diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 87b7636bb..341404560 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ ARG_WITH_SET([dev-headers],          [no], [install strongSwan development heade
 ARG_WITH_SET([printf-hooks],         [auto], [force the use of a specific printf hook implementation (auto, builtin, glibc, vstr).])
 ARG_WITH_SET([rubygemdir],           ["gem environment gemdir"], [path to install ruby gems to])
 ARG_WITH_SET([testable-ke],          [yes], [make key exchange implementations testable by providing a set_seed() method])
+ARG_WITH_SET([plugins-packaged-seperately], [no], [changes e.g. log messages for distributions that package plugins seperately])
 
 if test -n "$PKG_CONFIG"; then
 	systemdsystemunitdir_default=$($PKG_CONFIG --variable=systemdsystemunitdir systemd)
@@ -1944,6 +1945,10 @@ fi
 if test x$imc_swima = xtrue -o x$imv_swima = xtrue; then
 	AC_DEFINE([USE_JSON], [], [build code for JSON])
 fi
+if test "x$plugins_packaged_seperately" != xno; then
+	AC_DEFINE([PLUGINS_PACKAGED_SEPARATELY], [], [distribution ships plugins in multiple packages])
+fi
+
 
 # ====================================================
 #  options for enabled modules (see conf/Makefile.am)
diff --git a/src/libstrongswan/plugins/plugin_loader.c b/src/libstrongswan/plugins/plugin_loader.c
index 65e73e468..6cf5a0658 100644
--- a/src/libstrongswan/plugins/plugin_loader.c
+++ b/src/libstrongswan/plugins/plugin_loader.c
@@ -477,8 +477,13 @@ static plugin_entry_t *load_plugin(private_plugin_loader_t *this, char *name,
 			{	/* try to load the plugin from a file */
 				break;
 			}
+#ifndef PLUGINS_PACKAGED_SEPARATELY
 			DBG1(DBG_LIB, "plugin '%s': failed to load - %s not found and no "
 				 "plugin file available", name, create);
+#else
+			DBG2(DBG_LIB, "plugin '%s': failed to load - %s not found, plugin "
+				 "may be shipped in a separate package", name, create);
+#endif
 			/* fall-through */
 		default:
 			return NULL;