diff --git a/kernel/register.cc b/kernel/register.cc
index 9ffb17c1a..1853e94d5 100644
--- a/kernel/register.cc
+++ b/kernel/register.cc
@@ -108,9 +108,8 @@ Pass::Pass(std::string name, std::string short_help) : pass_name(name), short_he
 
 void Pass::run_register()
 {
-	if (pass_register.count(pass_name))
+	if (pass_register.count(pass_name) && !replace_existing_pass())
 		log_error("Unable to register pass '%s', pass already exists!\n", pass_name.c_str());
-
 	pass_register[pass_name] = this;
 }
 
@@ -447,13 +446,12 @@ Frontend::Frontend(std::string name, std::string short_help) :
 
 void Frontend::run_register()
 {
-	if (pass_register.count(pass_name))
+	if (pass_register.count(pass_name) && !replace_existing_pass())
 		log_error("Unable to register pass '%s', pass already exists!\n", pass_name.c_str());
 	pass_register[pass_name] = this;
 
-	if (frontend_register.count(frontend_name))
+	if (frontend_register.count(frontend_name) && !replace_existing_pass())
 		log_error("Unable to register frontend '%s', frontend already exists!\n", frontend_name.c_str());
-
 	frontend_register[frontend_name] = this;
 }
 
diff --git a/kernel/register.h b/kernel/register.h
index 15750af2a..08ce4b287 100644
--- a/kernel/register.h
+++ b/kernel/register.h
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ struct Pass
 
 	virtual void on_register();
 	virtual void on_shutdown();
+	virtual bool replace_existing_pass() const { return false; }
 };
 
 struct ScriptPass : Pass
diff --git a/passes/cmds/plugin.cc b/passes/cmds/plugin.cc
index 08b4aa8c4..4ad7c165b 100644
--- a/passes/cmds/plugin.cc
+++ b/passes/cmds/plugin.cc
@@ -103,7 +103,6 @@ void load_plugin(std::string filename, std::vector<std::string> aliases)
 
 			loaded_plugins[orig_filename] = hdl;
 			Pass::init_register();
-
 		}
 	}