diff --git a/cmd/micro/micro.go b/cmd/micro/micro.go
index 818c7027..225dfc85 100644
--- a/cmd/micro/micro.go
+++ b/cmd/micro/micro.go
@@ -255,6 +255,8 @@ func main() {
 	}
 
 	config.InitRuntimeFiles()
+	config.InitPlugins()
+
 	err = config.ReadSettings()
 	if err != nil {
 		screen.TermMessage(err)
diff --git a/cmd/micro/micro_test.go b/cmd/micro/micro_test.go
index ba5c9a24..7ee521cb 100644
--- a/cmd/micro/micro_test.go
+++ b/cmd/micro/micro_test.go
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ func startup(args []string) (tcell.SimulationScreen, error) {
 	}
 
 	config.InitRuntimeFiles()
+	config.InitPlugins()
+
 	err = config.ReadSettings()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
diff --git a/internal/action/command.go b/internal/action/command.go
index 0f41c853..19962ce7 100644
--- a/internal/action/command.go
+++ b/internal/action/command.go
@@ -329,13 +329,30 @@ func (h *BufPane) ToggleLogCmd(args []string) {
 	}
 }
 
-// ReloadCmd reloads all files (syntax files, colorschemes...)
+// ReloadCmd reloads all files (syntax files, colorschemes, plugins...)
 func (h *BufPane) ReloadCmd(args []string) {
-	ReloadConfig()
+	reloadRuntime(true)
 }
 
+// ReloadConfig reloads only the configuration
 func ReloadConfig() {
+	reloadRuntime(false)
+}
+
+func reloadRuntime(reloadPlugins bool) {
+	if reloadPlugins {
+		err := config.RunPluginFn("deinit")
+		if err != nil {
+			screen.TermMessage(err)
+		}
+	}
+
 	config.InitRuntimeFiles()
+
+	if reloadPlugins {
+		config.InitPlugins()
+	}
+
 	err := config.ReadSettings()
 	if err != nil {
 		screen.TermMessage(err)
@@ -344,14 +361,36 @@ func ReloadConfig() {
 	if err != nil {
 		screen.TermMessage(err)
 	}
+
+	if reloadPlugins {
+		err = config.LoadAllPlugins()
+		if err != nil {
+			screen.TermMessage(err)
+		}
+	}
+
 	InitBindings()
 	InitCommands()
 
+	if reloadPlugins {
+		err = config.RunPluginFn("preinit")
+		if err != nil {
+			screen.TermMessage(err)
+		}
+		err = config.RunPluginFn("init")
+		if err != nil {
+			screen.TermMessage(err)
+		}
+		err = config.RunPluginFn("postinit")
+		if err != nil {
+			screen.TermMessage(err)
+		}
+	}
+
 	err = config.InitColorscheme()
 	if err != nil {
 		screen.TermMessage(err)
 	}
-
 	for _, b := range buffer.OpenBuffers {
 		b.UpdateRules()
 	}
diff --git a/internal/buffer/buffer_test.go b/internal/buffer/buffer_test.go
index 305d1627..16714426 100644
--- a/internal/buffer/buffer_test.go
+++ b/internal/buffer/buffer_test.go
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ type operation struct {
 
 func init() {
 	ulua.L = lua.NewState()
+	config.InitRuntimeFiles()
+	config.InitPlugins()
 	config.InitGlobalSettings()
 	config.GlobalSettings["backup"] = false
 	config.GlobalSettings["fastdirty"] = true
diff --git a/internal/buffer/settings.go b/internal/buffer/settings.go
index ce9abf3e..52cbafdb 100644
--- a/internal/buffer/settings.go
+++ b/internal/buffer/settings.go
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ func (b *Buffer) SetOptionNative(option string, nativeValue interface{}) error {
 				}
 			}
 		}
- 	}
+	}
 
 	if b.OptionCallback != nil {
 		b.OptionCallback(option, nativeValue)
diff --git a/internal/config/rtfiles.go b/internal/config/rtfiles.go
index 275831cf..53820c5f 100644
--- a/internal/config/rtfiles.go
+++ b/internal/config/rtfiles.go
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ type RuntimeFile interface {
 var allFiles [][]RuntimeFile
 var realFiles [][]RuntimeFile
 
-func init() {
+func initRuntimeVars() {
 	allFiles = make([][]RuntimeFile, NumTypes)
 	realFiles = make([][]RuntimeFile, NumTypes)
 }
@@ -173,12 +173,19 @@ func InitRuntimeFiles() {
 		AddRuntimeFilesFromAssets(fileType, path.Join("runtime", dir), pattern)
 	}
 
+	initRuntimeVars()
+
 	add(RTColorscheme, "colorschemes", "*.micro")
 	add(RTSyntax, "syntax", "*.yaml")
 	add(RTSyntaxHeader, "syntax", "*.hdr")
 	add(RTHelp, "help", "*.md")
+}
 
+// InitPlugins initializes the plugins
+func InitPlugins() {
+	Plugins = Plugins[:0]
 	initlua := filepath.Join(ConfigDir, "init.lua")
+
 	if _, err := os.Stat(initlua); !os.IsNotExist(err) {
 		p := new(Plugin)
 		p.Name = "initlua"
diff --git a/internal/config/rtfiles_test.go b/internal/config/rtfiles_test.go
index de6525ef..694e4686 100644
--- a/internal/config/rtfiles_test.go
+++ b/internal/config/rtfiles_test.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 
 func init() {
 	InitRuntimeFiles()
+	InitPlugins()
 }
 
 func TestAddFile(t *testing.T) {