diff --git a/lib/PlugsManager.vala b/lib/PlugsManager.vala
index 8b21e7b..bc36321 100644
--- a/lib/PlugsManager.vala
+++ b/lib/PlugsManager.vala
@@ -36,7 +36,15 @@ public class Switchboard.PlugsManager : GLib.Object {
 
     private PlugsManager () {
         plugs = new Gee.LinkedList<Switchboard.Plug> ();
-        var base_folder = File.new_for_path (Build.PLUGS_DIR);
+
+        var plugs_path = Environment.get_variable("SWITCHBOARD_PLUGS_PATH");
+        if (plugs_path != null) {
+            debug ("SWITCHBOARD_PLUGS_PATH set to %s", plugs_path);
+        } else {
+            critical ("SWITCHBOARD_PLUGS_PATH not set");
+        }
+
+        var base_folder = File.new_for_path (plugs_path);
         find_plugins (base_folder);
     }