diff --git a/src/command/command.c b/src/command/command.c
index bf323a02..271169cf 100644
--- a/src/command/command.c
+++ b/src/command/command.c
@@ -117,6 +117,7 @@ static char* _subject_autocomplete(ProfWin *window, const char *const input);
 static char* _console_autocomplete(ProfWin *window, const char *const input);
 static char* _win_autocomplete(ProfWin *window, const char *const input);
 static char* _close_autocomplete(ProfWin *window, const char *const input);
+static char* _plugins_autocomplete(ProfWin *window, const char *const input);
 
 GHashTable *commands = NULL;
 
@@ -1743,14 +1744,17 @@ static struct cmd_t command_defs[] =
     },
 
     { "/plugins",
-        cmd_plugins, parse_args, 0, 0, NULL,
+        cmd_plugins, parse_args, 0, 2, NULL,
         CMD_NOTAGS
         CMD_SYN(
-            "/plugins")
+            "/plugins",
+            "/plugins load <plugin>")
         CMD_DESC(
-            "Show currently installed plugins. ")
-        CMD_NOARGS
-        CMD_NOEXAMPLES
+            "Manage plugins. Passing no arguments lists currently loaded plugins.")
+        CMD_ARGS(
+            { "laod <plugin>",       "Load a plugin." })
+        CMD_EXAMPLES(
+            "/plugin load browser.py")
     },
 
     { "/prefs",
@@ -2022,6 +2026,8 @@ static Autocomplete script_show_ac;
 static Autocomplete console_ac;
 static Autocomplete console_msg_ac;
 static Autocomplete autoping_ac;
+static Autocomplete plugins_ac;
+static Autocomplete plugins_load_ac;
 
 /*
  * Initialise command autocompleter and history
@@ -2348,6 +2354,7 @@ cmd_init(void)
     autocomplete_add(group_ac, "remove");
 
     theme_load_ac = NULL;
+    plugins_load_ac = NULL;
 
     who_roster_ac = autocomplete_new();
     autocomplete_add(who_roster_ac, "chat");
@@ -2572,6 +2579,9 @@ cmd_init(void)
     autoping_ac = autocomplete_new();
     autocomplete_add(autoping_ac, "set");
     autocomplete_add(autoping_ac, "timeout");
+
+    plugins_ac = autocomplete_new();
+    autocomplete_add(plugins_ac, "load");
 }
 
 void
@@ -2659,6 +2669,8 @@ cmd_uninit(void)
     autocomplete_free(console_ac);
     autocomplete_free(console_msg_ac);
     autocomplete_free(autoping_ac);
+    autocomplete_free(plugins_ac);
+    autocomplete_free(plugins_load_ac);
 }
 
 gboolean
@@ -2822,6 +2834,10 @@ cmd_reset_autocomplete(ProfWin *window)
         autocomplete_free(theme_load_ac);
         theme_load_ac = NULL;
     }
+    if (plugins_load_ac) {
+        autocomplete_free(plugins_load_ac);
+        plugins_load_ac = NULL;
+    }
     autocomplete_reset(account_ac);
     autocomplete_reset(account_set_ac);
     autocomplete_reset(account_clear_ac);
@@ -2882,6 +2898,7 @@ cmd_reset_autocomplete(ProfWin *window)
     autocomplete_reset(console_ac);
     autocomplete_reset(console_msg_ac);
     autocomplete_reset(autoping_ac);
+    autocomplete_reset(plugins_ac);
     autocomplete_reset(script_ac);
     if (script_show_ac) {
         autocomplete_free(script_show_ac);
@@ -3148,6 +3165,7 @@ _cmd_complete_parameters(ProfWin *window, const char *const input)
     g_hash_table_insert(ac_funcs, "/console",       _console_autocomplete);
     g_hash_table_insert(ac_funcs, "/win",           _win_autocomplete);
     g_hash_table_insert(ac_funcs, "/close",         _close_autocomplete);
+    g_hash_table_insert(ac_funcs, "/plugins",         _plugins_autocomplete);
 
     int len = strlen(input);
     char parsed[len+1];
@@ -3736,6 +3754,34 @@ _pgp_autocomplete(ProfWin *window, const char *const input)
     return NULL;
 }
 
+static char*
+_plugins_autocomplete(ProfWin *window, const char *const input)
+{
+    char *result = NULL;
+    if ((strncmp(input, "/plugins load ", 14) == 0) && (strlen(input) > 14)) {
+        if (plugins_load_ac == NULL) {
+            plugins_load_ac = autocomplete_new();
+            GSList *plugins = plugins_file_list();
+            GSList *curr = plugins;
+            while (curr) {
+                autocomplete_add(plugins_load_ac, curr->data);
+                curr = g_slist_next(curr);
+            }
+            g_slist_free_full(plugins, g_free);
+        }
+        result = autocomplete_param_with_ac(input, "/plugins load", plugins_load_ac, TRUE);
+        if (result) {
+            return result;
+        }
+    }
+    result = autocomplete_param_with_ac(input, "/plugins", plugins_ac, TRUE);
+    if (result) {
+        return result;
+    }
+
+    return NULL;
+}
+
 static char*
 _theme_autocomplete(ProfWin *window, const char *const input)
 {
diff --git a/src/command/commands.c b/src/command/commands.c
index 8ce95c56..8d32237b 100644
--- a/src/command/commands.c
+++ b/src/command/commands.c
@@ -5657,22 +5657,37 @@ cmd_xa(ProfWin *window, const char *const command, gchar **args)
 gboolean
 cmd_plugins(ProfWin *window, const char *const command, gchar **args)
 {
-    GSList *plugins = plugins_get_list();
-
-    GSList *curr = plugins;
-    if (curr == NULL) {
-        cons_show("No plugins installed.");
-    } else {
-        cons_show("Installed plugins:");
-        while (curr) {
-            ProfPlugin *plugin = curr->data;
-            char *lang = plugins_get_lang_string(plugin);
-            cons_show("  %s (%s)", plugin->name, lang);
-            curr = g_slist_next(curr);
+    if (g_strcmp0(args[0], "load") == 0) {
+        if (args[1] == NULL) {
+            cons_bad_cmd_usage(command);
+            return TRUE;
         }
+        gboolean res = plugins_load(args[1]);
+        if (res) {
+            prefs_add_plugin(args[1]);
+            cons_show("Loaded plugin: %s", args[1]);
+        } else {
+            cons_show("Failed to load plugin: %s", args[1]);
+        }
+
+        return TRUE;
+    } else {
+        GSList *plugins = plugins_get_list();
+        GSList *curr = plugins;
+        if (curr == NULL) {
+            cons_show("No plugins installed.");
+        } else {
+            cons_show("Installed plugins:");
+            while (curr) {
+                ProfPlugin *plugin = curr->data;
+                cons_show("  %s", plugin->name);
+                curr = g_slist_next(curr);
+            }
+        }
+        g_slist_free(curr);
+
+        return TRUE;
     }
-    g_slist_free(curr);
-    return TRUE;
 }
 
 gboolean
diff --git a/src/config/preferences.c b/src/config/preferences.c
index 8844b389..0ad95dc4 100644
--- a/src/config/preferences.c
+++ b/src/config/preferences.c
@@ -604,6 +604,13 @@ prefs_get_plugins(void)
     return g_key_file_get_string_list(prefs, "plugins", "load", NULL, NULL);
 }
 
+void
+prefs_add_plugin(const char *const name)
+{
+    conf_string_list_add(prefs, "plugins", "load", name);
+    _save_prefs();
+}
+
 void
 prefs_free_plugins(gchar **plugins)
 {
diff --git a/src/config/preferences.h b/src/config/preferences.h
index 8f18149c..287e56d3 100644
--- a/src/config/preferences.h
+++ b/src/config/preferences.h
@@ -187,6 +187,7 @@ void prefs_set_autoxa_time(gint value);
 
 gchar** prefs_get_plugins(void);
 void prefs_free_plugins(gchar **plugins);
+void prefs_add_plugin(const char *const name);
 
 char prefs_get_otr_char(void);
 void prefs_set_otr_char(char ch);
diff --git a/src/plugins/c_plugins.c b/src/plugins/c_plugins.c
index 07a618b6..ff05791d 100644
--- a/src/plugins/c_plugins.c
+++ b/src/plugins/c_plugins.c
@@ -74,10 +74,8 @@ c_plugin_create(const char *const filename)
         return NULL;
     }
 
-    gchar *module_name = g_strndup(filename, strlen(filename) - 3);
-
     plugin = malloc(sizeof(ProfPlugin));
-    plugin->name = strdup(module_name);
+    plugin->name = strdup(filename);
     plugin->lang = LANG_C;
     plugin->module = handle;
     plugin->init_func = c_init_hook;
@@ -110,7 +108,6 @@ c_plugin_create(const char *const filename)
     plugin->on_room_win_focus = c_on_room_win_focus_hook;
 
     g_string_free(path, TRUE);
-    g_free(module_name);
 
     return plugin;
 }
diff --git a/src/plugins/plugins.c b/src/plugins/plugins.c
index 73f3f873..e2d0bdf3 100644
--- a/src/plugins/plugins.c
+++ b/src/plugins/plugins.c
@@ -78,13 +78,13 @@ plugins_init(void)
     plugin_settings_init();
 
     // load plugins
-    gchar **plugins_load = prefs_get_plugins();
-    if (plugins_load) {
+    gchar **plugins_pref = prefs_get_plugins();
+    if (plugins_pref) {
         int i;
-        for (i = 0; i < g_strv_length(plugins_load); i++)
+        for (i = 0; i < g_strv_length(plugins_pref); i++)
         {
             gboolean loaded = FALSE;
-            gchar *filename = plugins_load[i];
+            gchar *filename = plugins_pref[i];
 #ifdef HAVE_PYTHON
             if (g_str_has_suffix(filename, ".py")) {
                 ProfPlugin *plugin = python_plugin_create(filename);
@@ -103,8 +103,10 @@ plugins_init(void)
                 }
             }
 #endif
-            if (loaded == TRUE) {
+            if (loaded) {
                 log_info("Loaded plugin: %s", filename);
+            } else {
+                log_info("Failed to load plugin: %s", filename);
             }
         }
 
@@ -117,29 +119,94 @@ plugins_init(void)
         }
     }
 
-    prefs_free_plugins(plugins_load);
+    prefs_free_plugins(plugins_pref);
 
     return;
 }
 
+gboolean
+_find_by_name(gconstpointer pluginp, gconstpointer namep)
+{
+    char *name = (char*)namep;
+    ProfPlugin *plugin = (ProfPlugin*)pluginp;
+
+    return g_strcmp0(name, plugin->name);
+}
+
+gboolean
+plugins_load(const char *const name)
+{
+    GSList *found = g_slist_find_custom(plugins, name, (GCompareFunc)_find_by_name);
+    if (found) {
+        log_info("Failed to load plugin: %s, plugin already loaded", name);
+        return FALSE;
+    }
+
+    ProfPlugin *plugin = NULL;
+#ifdef HAVE_PYTHON
+    if (g_str_has_suffix(name, ".py")) {
+        plugin = python_plugin_create(name);
+    }
+#endif
+#ifdef HAVE_C
+    if (g_str_has_suffix(name, ".so")) {
+        plugin = c_plugin_create(name);
+    }
+#endif
+    if (plugin) {
+        plugins = g_slist_append(plugins, plugin);
+        plugin->init_func(plugin, PACKAGE_VERSION, PACKAGE_STATUS);
+        log_info("Loaded plugin: %s", name);
+        return TRUE;
+    } else {
+        log_info("Failed to load plugin: %s", name);
+        return FALSE;
+    }
+}
+
 GSList *
 plugins_get_list(void)
 {
     return plugins;
 }
 
-char *
-plugins_get_lang_string(ProfPlugin *plugin)
+static gchar*
+_get_plugins_dir(void)
 {
-    switch (plugin->lang)
-    {
-        case LANG_PYTHON:
-            return "Python";
-        case LANG_C:
-            return "C";
-        default:
-            return "Unknown";
+    gchar *xdg_data = xdg_get_data_home();
+    GString *plugins_dir = g_string_new(xdg_data);
+    g_free(xdg_data);
+    g_string_append(plugins_dir, "/profanity/plugins");
+    return g_string_free(plugins_dir, FALSE);
+}
+
+void
+_plugins_list_dir(const gchar *const dir, GSList **result)
+{
+    GDir *plugins = g_dir_open(dir, 0, NULL);
+    if (plugins == NULL) {
+        return;
     }
+
+    const gchar *plugin = g_dir_read_name(plugins);
+    while (plugin) {
+        if (g_str_has_suffix(plugin, ".so") || g_str_has_suffix(plugin, ".py")) {
+            *result = g_slist_append(*result, strdup(plugin));
+        }
+        plugin = g_dir_read_name(plugins);
+    }
+    g_dir_close(plugins);
+}
+
+GSList*
+plugins_file_list(void)
+{
+    GSList *result = NULL;
+    char *plugins_dir = _get_plugins_dir();
+    _plugins_list_dir(plugins_dir, &result);
+    free(plugins_dir);
+
+    return result;
 }
 
 char *
diff --git a/src/plugins/plugins.h b/src/plugins/plugins.h
index 335bf8f5..85792674 100644
--- a/src/plugins/plugins.h
+++ b/src/plugins/plugins.h
@@ -99,11 +99,13 @@ typedef struct prof_plugin_t {
 
 void plugins_init(void);
 GSList* plugins_get_list(void);
-char* plugins_get_lang_string(ProfPlugin *plugin);
+GSList *plugins_file_list(void);
 char* plugins_autocomplete(const char *const input);
 void plugins_reset_autocomplete(void);
 void plugins_shutdown(void);
 
+gboolean plugins_load(const char *const name);
+
 void plugins_on_start(void);
 void plugins_on_shutdown(void);
 
diff --git a/src/plugins/python_plugins.c b/src/plugins/python_plugins.c
index 90ff36ed..a73cc15b 100644
--- a/src/plugins/python_plugins.c
+++ b/src/plugins/python_plugins.c
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ python_plugin_create(const char *const filename)
     python_check_error();
     if (p_module) {
         ProfPlugin *plugin = malloc(sizeof(ProfPlugin));
-        plugin->name = strdup(module_name);
+        plugin->name = strdup(filename);
         plugin->lang = LANG_PYTHON;
         plugin->module = p_module;
         plugin->init_func = python_init_hook;