diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -55,6 +55,18 @@
         swh-lister=swh.lister.cli:cli
         [swh.cli.subcommands]
         lister=swh.lister.cli:lister
+        [swh.workers]
+        lister.bitbucket=swh.lister.bitbucket:register
+        lister.cgit=swh.lister.cgit:register
+        lister.cran=swh.lister.cran:register
+        lister.debian=swh.lister.debian:register
+        lister.github=swh.lister.github:register
+        lister.gitlab=swh.lister.gitlab:register
+        lister.gnu=swh.lister.gnu:register
+        lister.npm=swh.lister.npm:register
+        lister.packagist=swh.lister.packagist:register
+        lister.phabricator=swh.lister.phabricator:register
+        lister.pypi=swh.lister.pypi:register
     ''',
     classifiers=[
         "Programming Language :: Python :: 3",
diff --git a/swh/lister/bitbucket/__init__.py b/swh/lister/bitbucket/__init__.py
--- a/swh/lister/bitbucket/__init__.py
+++ b/swh/lister/bitbucket/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+# Copyright (C) 2019 the Software Heritage developers
+# License: GNU General Public License version 3, or any later version
+# See top-level LICENSE file for more information
+
+
+def register():
+    from .models import BitBucketModel
+    from .lister import BitBucketLister
+
+    return {'models': [BitBucketModel],
+            'lister': BitBucketLister,
+            'task_modules': ['%s.tasks' % __name__],
+            }
diff --git a/swh/lister/cgit/__init__.py b/swh/lister/cgit/__init__.py
--- a/swh/lister/cgit/__init__.py
+++ b/swh/lister/cgit/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+# Copyright (C) 2019 the Software Heritage developers
+# License: GNU General Public License version 3, or any later version
+# See top-level LICENSE file for more information
+
+
+def register():
+    from .models import CGitModel
+    from .lister import CGitLister
+
+    return {'models': [CGitModel],
+            'lister': CGitLister,
+            'task_modules': ['%s.tasks' % __name__],
+            }
diff --git a/swh/lister/cli.py b/swh/lister/cli.py
--- a/swh/lister/cli.py
+++ b/swh/lister/cli.py
@@ -4,29 +4,26 @@
 # See top-level LICENSE file for more information
 
 import logging
+import pkg_resources
+from functools import partial
+
 import click
+from sqlalchemy import create_engine
 
+from swh.core.config import SWHConfig
 from swh.core.cli import CONTEXT_SETTINGS
+from swh.lister.core.models import initialize
 
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
-SUPPORTED_LISTERS = ['github', 'gitlab', 'bitbucket', 'debian', 'pypi',
-                     'npm', 'phabricator', 'gnu', 'cran', 'cgit', 'packagist']
-
+LISTERS = {entry_point.name.split('.', 1)[1]: entry_point
+           for entry_point in pkg_resources.iter_entry_points('swh.workers')
+           if entry_point.name.split('.', 1)[0] == 'lister'}
+SUPPORTED_LISTERS = list(LISTERS)
 
-# Base urls for most listers
-DEFAULT_BASEURLS = {
-    'gitlab': 'https://gitlab.com/api/v4/',
-    'phabricator': 'https://forge.softwareheritage.org',
-    'cgit': (
-        'http://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/',
-        'http://git.savannah.gnu.org/git/'
-    ),
-}
 
-
-def get_lister(lister_name, db_url, drop_tables=False, **conf):
+def get_lister(lister_name, db_url, **conf):
     """Instantiate a lister given its name.
 
     Args:
@@ -39,6 +36,11 @@
         insert minimum data function)
 
     """
+    if lister_name not in LISTERS:
+        raise ValueError(
+            'Invalid lister %s: only supported listers are %s' %
+            (lister_name, SUPPORTED_LISTERS))
+
     override_conf = {
         'lister': {
             'cls': 'local',
@@ -48,119 +50,10 @@
     }
 
     # To allow api_baseurl override per lister
-    if 'api_baseurl' in override_conf:
-        api_baseurl = override_conf.pop('api_baseurl')
-    else:
-        api_baseurl = DEFAULT_BASEURLS.get(lister_name)
-
-    insert_minimum_data_fn = None
-    if lister_name == 'github':
-        from .github.models import IndexingModelBase as ModelBase
-        from .github.lister import GitHubLister
-
-        _lister = GitHubLister(api_baseurl='https://api.github.com',
-                               override_config=override_conf)
-    elif lister_name == 'bitbucket':
-        from .bitbucket.models import IndexingModelBase as ModelBase
-        from .bitbucket.lister import BitBucketLister
-        _lister = BitBucketLister(api_baseurl='https://api.bitbucket.org/2.0',
-                                  override_config=override_conf)
-
-    elif lister_name == 'gitlab':
-        from .gitlab.models import ModelBase
-        from .gitlab.lister import GitLabLister
-        _lister = GitLabLister(api_baseurl=api_baseurl,
-                               override_config=override_conf)
-    elif lister_name == 'debian':
-        from .debian.lister import DebianLister
-        ModelBase = DebianLister.MODEL  # noqa
-        _lister = DebianLister(override_config=override_conf)
-
-        def insert_minimum_data_fn(lister_name, lister):
-            logger.info('Inserting minimal data for %s', lister_name)
-            from swh.storage.schemata.distribution import (
-                Distribution, Area)
-            d = Distribution(
-                name='Debian',
-                type='deb',
-                mirror_uri='http://deb.debian.org/debian/')
-            lister.db_session.add(d)
-
-            areas = []
-            for distribution_name in ['stretch']:
-                for area_name in ['main', 'contrib', 'non-free']:
-                    areas.append(Area(
-                        name='%s/%s' % (distribution_name, area_name),
-                        distribution=d,
-                    ))
-                    lister.db_session.add_all(areas)
-                    lister.db_session.commit()
-
-    elif lister_name == 'pypi':
-        from .pypi.models import ModelBase
-        from .pypi.lister import PyPILister
-        _lister = PyPILister(override_config=override_conf)
-
-    elif lister_name == 'npm':
-        from .npm.models import IndexingModelBase as ModelBase
-        from .npm.models import NpmVisitModel
-        from .npm.lister import NpmLister
-        _lister = NpmLister(override_config=override_conf)
-
-        def insert_minimum_data_fn(lister_name, lister):
-            logger.info('Inserting minimal data for %s', lister_name)
-            if drop_tables:
-                NpmVisitModel.metadata.drop_all(lister.db_engine)
-                NpmVisitModel.metadata.create_all(lister.db_engine)
-
-    elif lister_name == 'phabricator':
-        from .phabricator.models import IndexingModelBase as ModelBase
-        from .phabricator.lister import PhabricatorLister
-        _lister = PhabricatorLister(forge_url=api_baseurl,
-                                    override_config=override_conf)
-
-    elif lister_name == 'gnu':
-        from .gnu.models import ModelBase
-        from .gnu.lister import GNULister
-        _lister = GNULister(override_config=override_conf)
-
-    elif lister_name == 'cran':
-        from .cran.models import ModelBase
-        from .cran.lister import CRANLister
-        _lister = CRANLister(override_config=override_conf)
-
-    elif lister_name == 'cgit':
-        from .cgit.models import ModelBase
-        from .cgit.lister import CGitLister
-        if isinstance(api_baseurl, str):
-            _lister = CGitLister(url=api_baseurl,
-                                 override_config=override_conf)
-        else:  # tuple
-            _lister = CGitLister(url=api_baseurl[0],
-                                 url_prefix=api_baseurl[1],
-                                 override_config=override_conf)
-
-    elif lister_name == 'packagist':
-        from .packagist.models import ModelBase  # noqa
-        from .packagist.lister import PackagistLister
-        _lister = PackagistLister(override_config=override_conf)
-
-    else:
-        raise ValueError(
-            'Invalid lister %s: only supported listers are %s' %
-            (lister_name, SUPPORTED_LISTERS))
-
-    drop_table_fn = None
-    if drop_tables:
-        def drop_table_fn(lister_name, lister):
-            logger.info('Dropping tables for %s', lister_name)
-            ModelBase.metadata.drop_all(lister.db_engine)
-
-    def init_schema_fn(lister_name, lister):
-        logger.info('Creating tables for %s', lister_name)
-        ModelBase.metadata.create_all(lister.db_engine)
-
-    return _lister, drop_table_fn, init_schema_fn, insert_minimum_data_fn
+    registry_entry = LISTERS[lister_name].load()()
+    lister_cls = registry_entry['lister']
+    lister = lister_cls(override_config=override_conf)
+    return lister
 
 
 @click.group(name='lister', context_settings=CONTEXT_SETTINGS)
@@ -171,33 +64,45 @@
 
 
 @lister.command(name='db-init', context_settings=CONTEXT_SETTINGS)
-@click.option('--db-url', '-d', default='postgres:///lister',
-              help='SQLAlchemy DB URL; see '
-                   '<http://docs.sqlalchemy.org/en/latest/core/engines.html#database-urls>')  # noqa
+@click.option(
+    '--db-url', '-d', default=None,
+    help='SQLAlchemy DB URL; see '
+         '<http://docs.sqlalchemy.org/en/latest/core/engines.html#database-urls>')  # noqa
 @click.argument('listers', required=1, nargs=-1,
                 type=click.Choice(SUPPORTED_LISTERS + ['all']))
 @click.option('--drop-tables', '-D', is_flag=True, default=False,
               help='Drop tables before creating the database schema')
 @click.pass_context
-def cli(ctx, db_url, listers, drop_tables):
+def db_init(ctx, db_url, listers, drop_tables):
     """Initialize the database model for given listers.
 
     """
-    if 'all' in listers:
-        listers = SUPPORTED_LISTERS
-
-    for lister_name in listers:
-        logger.info('Initializing lister %s', lister_name)
-        lister, drop_schema_fn, init_schema_fn, insert_minimum_data_fn = \
-            get_lister(lister_name, db_url, drop_tables=drop_tables)
+    override_conf = {}
+    if db_url:
+        override_conf['lister'] = {
+            'cls': 'local',
+            'args': {'db': db_url}
+        }
 
-        if drop_schema_fn:
-            drop_schema_fn(lister_name, lister)
+    cfg = SWHConfig.parse_config_file(additional_configs=[override_conf])
+    lister_cfg = cfg['lister']
+    if lister_cfg['cls'] != 'local':
+        click.echo('A local lister configuration is required')
+        ctx.exit(1)
 
-        init_schema_fn(lister_name, lister)
+    db_url = lister_cfg['args']['db']
+    db_engine = create_engine(db_url)
+    if 'all' in listers:
+        listers = SUPPORTED_LISTERS
 
-        if insert_minimum_data_fn:
-            insert_minimum_data_fn(lister_name, lister)
+    for lister in listers:
+        logger.info('Loading lister %s', lister)
+        registry_entry = LISTERS[lister].load()()
+        init_hook = registry_entry.get(
+            'init', partial(initialize, registry_entry['models']))
+        if callable(init_hook):
+            logger.info('Initializing %s database', lister)
+            init_hook(db_engine, drop_tables)
 
 
 @lister.command(name='run', context_settings=CONTEXT_SETTINGS,
@@ -229,9 +134,8 @@
         **kwargs,
     }
 
-    lister, _, _, _ = get_lister(lister, db_url, **override_config)
-    lister.run()
+    get_lister(lister, db_url, **override_config).run()
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
-    cli()
+    lister()
diff --git a/swh/lister/core/models.py b/swh/lister/core/models.py
--- a/swh/lister/core/models.py
+++ b/swh/lister/core/models.py
@@ -4,12 +4,15 @@
 
 import abc
 from datetime import datetime
+import logging
 
 from sqlalchemy import Column, DateTime, Integer, String
 from sqlalchemy.ext.declarative import declarative_base, DeclarativeMeta
 
 from .abstractattribute import AbstractAttribute
 
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
 SQLBase = declarative_base()
 
 
@@ -46,3 +49,24 @@
     # The value used for sorting, segmenting, or api query paging,
     # because uids aren't always sequential.
     indexable = AbstractAttribute('Column(<indexable_type>, index=True)')
+
+
+def initialize(models, db_engine, drop_tables=False, **kwargs):
+    """Default database initialization function for a lister.
+
+    Typically called from the lister's initialization hook.
+
+    Args:
+        models (list): list of SQLAlchemy tables/models to drop/create.
+        db_enfine (): the SQLAlchemy DB engine.
+        drop_tables (bool): if True, tables will be dropped before
+            (re)creating them.
+    """
+    if drop_tables:
+        logger.info('Dropping tables')
+        for model in models:
+            model.drop(db_engine)
+
+    logger.info('Creating tables')
+    for model in models:
+        model.create(db_engine)
diff --git a/swh/lister/core/tests/conftest.py b/swh/lister/core/tests/conftest.py
--- a/swh/lister/core/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/swh/lister/core/tests/conftest.py
@@ -1,19 +1 @@
-import pytest
 from swh.scheduler.tests.conftest import *  # noqa
-
-
-@pytest.fixture(scope='session')
-def celery_includes():
-    return [
-        'swh.lister.bitbucket.tasks',
-        'swh.lister.cgit.tasks',
-        'swh.lister.cran.tasks',
-        'swh.lister.debian.tasks',
-        'swh.lister.github.tasks',
-        'swh.lister.gitlab.tasks',
-        'swh.lister.gnu.tasks',
-        'swh.lister.npm.tasks',
-        'swh.lister.packagist.tasks',
-        'swh.lister.phabricator.tasks',
-        'swh.lister.pypi.tasks',
-    ]
diff --git a/swh/lister/cran/__init__.py b/swh/lister/cran/__init__.py
--- a/swh/lister/cran/__init__.py
+++ b/swh/lister/cran/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+# Copyright (C) 2019 the Software Heritage developers
+# License: GNU General Public License version 3, or any later version
+# See top-level LICENSE file for more information
+
+
+def register():
+    from .models import CRANModel
+    from .lister import CRANLister
+
+    return {'models': [CRANModel],
+            'lister': CRANLister,
+            'task_modules': ['%s.tasks' % __name__],
+            }
diff --git a/swh/lister/debian/__init__.py b/swh/lister/debian/__init__.py
--- a/swh/lister/debian/__init__.py
+++ b/swh/lister/debian/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+# Copyright (C) 2019 the Software Heritage developers
+# License: GNU General Public License version 3, or any later version
+# See top-level LICENSE file for more information
+
+
+def debian_init(db_engine, drop_tables=False, override_conf=None):
+    from swh.storage.schemata.distribution import (
+        Distribution, Area)
+    from swh.lister.core.models import initialize
+    from .lister import DebianLister
+
+    lister = DebianLister(override_config=override_conf)
+    initialize(lister.MODEL, db_engine, drop_tables, override_conf)
+
+    if not lister.db_session\
+                 .query(Distribution)\
+                 .filter(Distribution.name == 'Debian')\
+                 .one_or_none():
+
+        d = Distribution(
+            name='Debian',
+            type='deb',
+            mirror_uri='http://deb.debian.org/debian/')
+        lister.db_session.add(d)
+
+        areas = []
+        for distribution_name in ['stretch', 'buster']:
+            for area_name in ['main', 'contrib', 'non-free']:
+                areas.append(Area(
+                    name='%s/%s' % (distribution_name, area_name),
+                    distribution=d,
+                ))
+        lister.db_session.add_all(areas)
+        lister.db_session.commit()
+
+
+def register():
+    from .lister import DebianLister
+    return {'models': [DebianLister.MODEL],
+            'lister': DebianLister,
+            'task_modules': ['%s.tasks' % __name__],
+            'init': debian_init}
diff --git a/swh/lister/github/__init__.py b/swh/lister/github/__init__.py
--- a/swh/lister/github/__init__.py
+++ b/swh/lister/github/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+# Copyright (C) 2019 the Software Heritage developers
+# License: GNU General Public License version 3, or any later version
+# See top-level LICENSE file for more information
+
+
+def register():
+    from .models import GitHubModel
+    from .lister import GitHubLister
+
+    return {'models': [GitHubModel],
+            'lister': GitHubLister,
+            'task_modules': ['%s.tasks' % __name__],
+            }
diff --git a/swh/lister/gitlab/__init__.py b/swh/lister/gitlab/__init__.py
--- a/swh/lister/gitlab/__init__.py
+++ b/swh/lister/gitlab/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+# Copyright (C) 2019 the Software Heritage developers
+# License: GNU General Public License version 3, or any later version
+# See top-level LICENSE file for more information
+
+
+def register():
+    from .models import GitLabModel
+    from .lister import GitLabLister
+
+    return {'models': [GitLabModel],
+            'lister': GitLabLister,
+            'task_modules': ['%s.tasks' % __name__],
+            }
diff --git a/swh/lister/gnu/__init__.py b/swh/lister/gnu/__init__.py
--- a/swh/lister/gnu/__init__.py
+++ b/swh/lister/gnu/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+# Copyright (C) 2019 the Software Heritage developers
+# License: GNU General Public License version 3, or any later version
+# See top-level LICENSE file for more information
+
+
+def register():
+    from .models import GNUModel
+    from .lister import GNULister
+
+    return {'models': [GNUModel],
+            'lister': GNULister,
+            'task_modules': ['%s.tasks' % __name__],
+            }
diff --git a/swh/lister/npm/__init__.py b/swh/lister/npm/__init__.py
--- a/swh/lister/npm/__init__.py
+++ b/swh/lister/npm/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+# Copyright (C) 2019 the Software Heritage developers
+# License: GNU General Public License version 3, or any later version
+# See top-level LICENSE file for more information
+
+
+def register():
+    from .models import NpmVisitModel, NpmModel
+    from .lister import NpmLister
+
+    return {'models': [NpmVisitModel, NpmModel],
+            'lister': NpmLister,
+            'task_modules': ['%s.tasks' % __name__],
+            }
diff --git a/swh/lister/packagist/__init__.py b/swh/lister/packagist/__init__.py
--- a/swh/lister/packagist/__init__.py
+++ b/swh/lister/packagist/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+# Copyright (C) 2019 the Software Heritage developers
+# License: GNU General Public License version 3, or any later version
+# See top-level LICENSE file for more information
+
+
+def register():
+    from .models import PackagistModel
+    from .lister import PackagistLister
+
+    return {'models': [PackagistModel],
+            'lister': PackagistLister,
+            'task_modules': ['%s.tasks' % __name__],
+            }
diff --git a/swh/lister/phabricator/__init__.py b/swh/lister/phabricator/__init__.py
--- a/swh/lister/phabricator/__init__.py
+++ b/swh/lister/phabricator/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+# Copyright (C) 2019 the Software Heritage developers
+# License: GNU General Public License version 3, or any later version
+# See top-level LICENSE file for more information
+
+
+def register():
+    from .models import PhabricatorModel
+    from .lister import PhabricatorLister
+
+    return {'models': [PhabricatorModel],
+            'lister': PhabricatorLister,
+            'task_modules': ['%s.tasks' % __name__],
+            }
diff --git a/swh/lister/pypi/__init__.py b/swh/lister/pypi/__init__.py
--- a/swh/lister/pypi/__init__.py
+++ b/swh/lister/pypi/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+# Copyright (C) 2019 the Software Heritage developers
+# License: GNU General Public License version 3, or any later version
+# See top-level LICENSE file for more information
+
+
+def register():
+    from .models import PyPIModel
+    from .lister import PyPILister
+
+    return {'models': [PyPIModel],
+            'lister': PyPILister,
+            'task_modules': ['%s.tasks' % __name__],
+            }
diff --git a/swh/lister/tests/test_cli.py b/swh/lister/tests/test_cli.py
--- a/swh/lister/tests/test_cli.py
+++ b/swh/lister/tests/test_cli.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 import pytest
 
 from swh.lister.core.lister_base import ListerBase
-from swh.lister.cli import get_lister, SUPPORTED_LISTERS, DEFAULT_BASEURLS
+from swh.lister.cli import get_lister, SUPPORTED_LISTERS
 
 from .test_utils import init_db
 
@@ -24,32 +24,9 @@
 
     """
     db_url = init_db().url()
-    supported_listers_with_init = {'npm', 'debian'}
-    supported_listers = set(SUPPORTED_LISTERS) - supported_listers_with_init
-    for lister_name in supported_listers:
-        lst, drop_fn, init_fn, insert_data_fn = get_lister(lister_name, db_url)
-
-        assert isinstance(lst, ListerBase)
-        assert drop_fn is None
-        assert init_fn is not None
-        assert insert_data_fn is None
-
-    for lister_name in supported_listers_with_init:
-        lst, drop_fn, init_fn, insert_data_fn = get_lister(lister_name, db_url)
-
+    for lister_name in SUPPORTED_LISTERS:
+        lst = get_lister(lister_name, db_url)
         assert isinstance(lst, ListerBase)
-        assert drop_fn is None
-        assert init_fn is not None
-        assert insert_data_fn is not None
-
-    for lister_name in supported_listers_with_init:
-        lst, drop_fn, init_fn, insert_data_fn = get_lister(lister_name, db_url,
-                                                           drop_tables=True)
-
-        assert isinstance(lst, ListerBase)
-        assert drop_fn is not None
-        assert init_fn is not None
-        assert insert_data_fn is not None
 
 
 def test_get_lister_override():
@@ -68,9 +45,9 @@
 
     # check the override ends up defined in the lister
     for lister_name, (url_key, url_value) in listers.items():
-        lst, drop_fn, init_fn, insert_data_fn = get_lister(
+        lst = get_lister(
             lister_name, db_url, **{
-                'api_baseurl': url_value,
+                url_key: url_value,
                 'priority': 'high',
                 'policy': 'oneshot',
             })
@@ -82,16 +59,10 @@
     # check the default urls are used and not the override (since it's not
     # passed)
     for lister_name, (url_key, url_value) in listers.items():
-        lst, drop_fn, init_fn, insert_data_fn = get_lister(lister_name, db_url)
+        lst = get_lister(lister_name, db_url)
 
         # no override so this does not end up in lister's configuration
         assert url_key not in lst.config
 
-        # then the default base url is used
-        default_url = DEFAULT_BASEURLS[lister_name]
-        if isinstance(default_url, tuple):  # cgit implementation detail...
-            default_url = default_url[1]
-
-        assert getattr(lst, url_key) == default_url
         assert 'priority' not in lst.config
         assert 'oneshot' not in lst.config