diff --git a/src/emqx.app.src b/src/emqx.app.src
index 14a6f4fa4..14c63c75e 100644
--- a/src/emqx.app.src
+++ b/src/emqx.app.src
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
   %% the emqx `release' version, which in turn is comprised of several
   %% apps, one of which is this.  See `emqx_release.hrl' for more
   %% info.
-  {vsn, "4.3.19"}, % strict semver, bump manually!
+  {vsn, "4.3.20"}, % strict semver, bump manually!
   {modules, []},
   {registered, []},
   {applications, [ kernel
diff --git a/src/emqx.appup.src b/src/emqx.appup.src
index c86661891..adc7be0c3 100644
--- a/src/emqx.appup.src
+++ b/src/emqx.appup.src
@@ -1,13 +1,19 @@
 %% -*- mode: erlang -*-
 %% Unless you know what you are doing, DO NOT edit manually!!
 {VSN,
-  [{"4.3.18",[{load_module,emqx_app,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]}]},
+  [{"4.3.19",
+    [{load_module,emqx_app,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
+     {load_module,emqx_plugins,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]}]},
+   {"4.3.18",
+    [{load_module,emqx_app,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
+     {load_module,emqx_plugins,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]}]},
    {"4.3.17",
     [{load_module,emqx_exclusive_subscription,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_session,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_shared_sub,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {update,emqx_broker_sup,supervisor},
      {load_module,emqx_app,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
+     {load_module,emqx_plugins,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_access_control,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]}]},
    {"4.3.16",
     [{load_module,emqx_session,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
@@ -678,13 +684,19 @@
      {load_module,emqx_message,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_limiter,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]}]},
    {<<".*">>,[]}],
-  [{"4.3.18",[{load_module,emqx_app,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]}]},
+  [{"4.3.19",
+    [{load_module,emqx_app,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
+     {load_module,emqx_plugins,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]}]},
+   {"4.3.18",
+     [{load_module,emqx_app,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
+      {load_module,emqx_plugins,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]}]},
    {"4.3.17",
     [{load_module,emqx_exclusive_subscription,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_session,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_shared_sub,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {update,emqx_broker_sup,supervisor},
      {load_module,emqx_app,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
+     {load_module,emqx_plugins,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
      {load_module,emqx_access_control,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]}]},
    {"4.3.16",
     [{load_module,emqx_session,brutal_purge,soft_purge,[]},
diff --git a/src/emqx_plugins.erl b/src/emqx_plugins.erl
index 3177f05e7..caf47b0c0 100644
--- a/src/emqx_plugins.erl
+++ b/src/emqx_plugins.erl
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ ensure_file(File) ->
         false ->
             DefaultPlugins = [ {emqx_management, true}
                              , {emqx_dashboard, true}
-                             , {emqx_modules, false}
+                             , {emqx_modules, true}
                              , {emqx_recon, true}
                              , {emqx_retainer, true}
                              , {emqx_telemetry, true}