diff --git a/src/cache.ts b/src/cache.ts
index 92041ca88..3f5a5291a 100644
--- a/src/cache.ts
+++ b/src/cache.ts
@@ -1,17 +1,28 @@
+import {readFileSync} from 'node:fs'
+import {join} from 'node:path'
+
 import {PJSON, Plugin} from './interfaces'
 
 type CacheContents = {
   rootPlugin: Plugin
   exitCodes: PJSON.Plugin['oclif']['exitCodes']
+  '@oclif/core': OclifCoreInfo
 }
 
 type ValueOf<T> = T[keyof T]
 
+type OclifCoreInfo = {name: string; version: string}
+
 /**
  * A simple cache for storing values that need to be accessed globally.
  */
 export default class Cache extends Map<keyof CacheContents, ValueOf<CacheContents>> {
   static instance: Cache
+  public constructor() {
+    super()
+    this.set('@oclif/core', this.getOclifCoreMeta())
+  }
+
   static getInstance(): Cache {
     if (!Cache.instance) {
       Cache.instance = new Cache()
@@ -20,9 +31,26 @@ export default class Cache extends Map<keyof CacheContents, ValueOf<CacheContent
     return Cache.instance
   }
 
+  public get(key: '@oclif/core'): OclifCoreInfo
   public get(key: 'rootPlugin'): Plugin | undefined
   public get(key: 'exitCodes'): PJSON.Plugin['oclif']['exitCodes'] | undefined
   public get(key: keyof CacheContents): ValueOf<CacheContents> | undefined {
     return super.get(key)
   }
+
+  private getOclifCoreMeta(): OclifCoreInfo {
+    try {
+      // eslint-disable-next-line node/no-extraneous-require
+      return {name: '@oclif/core', version: require('@oclif/core/package.json').version}
+    } catch {
+      try {
+        return {
+          name: '@oclif/core',
+          version: JSON.parse(readFileSync(join(__dirname, '..', 'package.json'), 'utf8')),
+        }
+      } catch {
+        return {name: '@oclif/core', version: 'unknown'}
+      }
+    }
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/cli-ux/config.ts b/src/cli-ux/config.ts
index 2d3abb900..b60d8f31c 100644
--- a/src/cli-ux/config.ts
+++ b/src/cli-ux/config.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-import {PJSON} from '../interfaces/pjson'
-import {requireJson} from '../util/fs'
+import Cache from '../cache'
 import {ActionBase} from './action/base'
 import simple from './action/simple'
 import spinner from './action/spinner'
@@ -51,7 +50,8 @@ export class Config {
 }
 
 function fetch() {
-  const major = requireJson<PJSON>(__dirname, '..', '..', 'package.json').version.split('.')[0]
+  const core = Cache.getInstance().get('@oclif/core')
+  const major = core?.version.split('.')[0] || 'unknown'
   if (globals[major]) return globals[major]
   globals[major] = new Config()
   return globals[major]
diff --git a/src/command.ts b/src/command.ts
index 7d6c86a65..f66d33e1d 100644
--- a/src/command.ts
+++ b/src/command.ts
@@ -2,12 +2,12 @@ import chalk from 'chalk'
 import {fileURLToPath} from 'node:url'
 import {inspect} from 'node:util'
 
+import Cache from './cache'
 import {ux} from './cli-ux'
 import {Config} from './config'
 import * as Errors from './errors'
 import {PrettyPrintableError} from './errors'
 import {formatCommandDeprecationWarning, formatFlagDeprecationWarning, normalizeArgv} from './help/util'
-import {PJSON} from './interfaces'
 import {LoadOptions} from './interfaces/config'
 import {CommandError} from './interfaces/errors'
 import {
@@ -27,11 +27,10 @@ import {
 import {Plugin} from './interfaces/plugin'
 import * as Parser from './parser'
 import {aggregateFlags} from './util/aggregate-flags'
-import {requireJson} from './util/fs'
 import {toConfiguredId} from './util/ids'
 import {uniq} from './util/util'
 
-const pjson = requireJson<PJSON>(__dirname, '..', 'package.json')
+const pjson = Cache.getInstance().get('@oclif/core')
 
 /**
  * swallows stdout epipe errors
diff --git a/src/config/config.ts b/src/config/config.ts
index a6e2a73c8..f039ff35d 100644
--- a/src/config/config.ts
+++ b/src/config/config.ts
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ import {Theme} from '../interfaces/theme'
 import {loadWithData} from '../module-loader'
 import {OCLIF_MARKER_OWNER, Performance} from '../performance'
 import {settings} from '../settings'
-import {requireJson, safeReadJson} from '../util/fs'
+import {safeReadJson} from '../util/fs'
 import {getHomeDir, getPlatform} from '../util/os'
 import {compact, isProd} from '../util/util'
 import PluginLoader from './plugin-loader'
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ import {Debug, collectUsableIds, getCommandIdPermutations} from './util'
 // eslint-disable-next-line new-cap
 const debug = Debug()
 
-const _pjson = requireJson<PJSON>(__dirname, '..', '..', 'package.json')
+const _pjson = Cache.getInstance().get('@oclif/core')
 const BASE = `${_pjson.name}@${_pjson.version}`
 
 function channelFromVersion(version: string) {
@@ -554,12 +554,13 @@ export class Config implements IConfig {
         const marker = Performance.mark(OCLIF_MARKER_OWNER, `config.runHook#${p.name}(${hook})`)
         try {
           /* eslint-disable no-await-in-loop */
-          const {filePath, isESM, module} = await loadWithData(p, await tsPath(p.root, hook, p))
+          const {filePath, isESM, module} = await loadWithData(p, await tsPath(p.root, hook.target, p))
           debug('start', isESM ? '(import)' : '(require)', filePath)
 
+          const hookFn = module[hook.identifier] ?? search(module)
           const result = timeout
-            ? await withTimeout(timeout, search(module).call(context, {...(opts as any), config: this, context}))
-            : await search(module).call(context, {...(opts as any), config: this, context})
+            ? await withTimeout(timeout, hookFn.call(context, {...(opts as any), config: this, context}))
+            : await hookFn.call(context, {...(opts as any), config: this, context})
           final.successes.push({plugin: p, result})
 
           if (p.name === '@oclif/plugin-legacy' && event === 'init') {
@@ -585,7 +586,7 @@ export class Config implements IConfig {
 
         marker?.addDetails({
           event,
-          hook,
+          hook: hook.target,
           plugin: p.name,
         })
         marker?.stop()
diff --git a/src/config/plugin.ts b/src/config/plugin.ts
index 38ee4a3a3..ad90f10a9 100644
--- a/src/config/plugin.ts
+++ b/src/config/plugin.ts
@@ -2,10 +2,11 @@ import globby from 'globby'
 import {join, parse, relative, sep} from 'node:path'
 import {inspect} from 'node:util'
 
+import Cache from '../cache'
 import {Command} from '../command'
 import {CLIError, error} from '../errors'
 import {Manifest} from '../interfaces/manifest'
-import {CommandDiscovery, PJSON} from '../interfaces/pjson'
+import {CommandDiscovery, HookOptions, PJSON} from '../interfaces/pjson'
 import {Plugin as IPlugin, PluginOptions} from '../interfaces/plugin'
 import {Topic} from '../interfaces/topic'
 import {load, loadWithData, loadWithDataFromManifest} from '../module-loader'
@@ -13,12 +14,12 @@ import {OCLIF_MARKER_OWNER, Performance} from '../performance'
 import {SINGLE_COMMAND_CLI_SYMBOL} from '../symbols'
 import {cacheCommand} from '../util/cache-command'
 import {findRoot} from '../util/find-root'
-import {readJson, requireJson} from '../util/fs'
+import {readJson} from '../util/fs'
 import {castArray, compact} from '../util/util'
 import {tsPath} from './ts-node'
 import {Debug, getCommandIdPermutations} from './util'
 
-const _pjson = requireJson<PJSON>(__dirname, '..', '..', 'package.json')
+const _pjson = Cache.getInstance().get('@oclif/core')
 
 function topicsToArray(input: any, base?: string): Topic[] {
   if (!input) return []
@@ -74,9 +75,19 @@ function determineCommandDiscoveryOptions(
   if (!commandDiscovery.target) throw new CLIError('`oclif.commandDiscovery.target` is required.')
   if (!commandDiscovery.strategy) throw new CLIError('`oclif.commandDiscovery.strategy` is required.')
 
+  if (commandDiscovery.strategy === 'explicit' && !commandDiscovery.identifier) {
+    commandDiscovery.identifier = 'default'
+  }
+
   return commandDiscovery
 }
 
+function determineHookOptions(hook: string | HookOptions): HookOptions {
+  if (typeof hook === 'string') return {identifier: 'default', target: hook}
+  if (!hook.identifier) return {...hook, identifier: 'default'}
+  return hook
+}
+
 /**
  * Cached commands, where the key is the command ID and the value is the command class.
  *
@@ -101,7 +112,7 @@ export class Plugin implements IPlugin {
 
   hasManifest = false
 
-  hooks!: {[k: string]: string[]}
+  hooks!: {[key: string]: HookOptions[]}
 
   isRoot = false
 
@@ -224,7 +235,12 @@ export class Plugin implements IPlugin {
       this.pjson.oclif = this.pjson['cli-engine'] || {}
     }
 
-    this.hooks = Object.fromEntries(Object.entries(this.pjson.oclif.hooks ?? {}).map(([k, v]) => [k, castArray(v)]))
+    this.hooks = Object.fromEntries(
+      Object.entries(this.pjson.oclif.hooks ?? {}).map(([k, v]) => [
+        k,
+        castArray<string | HookOptions>(v).map((v) => determineHookOptions(v)),
+      ]),
+    )
 
     this.commandDiscoveryOpts = determineCommandDiscoveryOptions(this.pjson.oclif?.commands, this.pjson.oclif?.default)
 
@@ -393,8 +409,8 @@ export class Plugin implements IPlugin {
 
     if (this.commandDiscoveryOpts?.strategy === 'explicit' && this.commandDiscoveryOpts.target) {
       const filePath = await tsPath(this.root, this.commandDiscoveryOpts.target, this)
-      const module = await load<{default?: CommandCache}>(this, filePath)
-      this.commandCache = module.default ?? {}
+      const module = await load<Record<string, CommandCache>>(this, filePath)
+      this.commandCache = module[this.commandDiscoveryOpts?.identifier ?? 'default'] ?? {}
       return this.commandCache
     }
 
diff --git a/src/interfaces/pjson.ts b/src/interfaces/pjson.ts
index bd705a0e8..7a65c0d7c 100644
--- a/src/interfaces/pjson.ts
+++ b/src/interfaces/pjson.ts
@@ -18,9 +18,9 @@ export type CommandDiscovery = {
   /**
    * The strategy to use for loading commands.
    *
-   * - `pattern` will use glob patterns to find command files in the specified `directory`.
+   * - `pattern` will use glob patterns to find command files in the specified `target`.
    * - `explicit` will use `import` (or `require` for CJS) to load the commands from the
-   *    specified `file`.
+   *    specified `target`.
    * - `single` will use the `target` which should export a command class. This is for CLIs that
    *    only have a single command.
    *
@@ -30,9 +30,9 @@ export type CommandDiscovery = {
   /**
    * If the `strategy` is `pattern`, this is the **directory** to use to find command files.
    *
-   * If the `strategy` is `explicit`, this is the **file** that default exports the commands.
-   *   - This export must be the default export and an object with keys that are the command names
-   *     and values that are the command classes.
+   * If the `strategy` is `explicit`, this is the **file** that exports the commands.
+   *   - This export must be an object with keys that are the command names and values that are the command classes.
+   *   - Unless `identifier` is specified, the default export will be used.
    *
    * @example
    * ```typescript
@@ -52,6 +52,46 @@ export type CommandDiscovery = {
    * This is only used when `strategy` is `pattern`.
    */
   globPatterns?: string[]
+  /**
+   * The name of the export to used when loading the command object from the `target` file. Only
+   * used when `strategy` is `explicit`. Defaults to `default`.
+   *
+   * @example
+   * ```typescript
+   * // in src/commands.ts
+   * import Hello from './commands/hello/index.js'
+   * import HelloWorld from './commands/hello/world.js'
+   *
+   * export const MY_COMMANDS = {
+   *  hello: Hello,
+   * 'hello:world': HelloWorld,
+   * }
+   * ```
+   *
+   * In the package.json:
+   * ```json
+   * {
+   *  "oclif": {
+   *   "commands": {
+   *     "strategy": "explicit",
+   *     "target": "./dist/index.js",
+   *     "identifier": "MY_COMMANDS"
+   *    }
+   * }
+   * ```
+   */
+  identifier?: string
+}
+
+export type HookOptions = {
+  /**
+   * The file path containing hook.
+   */
+  target: string
+  /**
+   * The name of the export to use when loading the hook function from the `target` file. Defaults to `default`.
+   */
+  identifier: string
 }
 
 export namespace PJSON {
@@ -83,7 +123,7 @@ export namespace PJSON {
       flexibleTaxonomy?: boolean
       helpClass?: string
       helpOptions?: HelpOptions
-      hooks?: {[name: string]: string | string[]}
+      hooks?: {[name: string]: string | string[] | HookOptions | HookOptions[]}
       jitPlugins?: Record<string, string>
       macos?: {
         identifier?: string
diff --git a/src/interfaces/plugin.ts b/src/interfaces/plugin.ts
index 28945e1a6..cc4be67e1 100644
--- a/src/interfaces/plugin.ts
+++ b/src/interfaces/plugin.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import {Command} from '../command'
-import {PJSON} from './pjson'
+import {HookOptions, PJSON} from './pjson'
 import {Topic} from './topic'
 
 export interface PluginOptions {
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ export interface Plugin {
   findCommand(id: string, opts: {must: true}): Promise<Command.Class>
   findCommand(id: string, opts?: {must: boolean}): Promise<Command.Class> | undefined
   readonly hasManifest: boolean
-  hooks: {[k: string]: string[]}
+  hooks: {[key: string]: HookOptions[]}
   /**
    * True if the plugin is the root plugin.
    */
diff --git a/src/util/fs.ts b/src/util/fs.ts
index 50e04a99f..2db8f3f32 100644
--- a/src/util/fs.ts
+++ b/src/util/fs.ts
@@ -1,10 +1,5 @@
 import {Stats, existsSync as fsExistsSync, readFileSync} from 'node:fs'
 import {readFile, stat} from 'node:fs/promises'
-import {join} from 'node:path'
-
-export function requireJson<T>(...pathParts: string[]): T {
-  return JSON.parse(readFileSync(join(...pathParts), 'utf8'))
-}
 
 /**
  * Parser for Args.directory and Flags.directory. Checks that the provided path
diff --git a/test/command/explicit-command-strategy.test.ts b/test/command/explicit-command-strategy.test.ts
index c8085f314..8de55ac1c 100644
--- a/test/command/explicit-command-strategy.test.ts
+++ b/test/command/explicit-command-strategy.test.ts
@@ -19,8 +19,10 @@ describe('explicit command discovery strategy', () => {
   })
 
   it('should show help for commands', async () => {
-    await run(['--help', 'foo'], resolve(__dirname, 'fixtures/explicit-commands/package.json'))
-    expect(stdoutStub.args.map((a) => stripAnsi(a[0])).join('')).to.equal(`foo topic description
+    await run(['--help', 'foo'], resolve(__dirname, 'fixtures/bundled-cli/package.json'))
+    const [first, ...rest] = stdoutStub.args.map((a) => stripAnsi(a[0]))
+    expect(first).to.equal('example hook running --help\n')
+    expect(rest.join('')).to.equal(`foo topic description
 
 USAGE
   $ oclif foo COMMAND
@@ -34,12 +36,16 @@ COMMANDS
   })
 
   it('should run command', async () => {
-    await run(['foo:bar'], resolve(__dirname, 'fixtures/explicit-commands/package.json'))
-    expect(stdoutStub.firstCall.firstArg).to.equal('hello world!\n')
+    await run(['foo:bar'], resolve(__dirname, 'fixtures/bundled-cli/package.json'))
+    const [first, second] = stdoutStub.args.map((a) => stripAnsi(a[0]))
+    expect(first).to.equal('example hook running foo:bar\n')
+    expect(second).to.equal('hello world!\n')
   })
 
   it('should run alias', async () => {
-    await run(['foo:alias'], resolve(__dirname, 'fixtures/explicit-commands/package.json'))
-    expect(stdoutStub.firstCall.firstArg).to.equal('hello world!\n')
+    await run(['foo:alias'], resolve(__dirname, 'fixtures/bundled-cli/package.json'))
+    const [first, second] = stdoutStub.args.map((a) => stripAnsi(a[0]))
+    expect(first).to.equal('example hook running foo:alias\n')
+    expect(second).to.equal('hello world!\n')
   })
 })
diff --git a/test/command/fixtures/explicit-commands/package.json b/test/command/fixtures/bundled-cli/package.json
similarity index 74%
rename from test/command/fixtures/explicit-commands/package.json
rename to test/command/fixtures/bundled-cli/package.json
index c96e8e813..2855a978e 100644
--- a/test/command/fixtures/explicit-commands/package.json
+++ b/test/command/fixtures/bundled-cli/package.json
@@ -7,7 +7,14 @@
   "oclif": {
     "commands": {
       "strategy": "explicit",
-      "target": "./lib/commands.js"
+      "target": "./lib/index.js",
+      "identifier": "commands"
+    },
+    "hooks": {
+      "init": {
+        "target": "./lib/index.js",
+        "identifier": "initHook"
+      }
     },
     "topicSeparator": " ",
     "plugins": [
diff --git a/test/command/fixtures/explicit-commands/src/commands/foo/bar.ts b/test/command/fixtures/bundled-cli/src/commands/foo/bar.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from test/command/fixtures/explicit-commands/src/commands/foo/bar.ts
rename to test/command/fixtures/bundled-cli/src/commands/foo/bar.ts
diff --git a/test/command/fixtures/explicit-commands/src/commands/foo/baz.ts b/test/command/fixtures/bundled-cli/src/commands/foo/baz.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from test/command/fixtures/explicit-commands/src/commands/foo/baz.ts
rename to test/command/fixtures/bundled-cli/src/commands/foo/baz.ts
diff --git a/test/command/fixtures/bundled-cli/src/hooks/init.ts b/test/command/fixtures/bundled-cli/src/hooks/init.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..16eede0e8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/command/fixtures/bundled-cli/src/hooks/init.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+import {Hook, ux} from '../../../../../../src/index'
+
+const hook: Hook<'init'> = async function (opts) {
+  ux.log(`example hook running ${opts.id}`)
+}
+
+export default hook
diff --git a/test/command/fixtures/explicit-commands/src/commands.ts b/test/command/fixtures/bundled-cli/src/index.ts
similarity index 66%
rename from test/command/fixtures/explicit-commands/src/commands.ts
rename to test/command/fixtures/bundled-cli/src/index.ts
index c80593378..cc7666242 100644
--- a/test/command/fixtures/explicit-commands/src/commands.ts
+++ b/test/command/fixtures/bundled-cli/src/index.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 import FooBar from './commands/foo/bar'
 import FooBaz from './commands/foo/baz'
+export {default as initHook} from './hooks/init'
 
-export default {
+export const commands = {
   'foo:bar': FooBar,
   'foo:baz': FooBaz,
   'foo:alias': FooBar,
diff --git a/test/command/fixtures/explicit-commands/tsconfig.json b/test/command/fixtures/bundled-cli/tsconfig.json
similarity index 100%
rename from test/command/fixtures/explicit-commands/tsconfig.json
rename to test/command/fixtures/bundled-cli/tsconfig.json
diff --git a/test/command/main.test.ts b/test/command/main.test.ts
index 58c0de12e..1c6d6c19a 100644
--- a/test/command/main.test.ts
+++ b/test/command/main.test.ts
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 import {expect} from 'chai'
-import {resolve} from 'node:path'
+import {readFileSync} from 'node:fs'
+import {join, resolve} from 'node:path'
 import {SinonSandbox, SinonStub, createSandbox} from 'sinon'
 import stripAnsi from 'strip-ansi'
 
-import {Interfaces, ux} from '../../src/index'
+import {ux} from '../../src/index'
 import {run} from '../../src/main'
-import {requireJson} from '../../src/util/fs'
 
-const pjson = requireJson<Interfaces.PJSON>(__dirname, '..', '..', 'package.json')
+const pjson = JSON.parse(readFileSync(join(__dirname, '..', '..', 'package.json'), 'utf8'))
 const version = `@oclif/core/${pjson.version} ${process.platform}-${process.arch} node-${process.version}`
 
 describe('main', () => {