diff --git a/agent/src/index.ts b/agent/src/index.ts
index ae98fd47fc..ab888ec2f2 100644
--- a/agent/src/index.ts
+++ b/agent/src/index.ts
@@ -83,6 +83,10 @@ function tryLoadFile(filePath: string): string | null {
     }
 }
 
+function isAllStrings(arr: unknown[]): boolean {
+    return Array.isArray(arr) && arr.every((item) => typeof item === "string");
+}
+
 export async function loadCharacters(
     charactersArg: string
 ): Promise<Character[]> {
@@ -149,12 +153,12 @@ export async function loadCharacters(
                 validateCharacterConfig(character);
 
                 // Handle plugins
-                if (character.plugins) {
+                if (isAllStrings(character.plugins)) {
                     elizaLogger.info("Plugins are: ", character.plugins);
                     const importedPlugins = await Promise.all(
                         character.plugins.map(async (plugin) => {
                             const importedPlugin = await import(plugin);
-                            return importedPlugin;
+                            return importedPlugin.default;
                         })
                     );
                     character.plugins = importedPlugins;
diff --git a/packages/core/src/enviroment.ts b/packages/core/src/enviroment.ts
index 197f18c004..8e5f338936 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/enviroment.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/enviroment.ts
@@ -78,7 +78,10 @@ export const CharacterSchema = z.object({
     adjectives: z.array(z.string()),
     knowledge: z.array(z.string()).optional(),
     clients: z.array(z.nativeEnum(Clients)),
-    plugins: z.array(PluginSchema),
+    plugins: z.union([
+      z.array(z.string()),
+      z.array(PluginSchema),
+    ]),
     settings: z
         .object({
             secrets: z.record(z.string()).optional(),