponentData *comp)
-{
-  g_autoptr (WpConf) conf = NULL;
-  g_autoptr (WpIterator) it = NULL;
-  g_auto (GValue) item = G_VALUE_INIT;
-
-  if (!comp->deps)
-    return TRUE;
-
-  /* Note that we consider the dependency valid by default if it is not
-   * found in the settings configuration section */
-  conf = wp_conf_get_instance (core);
-  it = wp_spa_json_new_iterator (comp->deps);
-  for (; wp_iterator_next (it, &item); g_value_unset (&item)) {
-    WpSpaJson *dep = g_value_get_boxed (&item);
-    g_autofree gchar *dep_str = wp_spa_json_parse_string (dep);
-    gboolean value = wp_conf_get_value_boolean (conf,
-        "wireplumber.settings", dep_str, TRUE);
-    if (!value)
-      return FALSE;
-  }
-
-  return TRUE;
-}
-
-static gboolean
-load_enable_components (WpInitTransition *self)
-{
-  WpCore *core = wp_transition_get_source_object (WP_TRANSITION (self));
-
-  while (self->components_iter) {
-    self->curr_component = (ComponentData *) self->components_iter->data;
-
-    /* Advance */
-    self->components_iter = g_list_next (self->components_iter);
-
-    /* Skip component if its dependencies are not met */
-    if (!component_meets_dependencies (core, self->curr_component)) {
-      wp_info_object (self, "... skipping component '%s' as its dependencies "
-          "are not met", self->curr_component->name);
-      continue;
-    }
-
-    /* Load the component */
-    wp_debug_object (self,
-        "... loading component '%s' ('%s') with priority '%d' and flags '%x'",
-        self->curr_component->name, self->curr_component->type,
-        self->curr_component->priority, self->curr_component->flags);
-    wp_core_load_component (core, self->curr_component->name,
-        self->curr_component->type, NULL, NULL,
-        (GAsyncReadyCallback) on_plugin_loaded, self);
-    return FALSE;
-  }
-
-  self->curr_component = NULL;
-  return TRUE;
-}
-
-static void
-on_plugin_loaded (WpCore *core, GAsyncResult *res, gpointer data)
-{
-  WpInitTransition *self = data;
-  g_autoptr (GError) error = NULL;
-
-  g_return_if_fail (self->curr_component);
-
-  if (!wp_core_load_component_finish (core, res, &error)) {
-    if (self->curr_component->flags & IF_EXISTS &&
-        error->domain == G_IO_ERROR &&
-        error->code == G_IO_ERROR_NOT_FOUND) {
-      wp_info_object (self, "skipping component '%s' with 'ifexists' flag "
-          "because the file does not exist", self->curr_component->name);
-      goto next;
-    } else if (self->curr_component->flags & NO_FAIL) {
-      wp_info_object (self, "skipping component '%s' with 'nofail' flag "
-          "due to error: %s", self->curr_component->name, error->message);
-      goto next;
-    }
-
-    wp_transition_return_error (WP_TRANSITION (self), g_error_new (
-        WP_DOMAIN_DAEMON, WP_EXIT_CONFIG,
-        "failed to activate component '%s': %s", self->curr_component->name,
-        error->message));
-    return;
-  }
-
-next:
-  /* load and enable the rest of components */
-  if (load_enable_components (self))
-    wp_transition_advance (WP_TRANSITION (self));
-}
-
 static void
 check_media_session (WpObjectManager * om, WpInitTransition *self)
 {
@@ -242,100 +101,20 @@ check_media_session (WpObjectManager * om, WpInitTransition *self)
   wp_transition_advance (WP_TRANSITION (self));
 }
 
-static gint
-pick_default_component_priority (const char *type)
-{
-  if (g_str_equal (type, "module"))
-    /* regular module default priority */
-    return 110;
-  else if (g_str_equal (type, "script/lua"))
-    /* Lua Script default priority */
-    return 100;
-
-  return 100;
-}
-
 static void
-append_json_components (GList **list, WpSpaJson *json)
+on_components_loaded (WpCore *core, GAsyncResult *res, gpointer data)
 {
-  g_autoptr (WpIterator) it = NULL;
-  g_auto (GValue) item = G_VALUE_INIT;
+  WpTransition *self = data;
+  g_autoptr (GError) error = NULL;
 
-  if (!wp_spa_json_is_array (json)) {
-    wp_warning ("components section is not a JSON array, skipping...");
+  if (!wp_core_load_component_finish (core, res, &error)) {
+    wp_transition_return_error (self, g_error_new (
+        WP_DOMAIN_DAEMON, WP_EXIT_CONFIG,
+        "failed to load components: %s", error->message));
     return;
   }
 
-  it = wp_spa_json_new_iterator (json);
-  for (; wp_iterator_next (it, &item); g_value_unset (&item)) {
-    WpSpaJson *cjson = g_value_get_boxed (&item);
-    g_autoptr (ComponentData) comp = g_slice_new0 (ComponentData);
-    g_autoptr (WpSpaJson) deps = NULL;
-    g_autoptr (WpSpaJson) flags = NULL;
-
-    /* Parse name and type (mandatory) */
-    if (!wp_spa_json_is_object (cjson) ||
-        !wp_spa_json_object_get (cjson,
-            "name", "s", &comp->name,
-            "type", "s", &comp->type,
-            NULL)) {
-      wp_warning ("component must have both a 'name' and a 'type'");
-      continue;
-    }
-
-    /* Parse priority (optional) */
-    if (!wp_spa_json_object_get (cjson, "priority", "i", &comp->priority,
-        NULL))
-      comp->priority = pick_default_component_priority (comp->type);
-
-    /* Parse deps (optional) */
-    if (wp_spa_json_object_get (cjson, "deps", "J", &deps, NULL)) {
-      if (wp_spa_json_is_array (deps)) {
-        comp->deps = g_steal_pointer (&deps);
-      } else {
-        wp_warning ("skipping component %s as its 'deps' is not a JSON array",
-            comp->name);
-        continue;
-      }
-    }
-
-    /* Parse flags (optional) */
-    if (wp_spa_json_object_get (cjson, "flags", "J", &flags, NULL)) {
-      if (flags && wp_spa_json_is_array (flags)) {
-        g_autoptr (WpIterator) it = wp_spa_json_new_iterator (flags);
-        g_auto (GValue) item = G_VALUE_INIT;
-
-        for (; wp_iterator_next (it, &item); g_value_unset (&item)) {
-          WpSpaJson *flag = g_value_get_boxed (&item);
-          g_autofree gchar *flag_str = wp_spa_json_parse_string (flag);
-
-          if (g_str_equal (flag_str, "ifexists"))
-            comp->flags |= IF_EXISTS;
-          else if (g_str_equal (flag_str, "nofail"))
-            comp->flags |= NO_FAIL;
-          else
-            wp_warning ("flag '%s' is not valid for component '%s'", flag_str,
-                comp->name);
-        }
-      } else {
-        wp_warning ("skipping component %s as its 'flags' is not a JSON array",
-            comp->name);
-        continue;
-      }
-    }
-
-    /* Insert component into the list if it does not exist */
-    if (!g_list_find_custom (*list, comp,
-        (GCompareFunc) component_equal_func)) {
-      wp_trace ("appended component '%s' of type '%s' with priority '%d'",
-          comp->name, comp->type, comp->priority);
-      *list = g_list_insert_sorted (*list, g_steal_pointer (&comp),
-          (GCompareFunc) component_cmp_func);
-    } else {
-      wp_debug ("ignoring component '%s' as it is already defined previously",
-          comp->name);
-    }
-  }
+  wp_transition_advance (self);
 }
 
 static void
@@ -403,36 +182,24 @@ wp_init_transition_execute_step (WpTransition * transition, guint step)
     break;
   }
 
-  case STEP_PARSE_COMPONENTS: {
+  case STEP_LOAD_COMPONENTS: {
     g_autoptr (WpConf) conf = wp_conf_get_instance (core);
     g_autoptr (WpSpaJson) json_comps = NULL;
 
-    wp_info_object (self, "parsing components...");
+    wp_info_object (self, "parsing & loading components...");
 
-    /* Append components that are defined in the configuration section */
+    /* Load components that are defined in the configuration section */
     json_comps = wp_conf_get_section (conf, "wireplumber.components", NULL);
-    if (json_comps)
-      append_json_components (&self->components, json_comps);
-
-    self->components_iter = g_list_first (self->components);
-    wp_transition_advance (transition);
+    wp_core_load_component (core, NULL, "array", json_comps, NULL,
+        (GAsyncReadyCallback) on_components_loaded, self);
     break;
   }
-
-  case STEP_LOAD_ENABLE_COMPONENTS:
-    wp_info_object (self, "loading and enabling components...");
-    if (load_enable_components (self))
-      wp_transition_advance (WP_TRANSITION (self));
-    break;
-
   case STEP_CLEANUP:
     wp_info_object (self, "WirePlumber initialized");
     G_GNUC_FALLTHROUGH;
 
   case WP_TRANSITION_STEP_ERROR:
     g_clear_object (&self->om);
-    g_list_free_full (g_steal_pointer (&self->components),
-        (GDestroyNotify) component_data_free);
     break;
 
   default: