diff --git a/src/command/cmd_ac.c b/src/command/cmd_ac.c
index 56baafc8..544719d4 100644
--- a/src/command/cmd_ac.c
+++ b/src/command/cmd_ac.c
@@ -184,6 +184,7 @@ static Autocomplete console_ac;
 static Autocomplete console_msg_ac;
 static Autocomplete autoping_ac;
 static Autocomplete plugins_ac;
+static Autocomplete plugins_sourcepath_ac;
 static Autocomplete plugins_load_ac;
 static Autocomplete plugins_unload_ac;
 static Autocomplete plugins_reload_ac;
@@ -714,6 +715,11 @@ cmd_ac_init(void)
     autocomplete_add(plugins_ac, "unload");
     autocomplete_add(plugins_ac, "reload");
     autocomplete_add(plugins_ac, "python_version");
+    autocomplete_add(plugins_ac, "sourcepath");
+
+    plugins_sourcepath_ac = autocomplete_new();
+    autocomplete_add(plugins_sourcepath_ac, "set");
+    autocomplete_add(plugins_sourcepath_ac, "clear");
 
     filepath_ac = autocomplete_new();
 
@@ -1011,6 +1017,7 @@ cmd_ac_reset(ProfWin *window)
     autocomplete_reset(console_msg_ac);
     autocomplete_reset(autoping_ac);
     autocomplete_reset(plugins_ac);
+    autocomplete_reset(plugins_sourcepath_ac);
     autocomplete_reset(blocked_ac);
     autocomplete_reset(tray_ac);
     autocomplete_reset(presence_ac);
@@ -2025,10 +2032,21 @@ _plugins_autocomplete(ProfWin *window, const char *const input)
 {
     char *result = NULL;
 
+    if (strncmp(input, "/plugins sourcepath set ", 24) == 0) {
+        return cmd_ac_complete_filepath(input, "/plugins sourcepath set");
+    }
+
     if (strncmp(input, "/plugins install ", 17) == 0) {
         return cmd_ac_complete_filepath(input, "/plugins install");
     }
 
+    if (strncmp(input, "/plugins sourcepath ", 20) == 0) {
+        result = autocomplete_param_with_ac(input, "/plugins sourcepath", plugins_sourcepath_ac, TRUE);
+        if (result) {
+            return result;
+        }
+    }
+
     if (strncmp(input, "/plugins load ", 14) == 0) {
         if (plugins_load_ac == NULL) {
             plugins_load_ac = autocomplete_new();
diff --git a/src/command/cmd_defs.c b/src/command/cmd_defs.c
index 2ca3b967..8f8ced09 100644
--- a/src/command/cmd_defs.c
+++ b/src/command/cmd_defs.c
@@ -2046,8 +2046,9 @@ static struct cmd_t command_defs[] =
     },
 
     { "/plugins",
-        parse_args, 0, 2, NULL,
+        parse_args, 0, 3, NULL,
         CMD_SUBFUNCS(
+            { "sourcepath",     cmd_plugins_sourcepath },
             { "install",        cmd_plugins_install },
             { "load",           cmd_plugins_load },
             { "unload",         cmd_plugins_unload },
@@ -2057,7 +2058,9 @@ static struct cmd_t command_defs[] =
         CMD_NOTAGS
         CMD_SYN(
             "/plugins",
-            "/plugins install <path>",
+            "/plugins sourcepath set <path>",
+            "/plugins sourcepath clear",
+            "/plugins install [<path>]",
             "/plugins unload [<plugin>]",
             "/plugins load [<plugin>]",
             "/plugins reload [<plugin>]",
@@ -2065,12 +2068,16 @@ static struct cmd_t command_defs[] =
         CMD_DESC(
             "Manage plugins. Passing no arguments lists currently loaded plugins.")
         CMD_ARGS(
-            { "install <file>",      "Install file to plugins directory, and load or reload the plugin." },
-            { "load [<plugin>]",       "Load a plugin that already exists in the plugin directory, passing no argument loads all found plugins." },
-            { "unload [<plugin>]",   "Unload a loaded plugin, passing no argument will unload all plugins." },
-            { "reload [<plugin>]",   "Reload a plugin, passing no argument will reload all plugins." },
-            { "python_version",      "Show the Python interpreter version." })
+            { "sourcepath set <path>",  "Set the default path to install plugins from, will be used if no arg is passed to /plugins install." },
+            { "sourcepath clear",       "Clear the default plugins source path." },
+            { "install [<path>]",       "Install a plugin, or all plugins found in a directory (recursive). Passing no argument will use the sourcepath if one is set." },
+            { "load [<plugin>]",        "Load a plugin that already exists in the plugin directory, passing no argument loads all found plugins." },
+            { "unload [<plugin>]",      "Unload a loaded plugin, passing no argument will unload all plugins." },
+            { "reload [<plugin>]",      "Reload a plugin, passing no argument will reload all plugins." },
+            { "python_version",         "Show the Python interpreter version." })
         CMD_EXAMPLES(
+            "/plugins sourcepath set /home/meee/projects/profanity-plugins",
+            "/plugins install",
             "/plugins install /home/steveharris/Downloads/metal.py",
             "/plugins load browser.py",
             "/plugins unload say.py",
diff --git a/src/command/cmd_funcs.c b/src/command/cmd_funcs.c
index d26ff43f..3df17079 100644
--- a/src/command/cmd_funcs.c
+++ b/src/command/cmd_funcs.c
@@ -6211,17 +6211,70 @@ cmd_xa(ProfWin *window, const char *const command, gchar **args)
     return TRUE;
 }
 
+gboolean
+cmd_plugins_sourcepath(ProfWin *window, const char *const command, gchar **args)
+{
+    if (args[1] == NULL) {
+        char *sourcepath = prefs_get_string(PREF_PLUGINS_SOURCEPATH);
+        if (sourcepath) {
+            cons_show("Current plugins sourcepath: %s", sourcepath);
+            prefs_free_string(sourcepath);
+        } else {
+            cons_show("Plugins sourcepath not currently set.");
+        }
+        return TRUE;
+    }
+
+    if (g_strcmp0(args[1], "clear") == 0) {
+        prefs_set_string(PREF_PLUGINS_SOURCEPATH, NULL);
+        cons_show("Plugins sourcepath cleared.");
+        return TRUE;
+    }
+
+    if (g_strcmp0(args[1], "set") == 0) {
+        char *path = args[2];
+        if (path == NULL) {
+            cons_bad_cmd_usage(command);
+            return TRUE;
+        }
+
+        // expand ~ to $HOME
+        if (path[0] == '~' && path[1] == '/') {
+            if (asprintf(&path, "%s/%s", getenv("HOME"), path+2) == -1) {
+                return TRUE;
+            }
+        } else {
+            path = strdup(path);
+        }
+
+        if (!is_dir(path)) {
+            cons_show("Plugins sourcepath must be a directory.");
+            return TRUE;
+        }
+
+        cons_show("Setting plugins sourcepath: %s", path);
+        prefs_set_string(PREF_PLUGINS_SOURCEPATH, path);
+        return TRUE;
+    }
+
+    cons_bad_cmd_usage(command);
+    return TRUE;
+}
+
 gboolean
 cmd_plugins_install(ProfWin *window, const char *const command, gchar **args)
 {
     char *path = args[1];
     if (path == NULL) {
-        cons_bad_cmd_usage(command);
-        return TRUE;
-    }
-
-    // expand ~ to $HOME
-    if (path[0] == '~' && path[1] == '/') {
+        char* sourcepath = prefs_get_string(PREF_PLUGINS_SOURCEPATH);
+        if (sourcepath) {
+            path = strdup(sourcepath);
+            prefs_free_string(sourcepath);
+        } else {
+            cons_show("Either a path must be provided or the sourcepath property must be set, see /help plugins");
+            return TRUE;
+        }
+    } else if (path[0] == '~' && path[1] == '/') {
         if (asprintf(&path, "%s/%s", getenv("HOME"), path+2) == -1) {
             return TRUE;
         }
diff --git a/src/command/cmd_funcs.h b/src/command/cmd_funcs.h
index c7a89e43..2f0e0bac 100644
--- a/src/command/cmd_funcs.h
+++ b/src/command/cmd_funcs.h
@@ -160,6 +160,7 @@ gboolean cmd_charset(ProfWin *window, const char *const command, gchar **args);
 gboolean cmd_console(ProfWin *window, const char *const command, gchar **args);
 
 gboolean cmd_plugins(ProfWin *window, const char *const command, gchar **args);
+gboolean cmd_plugins_sourcepath(ProfWin *window, const char *const command, gchar **args);
 gboolean cmd_plugins_install(ProfWin *window, const char *const command, gchar **args);
 gboolean cmd_plugins_load(ProfWin *window, const char *const command, gchar **args);
 gboolean cmd_plugins_unload(ProfWin *window, const char *const command, gchar **args);
diff --git a/src/config/preferences.c b/src/config/preferences.c
index f759da35..6dc8ef32 100644
--- a/src/config/preferences.c
+++ b/src/config/preferences.c
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@
 #define PREF_GROUP_OTR "otr"
 #define PREF_GROUP_PGP "pgp"
 #define PREF_GROUP_MUC "muc"
+#define PREF_GROUP_PLUGINS "plugins"
 
 #define INPBLOCK_DEFAULT 1000
 
@@ -665,27 +666,27 @@ prefs_get_tray_timer(void)
 gchar**
 prefs_get_plugins(void)
 {
-    if (!g_key_file_has_group(prefs, "plugins")) {
+    if (!g_key_file_has_group(prefs, PREF_GROUP_PLUGINS)) {
         return NULL;
     }
-    if (!g_key_file_has_key(prefs, "plugins", "load", NULL)) {
+    if (!g_key_file_has_key(prefs, PREF_GROUP_PLUGINS, "load", NULL)) {
         return NULL;
     }
 
-    return g_key_file_get_string_list(prefs, "plugins", "load", NULL, NULL);
+    return g_key_file_get_string_list(prefs, PREF_GROUP_PLUGINS, "load", NULL, NULL);
 }
 
 void
 prefs_add_plugin(const char *const name)
 {
-    conf_string_list_add(prefs, "plugins", "load", name);
+    conf_string_list_add(prefs, PREF_GROUP_PLUGINS, "load", name);
     _save_prefs();
 }
 
 void
 prefs_remove_plugin(const char *const name)
 {
-    conf_string_list_remove(prefs, "plugins", "load", name);
+    conf_string_list_remove(prefs, PREF_GROUP_PLUGINS, "load", name);
     _save_prefs();
 }
 
@@ -1614,6 +1615,8 @@ _get_group(preference_t pref)
             return PREF_GROUP_PGP;
         case PREF_BOOKMARK_INVITE:
             return PREF_GROUP_MUC;
+        case PREF_PLUGINS_SOURCEPATH:
+            return PREF_GROUP_PLUGINS;
         default:
             return NULL;
     }
@@ -1814,6 +1817,8 @@ _get_key(preference_t pref)
             return "console.chat";
         case PREF_BOOKMARK_INVITE:
             return "bookmark.invite";
+        case PREF_PLUGINS_SOURCEPATH:
+            return "sourcepath";
         default:
             return NULL;
     }
diff --git a/src/config/preferences.h b/src/config/preferences.h
index dbc74148..cc605c79 100644
--- a/src/config/preferences.h
+++ b/src/config/preferences.h
@@ -141,6 +141,7 @@ typedef enum {
     PREF_CONSOLE_PRIVATE,
     PREF_CONSOLE_CHAT,
     PREF_BOOKMARK_INVITE,
+    PREF_PLUGINS_SOURCEPATH,
 } preference_t;
 
 typedef struct prof_alias_t {