diff --git a/packages/collector/test/nativeModuleRetry/preinstall.sh b/packages/collector/test/nativeModuleRetry/preinstall.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..e23a1f8255
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/collector/test/nativeModuleRetry/preinstall.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+#######################################
+# (c) Copyright IBM Corp. 2025
+#######################################
+
+cd "$(dirname "$0")/../../../collector"
+echo "Running npm pack in $(pwd)"
+npm pack
+
+version=$(node -p "require('./package.json').version")
+tarball="instana-collector-${version}.tgz"
+cp "./${tarball}" "./test/nativeModuleRetry/collector.tgz"
+
+cd "$(dirname "$0")/../core"
+echo "Running npm pack in $(pwd)"
+npm pack
+
+version=$(node -p "require('./package.json').version")
+tarball="instana-core-${version}.tgz"
+cp "./${tarball}" "../collector/test/nativeModuleRetry/core.tgz"
+
+cd "$(dirname "$0")/../shared-metrics"
+echo "Running npm pack in $(pwd)"
+npm pack
+
+version=$(node -p "require('./package.json').version")
+tarball="instana-shared-metrics-${version}.tgz"
+cp "./${tarball}" "../collector/test/nativeModuleRetry/shared-metrics.tgz"
diff --git a/packages/collector/test/nativeModuleRetry/test.js b/packages/collector/test/nativeModuleRetry/test.js
index 00ca249370..4d434d42a6 100644
--- a/packages/collector/test/nativeModuleRetry/test.js
+++ b/packages/collector/test/nativeModuleRetry/test.js
@@ -94,42 +94,20 @@ mochaSuiteFn('retry loading native addons', function () {
       before(async () => {
         execSync(`rm -rf ${tmpFolder}`, { cwd: __dirname, stdio: 'inherit' });
         execSync(`mkdir -p ${tmpFolder}`, { cwd: __dirname, stdio: 'inherit' });
-
         execSync(`cp app.js ${tmpFolder}/`, { cwd: __dirname, stdio: 'inherit' });
 
         // eslint-disable-next-line no-console
         console.log('Running npm install in', tmpFolder);
         execSync('rm -rf node_modules', { cwd: tmpFolder, stdio: 'inherit' });
 
-        const copath = path.join(__dirname, '..', '..', '..', 'collector');
-        runCommandSync('npm pack', copath);
-
-        const coversion = require(`${copath}/package.json`).version;
-        runCommandSync(
-          `npm install --production --no-optional --no-audit ${copath}/instana-collector-${coversion}.tgz`,
-          tmpFolder
-        );
-
-        // NOTE: Override the core npm dependency with the local code base
-        const corepath = path.join(__dirname, '..', '..', '..', 'core');
-        runCommandSync('npm pack', corepath);
-
-        const coreversion = require(`${copath}/package.json`).version;
-        runCommandSync(
-          `npm install  --prefix ./ --production --no-optional --no-audit ${corepath}/instana-core-${coreversion}.tgz`,
-          tmpFolder
-        );
-
-        // Install the shared metrics module
-        const sharedMetricsPath = path.join(__dirname, '..', '..', '..', 'shared-metrics');
-        runCommandSync('npm pack', sharedMetricsPath);
+        execSync('./preinstall.sh', { cwd: __dirname, stdio: 'inherit' });
 
-        const sharedMetricsVersion = require(`${copath}/package.json`).version;
+        runCommandSync(`npm install --no-save --no-package-lock --prefix ./ ${__dirname}/core.tgz`, tmpFolder);
         runCommandSync(
-          // eslint-disable-next-line max-len
-          `npm install  --prefix ./ --production --no-optional --no-audit ${sharedMetricsPath}/instana-shared-metrics-${sharedMetricsVersion}.tgz`,
+          `npm install --no-save --no-package-lock --prefix ./ ${__dirname}/shared-metrics.tgz`,
           tmpFolder
         );
+        runCommandSync(`npm install --no-save --no-package-lock --prefix ./ ${__dirname}/collector.tgz`, tmpFolder);
 
         // Remove the target c++ module
         execSync(`rm -rf node_modules/${opts.name}`, { cwd: tmpFolder, stdio: 'inherit' });
diff --git a/packages/collector/test/tracing/misc/invalid_app/test.js b/packages/collector/test/tracing/misc/invalid_app/test.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..80b560ab8c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/collector/test/tracing/misc/invalid_app/test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+/*
+ * (c) Copyright IBM Corp. 2025
+ */
+
+'use strict';
+
+const path = require('path');
+const childProcess = require('child_process');
+const expect = require('chai').expect;
+const supportedVersion = require('@instana/core').tracing.supportedVersion;
+const config = require('../../../../../core/test/config');
+const mochaSuiteFn = supportedVersion(process.versions.node) ? describe : describe.skip;
+
+mochaSuiteFn('tracing/invalidApp', function () {
+  this.timeout(config.getTestTimeout() * 3);
+
+  it('when the collector is required in interactive shell', cb => {
+    const child = childProcess.spawn(
+      process.execPath,
+      ['--require', path.join(__dirname, '..', '..', '..', '..', 'src', 'immediate.js')],
+      {
+        stdio: 'inherit',
+        cwd: process.cwd(),
+        env: process.env
+      }
+    );
+
+    child.on('error', err => {
+      cb(err);
+    });
+
+    child.on('exit', (code, signal) => {
+      expect(signal).to.equal('SIGTERM');
+      expect(code).to.not.exist;
+      cb();
+    });
+
+    setTimeout(() => {
+      child.kill('SIGTERM');
+    }, 3 * 1000);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/collector/test/tracing/opentelemetry/preinstall.sh b/packages/collector/test/tracing/opentelemetry/preinstall.sh
index f32d7cfaa2..cda23409f3 100755
--- a/packages/collector/test/tracing/opentelemetry/preinstall.sh
+++ b/packages/collector/test/tracing/opentelemetry/preinstall.sh
@@ -18,4 +18,12 @@ npm pack
 
 version=$(node -p "require('./package.json').version")
 tarball="instana-core-${version}.tgz"
-cp "./${tarball}" "../collector/test/tracing/opentelemetry/core.tgz"
\ No newline at end of file
+cp "./${tarball}" "../collector/test/tracing/opentelemetry/core.tgz"
+
+cd "$(dirname "$0")/../shared-metrics"
+echo "Running npm pack in $(pwd)"
+npm pack
+
+version=$(node -p "require('./package.json').version")
+tarball="instana-shared-metrics-${version}.tgz"
+cp "./${tarball}" "../collector/test/tracing/opentelemetry/shared-metrics.tgz"
diff --git a/packages/collector/test/tracing/opentelemetry/test.js b/packages/collector/test/tracing/opentelemetry/test.js
index d95a48dfa1..657798b8a7 100644
--- a/packages/collector/test/tracing/opentelemetry/test.js
+++ b/packages/collector/test/tracing/opentelemetry/test.js
@@ -53,11 +53,17 @@ mochaSuiteFn('opentelemetry tests', function () {
         if (process.env.INSTANA_TEST_SKIP_INSTALLING_DEPS === 'true') {
           return;
         }
+
         execSync('npm install --no-save --no-package-lock --prefix ./ ./core.tgz', {
           cwd: __dirname,
           stdio: 'inherit'
         });
 
+        execSync('npm install --no-save --no-package-lock --prefix ./ ./shared-metrics.tgz', {
+          cwd: __dirname,
+          stdio: 'inherit'
+        });
+
         execSync('npm install --no-save --no-package-lock --prefix ./ ./collector.tgz', {
           cwd: __dirname,
           stdio: 'inherit'
diff --git a/packages/core/src/metrics/index.js b/packages/core/src/metrics/index.js
index 0aeb48b659..1e83fc0f18 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/metrics/index.js
+++ b/packages/core/src/metrics/index.js
@@ -5,19 +5,24 @@
 
 'use strict';
 
-const fs = require('../uninstrumentedFs');
 const path = require('path');
+const fs = require('../uninstrumentedFs');
+const util = require('../util');
 
 /** @typedef {import('../config').InstanaConfig} InstanaConfig */
 
 /** @type {InstanaConfig} */
 let config;
 
+/** @type {import('../core').GenericLogger} */
+let logger;
+
 /**
  * @param {InstanaConfig} _config
  */
 exports.init = _config => {
   config = _config;
+  logger = config.logger;
 };
 
 /**
@@ -65,10 +70,20 @@ exports.registerAdditionalMetrics = function registerAdditionalMetrics(additiona
 };
 
 exports.activate = () => {
-  metricsModules.forEach(metricsModule => {
-    if (metricsModule.activate) {
-      metricsModule.activate(config);
+  util.applicationUnderMonitoring.getMainPackageJsonStartingAtMainModule((err, packageJsonObj) => {
+    if (err) {
+      logger.warn(
+        `Failed to determine main package.json. Some metrics might not work. Reason: ${err?.message} ${err?.stack}`
+      );
+      return;
     }
+
+    metricsModules.forEach(metricsModule => {
+      if (metricsModule.activate) {
+        // @ts-ignore
+        metricsModule.activate(config, packageJsonObj);
+      }
+    });
   });
 };
 
diff --git a/packages/core/src/util/applicationUnderMonitoring.js b/packages/core/src/util/applicationUnderMonitoring.js
index 103eacfe18..304c96a5d5 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/util/applicationUnderMonitoring.js
+++ b/packages/core/src/util/applicationUnderMonitoring.js
@@ -38,6 +38,10 @@ function isAppInstalledIntoNodeModules() {
   return appInstalledIntoNodeModules;
 }
 
+const MAX_ATTEMPTS = 5;
+const DELAY = 1500;
+let attempts = 0;
+
 /**
  * Looks for the app's main package.json file, parses it and returns the parsed content. The search is started at
  * path.dirname(require.main.filename).
@@ -50,7 +54,7 @@ function isAppInstalledIntoNodeModules() {
 function getMainPackageJsonStartingAtMainModule(cb) {
   // NOTE: we already cached the package.json
   if (parsedMainPackageJson !== undefined) {
-    return cb(null, parsedMainPackageJson);
+    return cb(null, { file: parsedMainPackageJson, path: mainPackageJsonPath });
   }
 
   // CASE: customer provided custom package.json path, let's try loading it
@@ -58,7 +62,23 @@ function getMainPackageJsonStartingAtMainModule(cb) {
     return readFile(packageJsonPath, cb);
   }
 
-  return getMainPackageJsonStartingAtDirectory(null, cb);
+  return getMainPackageJsonStartingAtDirectory(null, (err, pkg) => {
+    // CASE: using --require or --import can result in an empty require.main initially
+    if (err && attempts < MAX_ATTEMPTS) {
+      attempts++;
+
+      logger.warn(
+        `Could not determine main package.json yet. Retrying ${attempts}/${MAX_ATTEMPTS} after ${DELAY}ms...`
+      );
+
+      return setTimeout(() => {
+        getMainPackageJsonStartingAtMainModule(cb);
+      }, DELAY).unref();
+    }
+
+    attempts = 0;
+    return cb(err, pkg);
+  });
 }
 
 /**
@@ -110,22 +130,10 @@ function readFile(filePath, cb) {
       return cb(e, null);
     }
 
-    return cb(null, parsedMainPackageJson);
+    return cb(null, { file: parsedMainPackageJson, path: filePath });
   });
 }
 
-/**
- * Looks for path of the app's main package.json file, starting the search at path.dirname(require.main.filename).
- *
- * In case the search is successful, the result will be cached for consecutive invocations.
- *
- * @param {(err: Error, packageJsonPath: string) => void} cb - the callback will be called with an error or the path to
- * the package.json file
- */
-function getMainPackageJsonPathStartingAtMainModule(cb) {
-  return getMainPackageJsonPathStartingAtDirectory(null, cb);
-}
-
 /**
  * Looks for path of the app's main package.json file, starting the search at the given directory. If the given
  * directory is null or undefined, the search will start at path.dirname(require.main.filename).
@@ -187,6 +195,12 @@ function getMainPackageJsonPathStartingAtDirectory(startDirectory, cb) {
       }
     }
 
+    // CASE: node --require .../src/immediate.js
+    if (!mainModule?.filename) {
+      const err = new Error('Application entrypoint could not be identified.');
+      return process.nextTick(cb, err, null);
+    }
+
     startDirectory = path.dirname(mainModule.filename);
   }
 
@@ -332,6 +346,7 @@ function searchInParentDir(dir, onParentDir, cb) {
 const reset = () => {
   parsedMainPackageJson = undefined;
   mainPackageJsonPath = undefined;
+  attempts = 0;
 };
 
 module.exports = {
@@ -339,7 +354,6 @@ module.exports = {
   isAppInstalledIntoNodeModules,
   getMainPackageJsonStartingAtMainModule,
   getMainPackageJsonStartingAtDirectory,
-  getMainPackageJsonPathStartingAtMainModule,
   getMainPackageJsonPathStartingAtDirectory,
   findNodeModulesFolder,
   reset
diff --git a/packages/serverless-collector/src/metrics/name.js b/packages/serverless-collector/src/metrics/name.js
index 5ca1edf7e5..b5392fe1a9 100644
--- a/packages/serverless-collector/src/metrics/name.js
+++ b/packages/serverless-collector/src/metrics/name.js
@@ -22,14 +22,14 @@ module.exports = config => {
   }
 
   return new Promise(resolve => {
-    instanaCore.util.applicationUnderMonitoring.getMainPackageJsonStartingAtMainModule((err, packageJson) => {
+    instanaCore.util.applicationUnderMonitoring.getMainPackageJsonStartingAtMainModule((err, packageJsonObj) => {
       if (err) {
         logger.debug(`Failed to determine main package.json. ${err?.message} ${err?.stack}`);
         return resolve();
       }
 
-      logger.debug(`Found main package.json: ${packageJson.name}`);
-      resolve(packageJson.name);
+      logger.debug(`Found main package.json: ${packageJsonObj.file.name}`);
+      resolve(packageJsonObj.file.name);
     });
   });
 };
diff --git a/packages/shared-metrics/src/dependencies.js b/packages/shared-metrics/src/dependencies.js
index bcf0dc3fb2..d9d31c3906 100644
--- a/packages/shared-metrics/src/dependencies.js
+++ b/packages/shared-metrics/src/dependencies.js
@@ -36,48 +36,37 @@ const preliminaryPayload = {};
 // @ts-ignore: Cannot redeclare exported variable 'currentPayload'
 exports.currentPayload = {};
 
-exports.MAX_ATTEMPTS = 20;
+// @ts-ignore
+exports.activate = function activate(config, packageJsonObj) {
+  const started = Date.now();
 
-const DELAY = 1000;
-let attempts = 0;
+  if (!packageJsonObj || !packageJsonObj.file) {
+    util.applicationUnderMonitoring.findNodeModulesFolder((errNodeModules, nodeModulesFolder) => {
+      if (errNodeModules) {
+        return logger.warn(
+          `Failed to determine node_modules folder. Reason: ${errNodeModules?.message}, ${errNodeModules?.stack}`
+        );
+      } else if (!nodeModulesFolder) {
+        return logger.warn(
+          'Neither the package.json file nor the node_modules folder could be found. Stopping dependency analysis.'
+        );
+      }
 
-exports.activate = function activate() {
-  attempts++;
+      addAllDependencies(path.join(nodeModulesFolder), started, null);
+    });
 
-  const started = Date.now();
-  util.applicationUnderMonitoring.getMainPackageJsonPathStartingAtMainModule((err, mainPackageJsonPath) => {
-    if (err) {
-      return logger.warn(`Failed to determine main package.json. Reason: ${err?.message}, ${err?.stack}`);
-    } else if (!mainPackageJsonPath && attempts < exports.MAX_ATTEMPTS) {
-      logger.debug(`Main package.json could not be found at ${mainPackageJsonPath}. Will try again later.`);
-      setTimeout(exports.activate, DELAY).unref();
-      return;
-    } else if (!mainPackageJsonPath) {
-      logger.info(
-        `Main package.json could not be found after ${attempts} retries. Looking for node_modules folder now.`
-      );
-      util.applicationUnderMonitoring.findNodeModulesFolder((errNodeModules, nodeModulesFolder) => {
-        if (errNodeModules) {
-          return logger.warn(`Failed to determine node_modules folder. Reason: ${err?.message}, ${err?.stack}`);
-        } else if (!nodeModulesFolder) {
-          return logger.warn(
-            'Neither the package.json file nor the node_modules folder could be found. Stopping dependency analysis.'
-          );
-        }
-
-        addAllDependencies(path.join(nodeModulesFolder), started, null);
-      });
-      return;
-    }
+    return;
+  }
 
-    let dependencyDir;
-    if (util.applicationUnderMonitoring.isAppInstalledIntoNodeModules()) {
-      dependencyDir = path.join(path.dirname(mainPackageJsonPath), '..', '..', 'node_modules');
-    } else {
-      dependencyDir = path.join(path.dirname(mainPackageJsonPath), 'node_modules');
-    }
-    addAllDependencies(dependencyDir, started, mainPackageJsonPath);
-  });
+  let dependencyDir;
+
+  if (util.applicationUnderMonitoring.isAppInstalledIntoNodeModules()) {
+    dependencyDir = path.join(path.dirname(packageJsonObj.path), '..', '..', 'node_modules');
+  } else {
+    dependencyDir = path.join(path.dirname(packageJsonObj.path), 'node_modules');
+  }
+
+  addAllDependencies(dependencyDir, started, packageJsonObj.path);
 };
 
 /**
diff --git a/packages/shared-metrics/src/description.js b/packages/shared-metrics/src/description.js
index 9a3d03afea..801e017cc0 100644
--- a/packages/shared-metrics/src/description.js
+++ b/packages/shared-metrics/src/description.js
@@ -5,41 +5,22 @@
 
 'use strict';
 
-const { applicationUnderMonitoring } = require('@instana/core').util;
-
-/** @type {import('@instana/core/src/core').GenericLogger} */
-let logger;
-
 /**
  * @param {import('@instana/core/src/config').InstanaConfig} config
  */
-exports.init = function init(config) {
-  logger = config.logger;
-};
+// eslint-disable-next-line no-unused-vars
+exports.init = function init(config) {};
 
 exports.payloadPrefix = 'description';
 // @ts-ignore
 exports.currentPayload = undefined;
 
-const MAX_ATTEMPTS = 20;
-const DELAY = 1000;
-let attempts = 0;
-
-exports.activate = function activate() {
-  attempts++;
-
-  applicationUnderMonitoring.getMainPackageJsonStartingAtMainModule((err, packageJson) => {
-    if (err) {
-      return logger.warn(`Failed to determine main package json. Reason: ${err?.message} ${err?.stack}`);
-    } else if (!packageJson && attempts < MAX_ATTEMPTS) {
-      setTimeout(exports.activate, DELAY).unref();
-      return;
-    } else if (!packageJson) {
-      // final attempt failed, ignore silently
-      return;
-    }
+// @ts-ignore
+exports.activate = function activate(config, packageJsonObj) {
+  if (!packageJsonObj || !packageJsonObj.file) {
+    return;
+  }
 
-    // @ts-ignore
-    exports.currentPayload = packageJson.description;
-  });
+  // @ts-ignore
+  exports.currentPayload = packageJsonObj.file.description;
 };
diff --git a/packages/shared-metrics/src/directDependencies.js b/packages/shared-metrics/src/directDependencies.js
index d5159c1cc3..c52bcf435d 100644
--- a/packages/shared-metrics/src/directDependencies.js
+++ b/packages/shared-metrics/src/directDependencies.js
@@ -5,8 +5,6 @@
 
 'use strict';
 
-const { util, uninstrumentedFs: fs } = require('@instana/core');
-
 /** @type {import('@instana/core/src/core').GenericLogger} */
 let logger;
 
@@ -26,56 +24,25 @@ exports.currentPayload = {
   optionalDependencies: {}
 };
 
-const MAX_ATTEMPTS = 20;
-const DELAY = 1000;
-let attempts = 0;
-
-exports.deactivate = function deactivate() {
-  attempts = 0;
-};
-
-exports.activate = function activate() {
-  attempts++;
-  util.applicationUnderMonitoring.getMainPackageJsonPathStartingAtMainModule((err, packageJsonPath) => {
-    if (err) {
-      return logger.info(
-        `Failed to determine main package.json for analysis of direct dependencies.
-        Reason: ${err?.message} ${err?.stack}`
-      );
-    } else if (!packageJsonPath && attempts < MAX_ATTEMPTS) {
-      setTimeout(exports.activate, DELAY).unref();
-      return;
-    } else if (!packageJsonPath) {
-      // final attempt failed, ignore silently
-      return;
-    }
-
-    addDirectDependenciesFromMainPackageJson(packageJsonPath);
-  });
-};
+exports.deactivate = function deactivate() {};
 
-/**
- * @param {string} packageJsonPath
- */
-function addDirectDependenciesFromMainPackageJson(packageJsonPath) {
-  logger.debug(`addDirectDependenciesFromMainPackageJson: ${packageJsonPath}`);
+// @ts-ignore
+exports.activate = function activate(config, packageJsonObj) {
+  if (!packageJsonObj || !packageJsonObj.file) {
+    return;
+  }
 
   const started = Date.now();
-  fs.readFile(packageJsonPath, { encoding: 'utf8' }, (err, contents) => {
-    if (err) {
-      return logger.debug(`Failed to analyze direct dependencies dependency due to: ${err?.message}`);
-    }
-
-    try {
-      const pckg = JSON.parse(contents);
-      exports.currentPayload.dependencies = pckg.dependencies || {};
-      exports.currentPayload.peerDependencies = pckg.peerDependencies || {};
-      exports.currentPayload.optionalDependencies = pckg.optionalDependencies || {};
-      exports.currentPayload[pckg.name] = pckg.version;
-      logger.debug(`Collection of direct dependencies took ${Date.now() - started} ms.`);
-    } catch (subErr) {
-      logger.debug(`Collection of direct dependencies took ${Date.now() - started} ms.`);
-      return logger.debug(`Failed to parse package.json ${packageJsonPath} dependency due to: ${subErr?.message}`);
-    }
-  });
-}
+  const packageJson = packageJsonObj.file;
+
+  try {
+    exports.currentPayload.dependencies = packageJson.dependencies || {};
+    exports.currentPayload.peerDependencies = packageJson.peerDependencies || {};
+    exports.currentPayload.optionalDependencies = packageJson.optionalDependencies || {};
+    exports.currentPayload[packageJson.name] = packageJson.version;
+    logger.debug(`Collection of direct dependencies took ${Date.now() - started} ms.`);
+  } catch (subErr) {
+    logger.debug(`Collection of direct dependencies took ${Date.now() - started} ms.`);
+    return logger.debug(`Failed to parse package.json dependency due to: ${subErr?.message}`);
+  }
+};
diff --git a/packages/shared-metrics/src/keywords.js b/packages/shared-metrics/src/keywords.js
index 596896d9e1..c12b4a25fb 100644
--- a/packages/shared-metrics/src/keywords.js
+++ b/packages/shared-metrics/src/keywords.js
@@ -5,45 +5,25 @@
 
 'use strict';
 
-const { applicationUnderMonitoring } = require('@instana/core').util;
-
-/** @type {import('@instana/core/src/core').GenericLogger} */
-let logger;
-
 /**
  * @param {import('@instana/core/src/config').InstanaConfig} config
  */
-exports.init = function init(config) {
-  logger = config.logger;
-};
+// eslint-disable-next-line no-unused-vars
+exports.init = function init(config) {};
 
 exports.payloadPrefix = 'keywords';
 /** @type {Array.<string>} */
 // @ts-ignore
 exports.currentPayload = [];
 
-const MAX_ATTEMPTS = 20;
-const DELAY = 1000;
-let attempts = 0;
-
-exports.activate = function activate() {
-  attempts++;
-
-  applicationUnderMonitoring.getMainPackageJsonStartingAtMainModule((err, packageJson) => {
-    if (err) {
-      return logger.warn(`Failed to determine main package json. Reason: ${err?.message} ${err?.stack}`);
-    } else if (!packageJson && attempts < MAX_ATTEMPTS) {
-      setTimeout(exports.activate, DELAY).unref();
-
-      return;
-    } else if (!packageJson) {
-      // final attempt failed, ignore silently
-      return;
-    }
-
-    if (packageJson.keywords) {
-      // @ts-ignore
-      exports.currentPayload = packageJson.keywords;
-    }
-  });
+// @ts-ignore
+exports.activate = function activate(config, packageJsonObj) {
+  if (!packageJsonObj || !packageJsonObj.file) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  if (packageJsonObj.file.keywords) {
+    // @ts-ignore
+    exports.currentPayload = packageJsonObj.file.keywords;
+  }
 };
diff --git a/packages/shared-metrics/src/name.js b/packages/shared-metrics/src/name.js
index 8c8ee92c16..f819ec5ee3 100644
--- a/packages/shared-metrics/src/name.js
+++ b/packages/shared-metrics/src/name.js
@@ -5,8 +5,6 @@
 
 'use strict';
 
-const { applicationUnderMonitoring } = require('@instana/core').util;
-
 /** @type {import('@instana/core/src/core').GenericLogger} */
 let logger;
 
@@ -21,40 +19,25 @@ exports.payloadPrefix = 'name';
 // @ts-ignore
 exports.currentPayload = undefined;
 
-exports.MAX_ATTEMPTS = 60;
-exports.DELAY = 1000;
-let attempts = 0;
-
-exports.activate = function activate() {
-  attempts++;
-
-  applicationUnderMonitoring.getMainPackageJsonStartingAtMainModule((err, packageJson) => {
-    if (err) {
-      return logger.warn(`Failed to determine main package json. Reason: ${err?.message} ${err?.stack}`);
-    } else if (!packageJson && attempts < exports.MAX_ATTEMPTS) {
-      logger.debug('Main package.json could not be found. Will try again later.');
-      setTimeout(exports.activate, exports.DELAY).unref();
-      return;
-    } else if (!packageJson) {
-      if (require.main) {
-        // @ts-ignore
-        exports.currentPayload = require.main.filename;
-      }
-
-      return logger.warn(
-        `Main package.json could not be found. This Node.js app will be labeled "${
-          exports.currentPayload ? exports.currentPayload : 'Unknown'
-        }" in Instana.`
-      );
+// @ts-ignore
+exports.activate = function activate(config, packageJsonObj) {
+  if (!packageJsonObj || !packageJsonObj.file) {
+    if (require.main) {
+      // @ts-ignore
+      exports.currentPayload = require.main.filename;
     }
 
-    // @ts-ignore
-    exports.currentPayload = packageJson.name;
-  });
+    return logger.warn(
+      `Main package.json could not be found. This Node.js app will be labeled "${
+        exports.currentPayload ? exports.currentPayload : 'Unknown'
+      }" in Instana.`
+    );
+  }
+
+  // @ts-ignore
+  exports.currentPayload = packageJsonObj.file.name;
 };
 
 exports.reset = () => {
   exports.currentPayload = undefined;
-  exports.MAX_ATTEMPTS = 60;
-  exports.DELAY = 1000;
 };
diff --git a/packages/shared-metrics/src/version.js b/packages/shared-metrics/src/version.js
index 3f522f9a8b..9caf38c925 100644
--- a/packages/shared-metrics/src/version.js
+++ b/packages/shared-metrics/src/version.js
@@ -5,42 +5,23 @@
 
 'use strict';
 
-const { applicationUnderMonitoring } = require('@instana/core').util;
-
-/** @type {import('@instana/core/src/core').GenericLogger} */
-let logger;
-
 /**
  * @param {import('@instana/core/src/config').InstanaConfig} config
  */
-exports.init = function init(config) {
-  logger = config.logger;
-};
+
+// eslint-disable-next-line no-unused-vars
+exports.init = function init(config) {};
 
 exports.payloadPrefix = 'version';
 // @ts-ignore
 exports.currentPayload = undefined;
 
-const MAX_ATTEMPTS = 20;
-const DELAY = 1000;
-let attempts = 0;
-
-exports.activate = function activate() {
-  attempts++;
-
-  applicationUnderMonitoring.getMainPackageJsonStartingAtMainModule((err, packageJson) => {
-    if (err) {
-      return logger.warn(`Failed to determine main package json. Reason: ${err?.message} ${err?.stack}`);
-    } else if (!packageJson && attempts < MAX_ATTEMPTS) {
-      setTimeout(exports.activate, DELAY).unref();
-
-      return;
-    } else if (!packageJson) {
-      // final attempt failed, ignore silently
-      return;
-    }
+// @ts-ignore
+exports.activate = function activate(config, packageJsonObj) {
+  if (!packageJsonObj || !packageJsonObj.file) {
+    return;
+  }
 
-    // @ts-ignore
-    exports.currentPayload = packageJson.version;
-  });
+  // @ts-ignore
+  exports.currentPayload = packageJsonObj.file.version;
 };
diff --git a/packages/shared-metrics/test/directDependencies_test.js b/packages/shared-metrics/test/directDependencies_test.js
index 2bb455a02a..b576e321f8 100644
--- a/packages/shared-metrics/test/directDependencies_test.js
+++ b/packages/shared-metrics/test/directDependencies_test.js
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@
 'use strict';
 
 const expect = require('chai').expect;
+const path = require('path');
+const fs = require('fs');
 
 const testUtils = require('@instana/core/test/test_util');
 const directDependencies = require('../src/directDependencies');
@@ -29,11 +31,14 @@ describe('metrics.directDependencies', function () {
   });
 
   it('should provide the set of dependencies with versions', () => {
-    directDependencies.activate();
+    // We simply simulate that mocha is our app. It does not matter which package.json we use as long as it has
+    // dependencies.
+    const anyPackageJsonPath = path.join(path.dirname(require.resolve('mocha')), 'package.json');
+    const anyPackageJsonFile = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(anyPackageJsonPath, 'utf8'));
+
+    directDependencies.activate({}, { file: anyPackageJsonFile, path: anyPackageJsonPath });
 
     return testUtils.retry(() => {
-      // Mocha is the main module when running the tests and direct dependencies are evaluated as the content of the
-      // the main modules accompanying package.json file. Thus testing against Mocha dependencies here.
       const deps = directDependencies.currentPayload.dependencies;
       expect(deps).to.exist;
       expect(deps['browser-stdout']).to.equal('1.3.1');
diff --git a/packages/shared-metrics/test/name_test.js b/packages/shared-metrics/test/name_test.js
index 00fc772cef..47f0a9b26d 100644
--- a/packages/shared-metrics/test/name_test.js
+++ b/packages/shared-metrics/test/name_test.js
@@ -6,11 +6,10 @@
 'use strict';
 
 const expect = require('chai').expect;
-const sinon = require('sinon');
+const fs = require('fs');
 const path = require('path');
 const testUtils = require('../../core/test/test_util');
 const name = require('../src/name');
-const { applicationUnderMonitoring } = require('@instana/core').util;
 
 describe('metrics.name', () => {
   before(() => {
@@ -19,7 +18,6 @@ describe('metrics.name', () => {
 
   afterEach(() => {
     name.reset();
-    applicationUnderMonitoring.reset();
   });
 
   it('should export a name payload prefix', () => {
@@ -28,7 +26,10 @@ describe('metrics.name', () => {
 
   describe('when the package.json can be found', function () {
     it('it should extract the package.json name', async () => {
-      name.activate();
+      const anyPackageJsonPath = path.join(path.dirname(require.resolve('mocha')), 'package.json');
+      const anyPackageJsonFile = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(anyPackageJsonPath, 'utf8'));
+
+      name.activate({}, { file: anyPackageJsonFile, path: anyPackageJsonPath });
 
       return testUtils.retry(() => {
         // Mocha is used to execute the tests via the mocha executable.
@@ -39,70 +40,12 @@ describe('metrics.name', () => {
   });
 
   describe('when the package.json cannot be found', function () {
-    before(() => {
-      sinon.stub(applicationUnderMonitoring, 'getMainPackageJsonStartingAtMainModule').callsFake(cb => {
-        cb(null, null);
-      });
-    });
-
-    after(() => {
-      sinon.restore();
-    });
-
     it('it should use the main module name', async () => {
-      name.MAX_ATTEMPTS = 5;
-      name.DELAY = 50;
-      name.activate();
+      name.activate({}, { file: null, path: null });
 
       return testUtils.retry(() => {
         expect(name.currentPayload).to.contain('node_modules/mocha/bin/mocha');
       });
     });
   });
-
-  describe('when packageJsonPath is provided', function () {
-    it('[absolute] it should use the provided package json', async () => {
-      name.MAX_ATTEMPTS = 5;
-      name.DELAY = 50;
-
-      applicationUnderMonitoring.init({
-        packageJsonPath: path.join(__dirname, './esm-require-in-preload/module/package.json')
-      });
-
-      name.activate();
-
-      return testUtils.retry(() => {
-        expect(name.currentPayload).to.contain('esm-require-in-preload');
-      });
-    });
-
-    it('[relative] it should use the provided package json', async () => {
-      name.MAX_ATTEMPTS = 5;
-      name.DELAY = 50;
-
-      applicationUnderMonitoring.init({
-        // NOTE: relative to process.cwd()
-        packageJsonPath: 'test/esm-require-in-preload/module/package.json'
-      });
-
-      name.activate();
-
-      return testUtils.retry(() => {
-        expect(name.currentPayload).to.contain('esm-require-in-preload');
-      });
-    });
-
-    it('it should not use the provided package json', async () => {
-      name.MAX_ATTEMPTS = 5;
-      name.DELAY = 50;
-
-      applicationUnderMonitoring.init({ packageJsonPath: null });
-
-      name.activate();
-
-      return testUtils.retry(() => {
-        expect(name.currentPayload).to.contain('mocha');
-      });
-    });
-  });
 });