diff --git a/src/plugins/pluginmanager.py b/src/plugins/pluginmanager.py
index 0453c2973..5aed9edba 100644
--- a/src/plugins/pluginmanager.py
+++ b/src/plugins/pluginmanager.py
@@ -143,6 +143,13 @@ class PluginManager(object):
         for plugin_class in plugin_classes:
             self.add_plugin(plugin_class)
 
+    @log_calls('PluginManager')
+    def get_active_plugin(self, plugin_name):
+        for plugin in self.active_plugins:
+            if plugin.short_name == plugin_name:
+                return plugin
+        return None
+
     @log_calls('PluginManager')
     def gui_extension_point(self, gui_extpoint_name, *args):
         '''