diff --git a/includes/plugins.inc b/includes/plugins.inc
index 79a6087..e17b5ac 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 . '/' . $file->uri;
           // .inc files have a special format for the hook identifier.
@@ -778,7 +778,11 @@ function ctools_plugin_get_function($plugin_definition, $function_name) {
     // $plugin['file'].  Don't try to run those.
     $info = ctools_plugin_get_info($plugin_definition['plugin module'], $plugin_definition['plugin type']);
     if (empty($info['info file'])) {
-      require_once DRUPAL_ROOT . '/' . $plugin_definition['path'] . '/' . $plugin_definition['file'];
+      if (file_exists(DRUPAL_ROOT . '/' . $plugin_definition['path'] . '/' . $plugin_definition['file'])) {
+        require_once DRUPAL_ROOT . '/' . $plugin_definition['path'] . '/' . $plugin_definition['file'];
+      } else {
+        drupal_set_message(t("The @plugin file is missing.", array('@plugin' => $plugin_definition['file'])), 'error', FALSE);
+      }
     }
   }