diff --git a/src/main/java/org/dependencytrack/plugin/PluginInitializer.java b/src/main/java/org/dependencytrack/plugin/PluginInitializer.java
index 285fe2089..5449f8f31 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/dependencytrack/plugin/PluginInitializer.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/dependencytrack/plugin/PluginInitializer.java
@@ -18,7 +18,10 @@
  */
 package org.dependencytrack.plugin;
 
+import alpine.Config;
 import alpine.common.logging.Logger;
+import org.dependencytrack.common.ConfigKey;
+
 import jakarta.servlet.ServletContextEvent;
 import jakarta.servlet.ServletContextListener;
 
@@ -33,6 +36,12 @@ public class PluginInitializer implements ServletContextListener {
 
     @Override
     public void contextInitialized(final ServletContextEvent event) {
+        if (Config.getInstance().getPropertyAsBoolean(ConfigKey.INIT_AND_EXIT)) {
+            LOGGER.debug("Not loading plugins because %s is enabled"
+                    .formatted(ConfigKey.INIT_AND_EXIT.getPropertyName()));
+            return;
+        }
+
         LOGGER.info("Loading plugins");
         pluginManager.loadPlugins();
     }