diff --git a/src/openrct2/Game.cpp b/src/openrct2/Game.cpp
index b0f0739be9..433a10f67a 100644
--- a/src/openrct2/Game.cpp
+++ b/src/openrct2/Game.cpp
@@ -502,14 +502,14 @@ void game_load_init()
 void game_load_scripts()
 {
 #ifdef ENABLE_SCRIPTING
-    GetContext()->GetScriptEngine().LoadPlugins();
+    GetContext()->GetScriptEngine().LoadTransientPlugins();
 #endif
 }
 
 void game_unload_scripts()
 {
 #ifdef ENABLE_SCRIPTING
-    GetContext()->GetScriptEngine().UnloadPlugins();
+    GetContext()->GetScriptEngine().UnloadTransientPlugins();
 #endif
 }
 
diff --git a/src/openrct2/scripting/ScriptEngine.cpp b/src/openrct2/scripting/ScriptEngine.cpp
index 6a039c66c9..a49ab36964 100644
--- a/src/openrct2/scripting/ScriptEngine.cpp
+++ b/src/openrct2/scripting/ScriptEngine.cpp
@@ -436,10 +436,10 @@ void ScriptEngine::Initialise()
     dukglue_register_global(ctx, std::make_shared<ScScenario>(), "scenario");
 
     _initialised = true;
-    _pluginsLoaded = false;
-    _pluginsStarted = false;
+    _transientPluginsEnabled = false;
+    _transientPluginsStarted = false;
 
-    InitSharedStorage();
+    LoadSharedStorage();
     ClearParkStorage();
 }
 
@@ -477,7 +477,7 @@ void ScriptEngine::RefreshPlugins()
     }
 
     // Turn on hot reload if not already enabled
-    if (!_hotReloading && gConfigPlugin.enable_hot_reloading && network_get_mode() == NETWORK_MODE_NONE)
+    if (!_hotReloadingInitialised && gConfigPlugin.enable_hot_reloading && network_get_mode() == NETWORK_MODE_NONE)
     {
         SetupHotReloading();
     }
@@ -493,8 +493,8 @@ std::vector<std::string> ScriptEngine::GetPluginFiles() const
     auto base = _env.GetDirectoryPath(DIRBASE::USER, DIRID::PLUGIN);
     if (Path::DirectoryExists(base))
     {
-        auto pattern = Path::Combine(base, "*.js");
-        auto scanner = std::unique_ptr<IFileScanner>(Path::ScanDirectory(pattern, true));
+        auto pattern = Path::Combine(base, u8"*.js");
+        auto scanner = Path::ScanDirectory(pattern, true);
         while (scanner->Next())
         {
             auto path = std::string(scanner->GetPath());
@@ -558,6 +558,8 @@ void ScriptEngine::RegisterPlugin(std::string_view path)
 
 void ScriptEngine::StartIntransientPlugins()
 {
+    LoadSharedStorage();
+
     for (auto& plugin : _plugins)
     {
         if (!plugin->HasStarted() && !plugin->IsTransient())
@@ -586,38 +588,9 @@ void ScriptEngine::StopUnloadRegisterAllPlugins()
     }
 }
 
-void ScriptEngine::LoadPlugins()
+void ScriptEngine::LoadTransientPlugins()
 {
-    if (!_initialised)
-    {
-        Initialise();
-    }
-    if (_pluginsLoaded)
-    {
-        UnloadPlugins();
-    }
-
-    auto base = _env.GetDirectoryPath(DIRBASE::USER, DIRID::PLUGIN);
-    if (Path::DirectoryExists(base))
-    {
-        auto pattern = Path::Combine(base, u8"*.js");
-        auto scanner = Path::ScanDirectory(pattern, true);
-        while (scanner->Next())
-        {
-            auto path = std::string(scanner->GetPath());
-            if (ShouldLoadScript(path))
-            {
-                LoadPlugin(path);
-            }
-        }
-
-        if (gConfigPlugin.enable_hot_reloading && network_get_mode() == NETWORK_MODE_NONE)
-        {
-            SetupHotReloading();
-        }
-    }
-    _pluginsLoaded = true;
-    _pluginsStarted = false;
+    _transientPluginsEnabled = true;
 }
 
 void ScriptEngine::LoadPlugin(const std::string& path)
@@ -705,7 +678,7 @@ void ScriptEngine::SetupHotReloading()
                 std::lock_guard<std::mutex> guard(_changedPluginFilesMutex);
                 _changedPluginFiles.emplace(path);
             };
-            _hotReloading = true;
+            _hotReloadingInitialised = true;
         }
     }
     catch (const std::exception& e)
@@ -714,6 +687,19 @@ void ScriptEngine::SetupHotReloading()
     }
 }
 
+void ScriptEngine::DoAutoReloadPluginCheck()
+{
+    if (_hotReloadingInitialised)
+    {
+        auto tick = Platform::GetTicks();
+        if (tick - _lastHotReloadCheckTick > 1000)
+        {
+            AutoReloadPlugins();
+            _lastHotReloadCheckTick = tick;
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 void ScriptEngine::AutoReloadPlugins()
 {
     if (_changedPluginFiles.size() > 0)
@@ -746,39 +732,54 @@ void ScriptEngine::AutoReloadPlugins()
     }
 }
 
-void ScriptEngine::UnloadPlugins()
+void ScriptEngine::UnloadTransientPlugins()
 {
-    StopPlugins();
+    // Stop them all first
     for (auto& plugin : _plugins)
     {
-        LogPluginInfo(plugin, "Unloaded");
-    }
-    _plugins.clear();
-    _pluginsLoaded = false;
-    _pluginsStarted = false;
-}
-
-void ScriptEngine::StartPlugins()
-{
-    LoadSharedStorage();
-
-    for (auto& plugin : _plugins)
-    {
-        if (!plugin->HasStarted() && ShouldStartPlugin(plugin))
+        if (plugin->IsTransient())
         {
-            ScriptExecutionInfo::PluginScope scope(_execInfo, plugin, false);
-            try
+            if (plugin->HasStarted())
             {
-                LogPluginInfo(plugin, "Started");
-                plugin->Start();
-            }
-            catch (const std::exception& e)
-            {
-                _console.WriteLineError(e.what());
+                StopPlugin(plugin);
+                LogPluginInfo(plugin, "Stopped");
             }
         }
     }
-    _pluginsStarted = true;
+
+    // Now unload them
+    for (auto& plugin : _plugins)
+    {
+        UnloadPlugin(plugin);
+    }
+
+    _transientPluginsEnabled = false;
+    _transientPluginsStarted = false;
+}
+
+void ScriptEngine::StartTransientPlugins()
+{
+    LoadSharedStorage();
+
+    // Load transient plugins
+    for (auto& plugin : _plugins)
+    {
+        if (plugin->IsTransient() && !plugin->IsLoaded() && ShouldStartPlugin(plugin))
+        {
+            LoadPlugin(plugin);
+        }
+    }
+
+    // Start transient plugins
+    for (auto& plugin : _plugins)
+    {
+        if (plugin->IsTransient() && plugin->IsLoaded() && !plugin->HasStarted())
+        {
+            StartPlugin(plugin);
+        }
+    }
+
+    _transientPluginsStarted = true;
 }
 
 bool ScriptEngine::ShouldStartPlugin(const std::shared_ptr<Plugin>& plugin)
@@ -797,19 +798,6 @@ bool ScriptEngine::ShouldStartPlugin(const std::shared_ptr<Plugin>& plugin)
     return true;
 }
 
-void ScriptEngine::StopPlugins()
-{
-    for (auto& plugin : _plugins)
-    {
-        if (plugin->HasStarted())
-        {
-            StopPlugin(plugin);
-            LogPluginInfo(plugin, "Stopped");
-        }
-    }
-    _pluginsStarted = false;
-}
-
 void ScriptEngine::Tick()
 {
     PROFILED_FUNCTION();
@@ -820,26 +808,15 @@ void ScriptEngine::Tick()
         RefreshPlugins();
     }
 
-    if (_pluginsLoaded)
+    if (_transientPluginsEnabled && !_transientPluginsStarted)
     {
-        if (!_pluginsStarted)
-        {
-            StartPlugins();
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            auto tick = Platform::GetTicks();
-            if (tick - _lastHotReloadCheckTick > 1000)
-            {
-                AutoReloadPlugins();
-                _lastHotReloadCheckTick = tick;
-            }
-        }
+        StartTransientPlugins();
     }
 
     UpdateIntervals();
     UpdateSockets();
     ProcessREPL();
+    DoAutoReloadPluginCheck();
 }
 
 void ScriptEngine::ProcessREPL()
diff --git a/src/openrct2/scripting/ScriptEngine.h b/src/openrct2/scripting/ScriptEngine.h
index 10d3253f74..17020fc7cc 100644
--- a/src/openrct2/scripting/ScriptEngine.h
+++ b/src/openrct2/scripting/ScriptEngine.h
@@ -145,9 +145,9 @@ namespace OpenRCT2::Scripting
         IPlatformEnvironment& _env;
         DukContext _context;
         bool _initialised{};
-        bool _hotReloading{};
-        bool _pluginsLoaded{};
-        bool _pluginsStarted{};
+        bool _hotReloadingInitialised{};
+        bool _transientPluginsEnabled{};
+        bool _transientPluginsStarted{};
         std::queue<std::tuple<std::promise<void>, std::string>> _evalQueue;
         std::vector<std::shared_ptr<Plugin>> _plugins;
         uint32_t _lastHotReloadCheckTick{};
@@ -212,6 +212,8 @@ namespace OpenRCT2::Scripting
 
         void LoadPlugins();
         void UnloadPlugins();
+        void LoadTransientPlugins();
+        void UnloadTransientPlugins();
         void Tick();
         std::future<void> Eval(const std::string& s);
         DukValue ExecutePluginCall(
@@ -253,8 +255,7 @@ namespace OpenRCT2::Scripting
         void UnregisterPlugin(std::string_view path);
         void RegisterPlugin(std::string_view path);
         void StartIntransientPlugins();
-        void StartPlugins();
-        void StopPlugins();
+        void StartTransientPlugins();
         void LoadPlugin(const std::string& path);
         void LoadPlugin(std::shared_ptr<Plugin>& plugin);
         void UnloadPlugin(std::shared_ptr<Plugin>& plugin);
@@ -264,6 +265,7 @@ namespace OpenRCT2::Scripting
         static bool ShouldLoadScript(std::string_view path);
         bool ShouldStartPlugin(const std::shared_ptr<Plugin>& plugin);
         void SetupHotReloading();
+        void DoAutoReloadPluginCheck();
         void AutoReloadPlugins();
         void ProcessREPL();
         void RemoveCustomGameActions(const std::shared_ptr<Plugin>& plugin);