diff --git a/includes/plugins.inc b/includes/plugins.inc
index 79a6087..117a664 100644
--- a/includes/plugins.inc
+++ b/includes/plugins.inc
@@ -472,7 +472,7 @@ function ctools_plugin_load_includes($info, $filename = NULL) {
         if (isset($plugin_arrays[$file->uri])) {
           $identifier = $plugin_arrays[$file->uri];
         }
-        else {
+        elseif (file_exists(DRUPAL_ROOT . '/' . $file->uri)) {
 
           require_once DRUPAL_ROOT . '/' . $file->uri;
           // .inc files have a special format for the hook identifier.