diff --git a/src/libs/extensionsystem/pluginmanager.cpp b/src/libs/extensionsystem/pluginmanager.cpp
index adfe161ba8e..ab83ed210b4 100644
--- a/src/libs/extensionsystem/pluginmanager.cpp
+++ b/src/libs/extensionsystem/pluginmanager.cpp
@@ -1474,7 +1474,7 @@ void PluginManagerPrivate::loadPlugin(PluginSpec *spec, PluginSpec::State destSt
         return;
 
     std::unique_ptr<LockFile> lockFile;
-    if (enableCrashCheck)
+    if (enableCrashCheck && destState < PluginSpec::Stopped)
         lockFile.reset(new LockFile(this, spec));
 
     switch (destState) {