diff --git a/src/@types/global.d.ts b/src/@types/global.d.ts
index a19e20b5..6a5adec6 100644
--- a/src/@types/global.d.ts
+++ b/src/@types/global.d.ts
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@ See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 limitations under the License.
 */
 
-import {ReactNode} from "react";
 import "modernizr";
+import {Renderer} from "react-dom";
 
 declare global {
     interface Window {
@@ -25,7 +25,10 @@ declare global {
         };
 
         mxSendRageshake: (text: string, withLogs?: boolean) => void;
-        matrixChat: ReactNode;
+        matrixChat: ReturnType<Renderer>;
+
+        // electron-only
+        ipcRenderer: any;
     }
 
     // workaround for https://github.com/microsoft/TypeScript/issues/30933
diff --git a/src/vector/init.ts b/src/vector/init.tsx
similarity index 99%
rename from src/vector/init.ts
rename to src/vector/init.tsx
index 85f75181..d325dbae 100644
--- a/src/vector/init.ts
+++ b/src/vector/init.tsx
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ import { initRageshake } from "./rageshakesetup";
 export const rageshakePromise = initRageshake();
 
 export function preparePlatform() {
-    if ((<any>window).ipcRenderer) {
+    if (window.ipcRenderer) {
         console.log("Using Electron platform");
         const plaf = new ElectronPlatform();
         PlatformPeg.set(plaf);