diff --git a/lib/App/Netdisco/Backend/Util.pm b/lib/App/Netdisco/Backend/Util.pm
index a957d5e6..48ceb68c 100644
--- a/lib/App/Netdisco/Backend/Util.pm
+++ b/lib/App/Netdisco/Backend/Util.pm
@@ -3,6 +3,30 @@ package App::Netdisco::Backend::Util;
 use strict;
 use warnings;
 
+use Dancer ':syntax';
+
+# load core worker plugins for our workers
+# NOTE: this package is loaded for all actions whether backend or netdisco-do
+
+use Module::Load ();
+
+sub load_core_plugins {
+  my $plugin_list = shift;
+
+  foreach my $plugin (@$plugin_list) {
+    $plugin =~ s/^X::/+App::NetdiscoX::Core::Plugin::/;
+    $plugin = 'App::Netdisco::Core::Plugin::'. $plugin
+      if $plugin !~ m/^\+/;
+    $plugin =~ s/^\+//;
+
+    debug "loading Netdisco plugin $plugin";
+    eval { Module::Load::load $plugin };
+  }
+}
+
+load_core_plugins( setting('extra_core_plugins') || [] );
+load_core_plugins( setting('core_plugins') || [] );
+
 # support utilities for Backend Actions
 
 use base 'Exporter';