diff --git a/.eslintrc.json b/.eslintrc.json
index b587495296..bad432c4f2 100644
--- a/.eslintrc.json
+++ b/.eslintrc.json
@@ -166,7 +166,6 @@
                 "recent_topics": false,
                 "reminder": false,
                 "search_pill_widget": false,
-                "server_events": false,
                 "settings": false,
                 "settings_account": false,
                 "settings_bots": false,
diff --git a/frontend_tests/node_tests/activity.js b/frontend_tests/node_tests/activity.js
index 099b65b60b..20399ee1f1 100644
--- a/frontend_tests/node_tests/activity.js
+++ b/frontend_tests/node_tests/activity.js
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ rewiremock("../../static/js/resize").with(_resize);
 rewiremock("../../static/js/scroll_util").with(_scroll_util);
 rewiremock("../../static/js/stream_popover").with(_stream_popover);
 set_global("ui", _ui);
-set_global("server_events", {
+rewiremock("../../static/js/server_events").with({
     check_for_unsuspend() {},
 });
 
diff --git a/frontend_tests/node_tests/compose.js b/frontend_tests/node_tests/compose.js
index 1191231e91..90ef832820 100644
--- a/frontend_tests/node_tests/compose.js
+++ b/frontend_tests/node_tests/compose.js
@@ -735,7 +735,7 @@ test_ui("send_message", () => {
     set_global("setTimeout", (func) => {
         func();
     });
-    set_global("server_events", {
+    rewiremock("../../static/js/server_events").with({
         assert_get_events_running() {
             stub_state.get_events_running_called += 1;
         },
diff --git a/frontend_tests/node_tests/message_fetch.js b/frontend_tests/node_tests/message_fetch.js
index bdff46f640..b71d7c8522 100644
--- a/frontend_tests/node_tests/message_fetch.js
+++ b/frontend_tests/node_tests/message_fetch.js
@@ -47,7 +47,8 @@ const narrow_state = {__esModule: true};
 rewiremock("../../static/js/narrow_state").with(narrow_state);
 const pm_list = {__esModule: true};
 rewiremock("../../static/js/pm_list").with(pm_list);
-const server_events = set_global("server_events", {});
+const server_events = {__esModule: true};
+rewiremock("../../static/js/server_events").with(server_events);
 const stream_list = set_global("stream_list", {
     maybe_scroll_narrow_into_view: () => {},
 });
diff --git a/frontend_tests/node_tests/presence.js b/frontend_tests/node_tests/presence.js
index db7a21c368..1b9eb02025 100644
--- a/frontend_tests/node_tests/presence.js
+++ b/frontend_tests/node_tests/presence.js
@@ -4,10 +4,11 @@ const {strict: assert} = require("assert");
 
 const rewiremock = require("rewiremock/node");
 
-const {set_global, zrequire} = require("../zjsunit/namespace");
+const {zrequire} = require("../zjsunit/namespace");
 const {run_test} = require("../zjsunit/test");
 
-const server_events = set_global("server_events", {});
+const server_events = {__esModule: true};
+rewiremock("../../static/js/server_events").with(server_events);
 const reload_state = {
     __esModule: true,
     is_in_progress: () => false,
diff --git a/frontend_tests/node_tests/ui_init.js b/frontend_tests/node_tests/ui_init.js
index 0bdbdecda1..677ae3e710 100644
--- a/frontend_tests/node_tests/ui_init.js
+++ b/frontend_tests/node_tests/ui_init.js
@@ -87,7 +87,11 @@ set_global("panels", {initialize() {}});
 rewiremock("../../static/js/popovers").with({initialize() {}});
 rewiremock("../../static/js/reload").with({initialize() {}});
 rewiremock("../../static/js/scroll_bar").with({initialize() {}});
-const server_events = set_global("server_events", {initialize() {}});
+const server_events = {
+    __esModule: true,
+    initialize() {},
+};
+rewiremock("../../static/js/server_events").with(server_events);
 set_global("settings_sections", {initialize() {}});
 rewiremock("../../static/js/settings_panel_menu").with({initialize() {}});
 rewiremock("../../static/js/settings_toggle").with({initialize() {}});
diff --git a/static/js/activity.js b/static/js/activity.js
index 5c1b7863c6..49263a4992 100644
--- a/static/js/activity.js
+++ b/static/js/activity.js
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ const {ListCursor} = require("./list_cursor");
 const people = require("./people");
 const pm_list = require("./pm_list");
 const popovers = require("./popovers");
+const server_events = require("./server_events");
 const {UserSearch} = require("./user_search");
 const user_status = require("./user_status");
 
diff --git a/static/js/click_handlers.js b/static/js/click_handlers.js
index 7f2e90d07e..b4d93f7da7 100644
--- a/static/js/click_handlers.js
+++ b/static/js/click_handlers.js
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import * as notifications from "./notifications";
 import * as overlays from "./overlays";
 import * as popovers from "./popovers";
 import * as rows from "./rows";
+import * as server_events from "./server_events";
 import * as settings_panel_menu from "./settings_panel_menu";
 import * as settings_toggle from "./settings_toggle";
 import * as stream_edit from "./stream_edit";
diff --git a/static/js/compose.js b/static/js/compose.js
index 7bd442399b..8f5fa3d460 100644
--- a/static/js/compose.js
+++ b/static/js/compose.js
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import * as rendered_markdown from "./rendered_markdown";
 import * as resize from "./resize";
 import * as rtl from "./rtl";
 import * as sent_messages from "./sent_messages";
+import * as server_events from "./server_events";
 import * as settings_config from "./settings_config";
 import * as stream_data from "./stream_data";
 import * as stream_edit from "./stream_edit";
diff --git a/static/js/global.d.ts b/static/js/global.d.ts
index 1979143f85..23bbf07701 100644
--- a/static/js/global.d.ts
+++ b/static/js/global.d.ts
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@ declare let realm_logo: any;
 declare let recent_topics: any;
 declare let reminder: any;
 declare let search_pill_widget: any;
-declare let server_events: any;
 declare let settings: any;
 declare let settings_account: any;
 declare let settings_bots: any;
diff --git a/static/js/message_fetch.js b/static/js/message_fetch.js
index 37d56bbffd..1e6cd4cb1c 100644
--- a/static/js/message_fetch.js
+++ b/static/js/message_fetch.js
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import * as message_store from "./message_store";
 import * as message_util from "./message_util";
 import * as people from "./people";
 import * as pm_list from "./pm_list";
+import * as server_events from "./server_events";
 import * as stream_data from "./stream_data";
 import * as ui_report from "./ui_report";
 
diff --git a/static/js/presence.js b/static/js/presence.js
index ebb129f1ed..e58d138b9b 100644
--- a/static/js/presence.js
+++ b/static/js/presence.js
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 const people = require("./people");
 const reload_state = require("./reload_state");
+const server_events = require("./server_events");
 
 // This module just manages data.  See activity.js for
 // the UI of our buddy list.
diff --git a/static/js/reload.js b/static/js/reload.js
index 1353103e6f..7ddd2144f3 100644
--- a/static/js/reload.js
+++ b/static/js/reload.js
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import * as hashchange from "./hashchange";
 import {localstorage} from "./localstorage";
 import * as narrow_state from "./narrow_state";
 import * as reload_state from "./reload_state";
+import * as server_events from "./server_events";
 import * as ui_report from "./ui_report";
 import * as util from "./util";
 
diff --git a/static/js/sent_messages.js b/static/js/sent_messages.js
index 36686040fa..d21bda1b6b 100644
--- a/static/js/sent_messages.js
+++ b/static/js/sent_messages.js
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import * as channel from "./channel";
+import * as server_events from "./server_events";
 
 export let next_local_id;
 export const messages = new Map();
diff --git a/static/js/server_events.js b/static/js/server_events.js
index 45b3a9eb89..b438984052 100644
--- a/static/js/server_events.js
+++ b/static/js/server_events.js
@@ -1,15 +1,14 @@
-"use strict";
+import _ from "lodash";
 
-const _ = require("lodash");
+import * as channel from "./channel";
+import * as echo from "./echo";
+import * as message_store from "./message_store";
+import * as reload from "./reload";
+import * as reload_state from "./reload_state";
+import * as sent_messages from "./sent_messages";
+import * as server_events_dispatch from "./server_events_dispatch";
+import * as ui_report from "./ui_report";
 
-const channel = require("./channel");
-const echo = require("./echo");
-const message_store = require("./message_store");
-const reload = require("./reload");
-const reload_state = require("./reload_state");
-const sent_messages = require("./sent_messages");
-const server_events_dispatch = require("./server_events_dispatch");
-const ui_report = require("./ui_report");
 // Docs: https://zulip.readthedocs.io/en/latest/subsystems/events-system.html
 
 let waiting_on_homeview_load = true;
@@ -25,7 +24,7 @@ const get_events_params = {};
 // force-reconnect to the events server due to suspecting we are
 // offline.  It is important for avoiding races with the presence
 // system when coming back from unsuspend.
-exports.suspect_offline = false;
+export let suspect_offline = false;
 
 function get_events_success(events) {
     let messages = [];
@@ -192,7 +191,7 @@ function get_events(options) {
         // that means it's fairly likely that this client has been off
         // the Internet and thus may have stale state (which is
         // important for potential presence issues).
-        exports.suspect_offline = true;
+        suspect_offline = true;
     }
     if (get_events_params.queue_id === undefined) {
         get_events_params.queue_id = page_params.queue_id;
@@ -216,7 +215,7 @@ function get_events(options) {
         idempotent: true,
         timeout: page_params.poll_timeout,
         success(data) {
-            exports.suspect_offline = false;
+            suspect_offline = false;
             try {
                 get_events_xhr = undefined;
                 get_events_failures = 0;
@@ -279,29 +278,30 @@ function get_events(options) {
     });
 }
 
-exports.assert_get_events_running = function assert_get_events_running(error_message) {
+export function assert_get_events_running(error_message) {
     if (get_events_xhr === undefined && get_events_timeout === undefined) {
-        exports.restart_get_events({dont_block: true});
+        restart_get_events({dont_block: true});
         blueslip.error(error_message);
     }
-};
+}
 
-exports.restart_get_events = function restart_get_events(options) {
+export function restart_get_events(options) {
     get_events(options);
-};
+}
 
-exports.force_get_events = function force_get_events() {
+export function force_get_events() {
     get_events_timeout = setTimeout(get_events, 0);
-};
+}
 
-exports.home_view_loaded = function home_view_loaded() {
+export function home_view_loaded() {
     waiting_on_homeview_load = false;
     get_events_success([]);
     $(document).trigger("home_view_loaded.zulip");
-};
+}
 
 let watchdog_time = $.now();
-exports.check_for_unsuspend = function () {
+
+export function check_for_unsuspend() {
     const new_time = $.now();
     if (new_time - watchdog_time > 20000) {
         // 20 seconds.
@@ -313,20 +313,21 @@ exports.check_for_unsuspend = function () {
         $(document).trigger("unsuspend");
     }
     watchdog_time = new_time;
-};
-setInterval(exports.check_for_unsuspend, 5000);
+}
 
-exports.initialize = function () {
+setInterval(check_for_unsuspend, 5000);
+
+export function initialize() {
     $(document).on("unsuspend", () => {
         // Immediately poll for new events on unsuspend
         blueslip.log("Restarting get_events due to unsuspend");
         get_events_failures = 0;
-        exports.restart_get_events({dont_block: true});
+        restart_get_events({dont_block: true});
     });
     get_events();
-};
+}
 
-exports.cleanup_event_queue = function cleanup_event_queue() {
+export function cleanup_event_queue() {
     // Submit a request to the server to cleanup our event queue
     if (page_params.event_queue_expired === true || page_params.no_event_queue === true) {
         return;
@@ -339,13 +340,11 @@ exports.cleanup_event_queue = function cleanup_event_queue() {
         data: {queue_id: page_params.queue_id},
         ignore_reload: true,
     });
-};
+}
 
 window.addEventListener("beforeunload", () => {
-    exports.cleanup_event_queue();
+    cleanup_event_queue();
 });
 
 // For unit testing
-exports._get_events_success = get_events_success;
-
-window.server_events = exports;
+export const _get_events_success = get_events_success;
diff --git a/static/js/ui_init.js b/static/js/ui_init.js
index 5fa7c8e501..8a86a40053 100644
--- a/static/js/ui_init.js
+++ b/static/js/ui_init.js
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ const rows = require("./rows");
 const scroll_bar = require("./scroll_bar");
 const search = require("./search");
 const sent_messages = require("./sent_messages");
+const server_events = require("./server_events");
 const settings_panel_menu = require("./settings_panel_menu");
 const settings_toggle = require("./settings_toggle");
 const spoilers = require("./spoilers");