diff --git a/src/cloneCommand.ts b/src/cloneCommand.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..551cdd22d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/cloneCommand.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+import {
+  JupyterFrontEnd,
+  JupyterFrontEndPlugin
+} from '@jupyterlab/application';
+import { ITranslator, nullTranslator } from '@jupyterlab/translation';
+import { CommandIDs, IGitExtension, Level } from './tokens';
+import { IFileBrowserFactory } from '@jupyterlab/filebrowser';
+import { Dialog, showDialog } from '@jupyterlab/apputils';
+import { GitCloneForm } from './widgets/GitCloneForm';
+import { logger } from './logger';
+import {
+  addFileBrowserContextMenu,
+  IGitCloneArgs,
+  Operation,
+  showGitOperationDialog
+} from './commandsAndMenu';
+import { GitExtension } from './model';
+import { addCloneButton } from './widgets/gitClone';
+
+export const gitCloneCommandPlugin: JupyterFrontEndPlugin<void> = {
+  id: '@jupyterlab/git:clone',
+  requires: [ITranslator, IGitExtension, IFileBrowserFactory],
+  activate: (
+    app: JupyterFrontEnd,
+    translator: ITranslator,
+    gitModel: IGitExtension,
+    fileBrowserFactory: IFileBrowserFactory
+  ) => {
+    translator = translator || nullTranslator;
+    const trans = translator.load('jupyterlab_git');
+    const fileBrowser = fileBrowserFactory.defaultBrowser;
+    const fileBrowserModel = fileBrowser.model;
+    /** Add git clone command */
+    app.commands.addCommand(CommandIDs.gitClone, {
+      label: trans.__('Clone a Repository'),
+      caption: trans.__('Clone a repository from a URL'),
+      isEnabled: () => gitModel.pathRepository === null,
+      execute: async () => {
+        const result = await showDialog({
+          title: trans.__('Clone a repo'),
+          body: new GitCloneForm(trans),
+          focusNodeSelector: 'input',
+          buttons: [
+            Dialog.cancelButton({ label: trans.__('Cancel') }),
+            Dialog.okButton({ label: trans.__('Clone') })
+          ]
+        });
+
+        if (result.button.accept && result.value) {
+          logger.log({
+            level: Level.RUNNING,
+            message: trans.__('Cloning…')
+          });
+          try {
+            const details = await showGitOperationDialog<IGitCloneArgs>(
+              gitModel as GitExtension,
+              Operation.Clone,
+              trans,
+              { path: fileBrowserModel.path, url: result.value }
+            );
+            logger.log({
+              message: trans.__('Successfully cloned'),
+              level: Level.SUCCESS,
+              details
+            });
+            await fileBrowserModel.refresh();
+          } catch (error) {
+            console.error(
+              'Encountered an error when cloning the repository. Error: ',
+              error
+            );
+            logger.log({
+              message: trans.__('Failed to clone'),
+              level: Level.ERROR,
+              error: error as Error
+            });
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    });
+    // Add a clone button to the file browser extension toolbar
+    addCloneButton(gitModel, fileBrowser, app.commands);
+
+    // Add the context menu items for the default file browser
+    addFileBrowserContextMenu(gitModel, fileBrowser, app.contextMenu);
+  },
+  autoStart: true
+};
diff --git a/src/commandsAndMenu.tsx b/src/commandsAndMenu.tsx
index fe34bda64..5f5459ec1 100644
--- a/src/commandsAndMenu.tsx
+++ b/src/commandsAndMenu.tsx
@@ -47,9 +47,8 @@ import {
 } from './tokens';
 import { GitCredentialsForm } from './widgets/CredentialsBox';
 import { discardAllChanges } from './widgets/discardAllChanges';
-import { GitCloneForm } from './widgets/GitCloneForm';
 
-interface IGitCloneArgs {
+export interface IGitCloneArgs {
   /**
    * Path in which to clone the Git repository
    */
@@ -63,7 +62,7 @@ interface IGitCloneArgs {
 /**
  * Git operations requiring authentication
  */
-enum Operation {
+export enum Operation {
   Clone = 'Clone',
   Pull = 'Pull',
   Push = 'Push',
@@ -291,55 +290,6 @@ export function addCommands(
     }
   });
 
-  /** Add git clone command */
-  commands.addCommand(CommandIDs.gitClone, {
-    label: trans.__('Clone a Repository'),
-    caption: trans.__('Clone a repository from a URL'),
-    isEnabled: () => gitModel.pathRepository === null,
-    execute: async () => {
-      const result = await showDialog({
-        title: trans.__('Clone a repo'),
-        body: new GitCloneForm(trans),
-        focusNodeSelector: 'input',
-        buttons: [
-          Dialog.cancelButton({ label: trans.__('Cancel') }),
-          Dialog.okButton({ label: trans.__('Clone') })
-        ]
-      });
-
-      if (result.button.accept && result.value) {
-        logger.log({
-          level: Level.RUNNING,
-          message: trans.__('Cloning…')
-        });
-        try {
-          const details = await Private.showGitOperationDialog<IGitCloneArgs>(
-            gitModel,
-            Operation.Clone,
-            trans,
-            { path: fileBrowserModel.path, url: result.value }
-          );
-          logger.log({
-            message: trans.__('Successfully cloned'),
-            level: Level.SUCCESS,
-            details
-          });
-          await fileBrowserModel.refresh();
-        } catch (error) {
-          console.error(
-            'Encountered an error when cloning the repository. Error: ',
-            error
-          );
-          logger.log({
-            message: trans.__('Failed to clone'),
-            level: Level.ERROR,
-            error: error as Error
-          });
-        }
-      }
-    }
-  });
-
   /** Add git open gitignore command */
   commands.addCommand(CommandIDs.gitOpenGitignore, {
     label: trans.__('Open .gitignore'),
@@ -364,7 +314,7 @@ export function addCommands(
         message: trans.__('Pushing…')
       });
       try {
-        const details = await Private.showGitOperationDialog(
+        const details = await showGitOperationDialog(
           gitModel,
           args.force ? Operation.ForcePush : Operation.Push,
           trans
@@ -410,7 +360,7 @@ export function addCommands(
           level: Level.RUNNING,
           message: trans.__('Pulling…')
         });
-        const details = await Private.showGitOperationDialog(
+        const details = await showGitOperationDialog(
           gitModel,
           Operation.Pull,
           trans
@@ -1399,84 +1349,80 @@ export function addFileBrowserContextMenu(
   }
 }
 
-/* eslint-disable no-inner-declarations */
-namespace Private {
-  /**
-   * Handle Git operation that may require authentication.
-   *
-   * @private
-   * @param model - Git extension model
-   * @param operation - Git operation name
-   * @param trans - language translator
-   * @param args - Git operation arguments
-   * @param authentication - Git authentication information
-   * @param retry - Is this operation retried?
-   * @returns Promise for displaying a dialog
-   */
-  export async function showGitOperationDialog<T>(
-    model: GitExtension,
-    operation: Operation,
-    trans: TranslationBundle,
-    args?: T,
-    authentication?: Git.IAuth,
-    retry = false
-  ): Promise<string> {
-    try {
-      let result: Git.IResultWithMessage;
-      // the Git action
-      switch (operation) {
-        case Operation.Clone:
-          // eslint-disable-next-line no-case-declarations
-          const { path, url } = args as any as IGitCloneArgs;
-          result = await model.clone(path, url, authentication);
-          break;
-        case Operation.Pull:
-          result = await model.pull(authentication);
-          break;
-        case Operation.Push:
-          result = await model.push(authentication);
-          break;
-        case Operation.ForcePush:
-          result = await model.push(authentication, true);
-          break;
-        default:
-          result = { code: -1, message: 'Unknown git command' };
-          break;
-      }
+/**
+ * Handle Git operation that may require authentication.
+ *
+ * @private
+ * @param model - Git extension model
+ * @param operation - Git operation name
+ * @param trans - language translator
+ * @param args - Git operation arguments
+ * @param authentication - Git authentication information
+ * @param retry - Is this operation retried?
+ * @returns Promise for displaying a dialog
+ */
+export async function showGitOperationDialog<T>(
+  model: GitExtension,
+  operation: Operation,
+  trans: TranslationBundle,
+  args?: T,
+  authentication?: Git.IAuth,
+  retry = false
+): Promise<string> {
+  try {
+    let result: Git.IResultWithMessage;
+    // the Git action
+    switch (operation) {
+      case Operation.Clone:
+        // eslint-disable-next-line no-case-declarations
+        const { path, url } = args as any as IGitCloneArgs;
+        result = await model.clone(path, url, authentication);
+        break;
+      case Operation.Pull:
+        result = await model.pull(authentication);
+        break;
+      case Operation.Push:
+        result = await model.push(authentication);
+        break;
+      case Operation.ForcePush:
+        result = await model.push(authentication, true);
+        break;
+      default:
+        result = { code: -1, message: 'Unknown git command' };
+        break;
+    }
 
-      return result.message;
-    } catch (error) {
-      if (
-        AUTH_ERROR_MESSAGES.some(
-          errorMessage => (error as Error).message.indexOf(errorMessage) > -1
+    return result.message;
+  } catch (error) {
+    if (
+      AUTH_ERROR_MESSAGES.some(
+        errorMessage => (error as Error).message.indexOf(errorMessage) > -1
+      )
+    ) {
+      // If the error is an authentication error, ask the user credentials
+      const credentials = await showDialog({
+        title: trans.__('Git credentials required'),
+        body: new GitCredentialsForm(
+          trans,
+          trans.__('Enter credentials for remote repository'),
+          retry ? trans.__('Incorrect username or password.') : ''
         )
-      ) {
-        // If the error is an authentication error, ask the user credentials
-        const credentials = await showDialog({
-          title: trans.__('Git credentials required'),
-          body: new GitCredentialsForm(
-            trans,
-            trans.__('Enter credentials for remote repository'),
-            retry ? trans.__('Incorrect username or password.') : ''
-          )
-        });
+      });
 
-        if (credentials.button.accept) {
-          // Retry the operation if the user provides its credentials
-          return await showGitOperationDialog<T>(
-            model,
-            operation,
-            trans,
-            args,
-            credentials.value,
-            true
-          );
-        }
+      if (credentials.button.accept) {
+        // Retry the operation if the user provides its credentials
+        return await showGitOperationDialog<T>(
+          model,
+          operation,
+          trans,
+          args,
+          credentials.value,
+          true
+        );
       }
-      // Throw the error if it cannot be handled or
-      // if the user did not accept to provide its credentials
-      throw error;
     }
+    // Throw the error if it cannot be handled or
+    // if the user did not accept to provide its credentials
+    throw error;
   }
 }
-/* eslint-enable no-inner-declarations */
diff --git a/src/components/GitPanel.tsx b/src/components/GitPanel.tsx
index 084eb066a..19440e560 100644
--- a/src/components/GitPanel.tsx
+++ b/src/components/GitPanel.tsx
@@ -472,15 +472,17 @@ export class GitPanel extends React.Component<IGitPanelProps, IGitPanelState> {
         >
           {this.props.trans.__('Initialize a Repository')}
         </button>
-        <button
-          className={repoButtonClass}
-          onClick={async () => {
-            await commands.execute(CommandIDs.gitClone);
-            await commands.execute('filebrowser:toggle-main');
-          }}
-        >
-          {this.props.trans.__('Clone a Repository')}
-        </button>
+        {commands.hasCommand(CommandIDs.gitClone) && (
+          <button
+            className={repoButtonClass}
+            onClick={async () => {
+              await commands.execute(CommandIDs.gitClone);
+              await commands.execute('filebrowser:toggle-main');
+            }}
+          >
+            {this.props.trans.__('Clone a Repository')}
+          </button>
+        )}
       </React.Fragment>
     );
   }
diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index 589e92427..9515ff1a3 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import { gitIcon } from './style/icons';
 import { Git, IGitExtension } from './tokens';
 import { addCloneButton } from './widgets/gitClone';
 import { GitWidget } from './widgets/GitWidget';
+import { gitCloneCommandPlugin } from './cloneCommand';
 
 export { DiffModel } from './components/diff/model';
 export { NotebookDiff } from './components/diff/NotebookDiff';
@@ -54,7 +55,7 @@ const plugin: JupyterFrontEndPlugin<IGitExtension> = {
 /**
  * Export the plugin as default.
  */
-export default plugin;
+export default [plugin, gitCloneCommandPlugin];
 
 /**
  * Activate the running plugin.
diff --git a/tests/plugin.spec.ts b/tests/plugin.spec.ts
index a56c14c11..ff37a55dd 100644
--- a/tests/plugin.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/plugin.spec.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import 'jest';
 import * as git from '../src/git';
-import plugin from '../src/index';
+import plugins from '../src/index';
 import { version } from '../src/version';
 import { ISettingRegistry, SettingRegistry } from '@jupyterlab/settingregistry';
 import { JupyterLab } from '@jupyterlab/application';
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ jest.mock('@jupyterlab/application');
 jest.mock('@jupyterlab/apputils');
 jest.mock('@jupyterlab/settingregistry');
 
+const plugin = plugins[0];
+
 describe('plugin', () => {
   const mockGit = git as jest.Mocked<typeof git>;
   let app: jest.Mocked<JupyterLab>;