diff --git a/app/applets.go b/app/applets.go
index 5b235db..a3e2d23 100644
--- a/app/applets.go
+++ b/app/applets.go
@@ -113,9 +113,13 @@ func (ap *appletPlugins) AddPlugin(peerid string, id plugins.PluginID, bus event
 	pluginsinf, _ := ap.plugins.Load(peerid)
 	peerPlugins := pluginsinf.([]plugins.Plugin)
 
-	newp := plugins.Get(id, bus, acn, peerid)
-	newp.Start()
-	peerPlugins = append(peerPlugins, newp)
-	log.Debugf("storing plugin for %v %v", peerid, peerPlugins)
-	ap.plugins.Store(peerid, peerPlugins)
+	newp,err  := plugins.Get(id, bus, acn, peerid)
+	if err == nil {
+		newp.Start()
+		peerPlugins = append(peerPlugins, newp)
+		log.Debugf("storing plugin for %v %v", peerid, peerPlugins)
+		ap.plugins.Store(peerid, peerPlugins)
+	} else {
+		log.Errorf("error adding plugin: %v", err)
+	}
 }
diff --git a/app/plugins/plugin.go b/app/plugins/plugin.go
index 2d271fc..be8252b 100644
--- a/app/plugins/plugin.go
+++ b/app/plugins/plugin.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package plugins
 
 import (
 	"cwtch.im/cwtch/event"
+	"fmt"
 	"git.openprivacy.ca/openprivacy/connectivity"
 )
 
@@ -21,13 +22,13 @@ type Plugin interface {
 }
 
 // Get is a plugin factory for the requested plugin
-func Get(id PluginID, bus event.Manager, acn connectivity.ACN, onion string) Plugin {
+func Get(id PluginID, bus event.Manager, acn connectivity.ACN, onion string) (Plugin, error) {
 	switch id {
 	case CONNECTIONRETRY:
-		return NewConnectionRetry(bus, onion)
+		return NewConnectionRetry(bus, onion), nil
 	case NETWORKCHECK:
-		return NewNetworkCheck(bus, acn)
+		return NewNetworkCheck(bus, acn), nil
 	}
 
-	return nil
+	return nil, fmt.Errorf("plugin not defined %v", id)
 }