diff --git a/lib/node/node.js b/lib/node/node.js
index bbfb8c97..3f821a21 100644
--- a/lib/node/node.js
+++ b/lib/node/node.js
@@ -381,18 +381,18 @@ Node.prototype.require = function require(name) {
 Node.prototype.loadPlugins = function loadPlugins() {
   var plugins = this.config.array('plugins', []);
   var loader = this.config.func('loader');
-  var i, name, plugin;
+  var i, plugin;
 
   if (!loader)
     return;
 
   for (i = 0; i < plugins.length; i++) {
-    name = plugins[i];
+    plugin = plugins[i];
 
-    assert(typeof name === 'string',
-      'Plugin name must be a string.');
+    assert(plugin);
 
-    plugin = loader(name);
+    if (typeof plugin === 'string')
+      plugin = loader(plugin);
 
     this.use(plugin);
   }