diff --git a/sqlite_utils/cli.py b/sqlite_utils/cli.py
index 9b9ee20e..470d93be 100644
--- a/sqlite_utils/cli.py
+++ b/sqlite_utils/cli.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
     NoTable,
     quote_identifier,
 )
-from sqlite_utils.plugins import pm, get_plugins
+from sqlite_utils.plugins import ensure_plugins_loaded, pm, get_plugins
 from sqlite_utils.utils import maximize_csv_field_size_limit
 from sqlite_utils import recipes
 import textwrap
@@ -3264,6 +3264,7 @@ def plugins_list():
     click.echo(json.dumps(get_plugins(), indent=2))
 
 
+ensure_plugins_loaded()
 pm.hook.register_commands(cli=cli)
 
 
diff --git a/sqlite_utils/db.py b/sqlite_utils/db.py
index aacdc893..f989bedc 100644
--- a/sqlite_utils/db.py
+++ b/sqlite_utils/db.py
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@
     Tuple,
 )
 import uuid
-from sqlite_utils.plugins import pm
+from sqlite_utils.plugins import ensure_plugins_loaded, pm
 
 try:
     from sqlite_dump import iterdump  # type: ignore[import-not-found]
@@ -382,6 +382,7 @@ def __init__(
         self._registered_functions: set = set()
         self.use_counts_table = use_counts_table
         if execute_plugins:
+            ensure_plugins_loaded()
             pm.hook.prepare_connection(conn=self.conn)
         self.strict = strict
 
diff --git a/sqlite_utils/plugins.py b/sqlite_utils/plugins.py
index 457a9071..4b445132 100644
--- a/sqlite_utils/plugins.py
+++ b/sqlite_utils/plugins.py
@@ -6,10 +6,15 @@
 
 pm: pluggy.PluginManager = pluggy.PluginManager("sqlite_utils")
 pm.add_hookspecs(hookspecs)
+_plugins_loaded = False
 
-if not getattr(sys, "_called_from_test", False):
-    # Only load plugins if not running tests
+
+def ensure_plugins_loaded() -> None:
+    global _plugins_loaded
+    if _plugins_loaded or getattr(sys, "_called_from_test", False):
+        return
     pm.load_setuptools_entrypoints("sqlite_utils")
+    _plugins_loaded = True
 
 
 def get_plugins() -> List[Dict[str, Union[str, List[str]]]]: