diff --git a/configs/client-default.js b/configs/client-default.js
index 4b3b1f88..bb8c0c87 100644
--- a/configs/client-default.js
+++ b/configs/client-default.js
@@ -92,7 +92,8 @@ module.exports = function(options) {
         },
         {
             packagePath: "plugins/c9.ide.plugins/manager",
-            staticPrefix: staticPrefix + "/plugins/c9.ide.plugins"
+            staticPrefix: staticPrefix + "/plugins/c9.ide.plugins",
+            defaultEnabled: devel
         },
         {
             packagePath: "plugins/c9.ide.plugins/debug"
diff --git a/plugins/c9.ide.plugins/manager.js b/plugins/c9.ide.plugins/manager.js
index 7f88679c..33ee2f20 100644
--- a/plugins/c9.ide.plugins/manager.js
+++ b/plugins/c9.ide.plugins/manager.js
@@ -97,7 +97,11 @@ define(function(require, exports, module) {
         /***** Initialization *****/
 
         var ENABLED = c9.location.indexOf("debug=2") > -1
-            || experimental.addExperiment("plugin-manager", false, "SDK/Plugin Manager");
+            || experimental.addExperiment(
+                  "plugin-manager",
+                  options.defaultEnabled,
+                  "SDK/Plugin Manager"
+               );
 
         var plugin = new PreferencePanel("Ajax.org", main.consumes, {
             caption: "Plugin Manager",