diff --git a/helper/pluginutils/loader/init.go b/helper/pluginutils/loader/init.go
index d43636cf02d..3fb262df23c 100644
--- a/helper/pluginutils/loader/init.go
+++ b/helper/pluginutils/loader/init.go
@@ -264,7 +264,11 @@ func (l *PluginLoader) fingerprintPlugins(plugins []os.FileInfo, configs map[str
 	fingerprinted := make(map[PluginID]*pluginInfo, len(plugins))
 	for _, p := range plugins {
 		name := cleanPluginExecutable(p.Name())
-		c := configs[name]
+		c, config_does_exist := configs[name]
+		if !config_does_exist {
+			l.logger.Error("failed to load config for plugin. Is it specified in the config?", "plugin", name)
+			continue
+		}
 		info, err := l.fingerprintPlugin(p, c)
 		if err != nil {
 			l.logger.Error("failed to fingerprint plugin", "plugin", name, "error", err)
diff --git a/helper/pluginutils/loader/loader_test.go b/helper/pluginutils/loader/loader_test.go
index 939ee7b7104..1f8a50d1730 100644
--- a/helper/pluginutils/loader/loader_test.go
+++ b/helper/pluginutils/loader/loader_test.go
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ func TestPluginLoader_External(t *testing.T) {
 	require := require.New(t)
 
 	// Create two plugins
-	plugins := []string{"mock-device", "mock-device-2"}
+	plugins := []string{"mock-device", "mock-device-2", "mock-device-3"}
 	pluginVersions := []string{"v0.0.1", "v0.0.2"}
 	h := newHarness(t, plugins)
 
@@ -133,6 +133,8 @@ func TestPluginLoader_External(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(err)
 
 	// Get the catalog and assert we have the two plugins
+	//
+	// Note: mock-device-3 is ignored because it does not have a related config.
 	c := l.Catalog()
 	require.Len(c, 1)
 	require.Contains(c, base.PluginTypeDevice)