diff --git a/src/controllers/admin/plugins.js b/src/controllers/admin/plugins.js
index a0b7457f01..62743e00a3 100644
--- a/src/controllers/admin/plugins.js
+++ b/src/controllers/admin/plugins.js
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@ pluginsController.get = async function (req, res) {
 	]);
 
 	const compatiblePkgNames = compatible.map(pkgData => pkgData.name);
-	const installedPlugins = compatible.filter(plugin => plugin && plugin.installed);
-	const activePlugins = all.filter(plugin => plugin && plugin.installed && plugin.active);
+	const installedPlugins = compatible.filter(plugin => plugin && (plugin.installed || (nconf.get('plugins:active') && plugin.active)));
+	const activePlugins = all.filter(plugin => plugin && (plugin.installed || nconf.get('plugins:active')) && plugin.active);
 
 	const trendingScores = trending.reduce((memo, cur) => {
 		memo[cur.label] = cur.value;
diff --git a/src/plugins/index.js b/src/plugins/index.js
index 3587dc091c..f573202450 100644
--- a/src/plugins/index.js
+++ b/src/plugins/index.js
@@ -234,6 +234,13 @@ Plugins.normalise = async function (apiReturn) {
 		pluginMap[plugin.id].outdated = semver.gt(pluginMap[plugin.id].latest, pluginMap[plugin.id].version);
 	});
 
+	if (nconf.get('plugins:active')) {
+		nconf.get('plugins:active').forEach((id) => {
+			pluginMap[id] = pluginMap[id] || {};
+			pluginMap[id].active = true;
+		});
+	}
+
 	const pluginArray = Object.values(pluginMap);
 
 	pluginArray.sort((a, b) => {