diff --git a/.github/workflows/qc_checks.yaml b/.github/workflows/qc_checks.yaml
index e73a1e8f98..93b208451b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/qc_checks.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/qc_checks.yaml
@@ -153,6 +153,7 @@ jobs:
           invoke delete-data -f
           invoke import-fixtures
           invoke server -a 127.0.0.1:12345 &
+          invoke wait
       - name: Run Tests
         run: |
           cd ${{ env.wrapper_name }}
diff --git a/InvenTree/InvenTree/ready.py b/InvenTree/InvenTree/ready.py
index 9f5ad0ea49..e93972cf2e 100644
--- a/InvenTree/InvenTree/ready.py
+++ b/InvenTree/InvenTree/ready.py
@@ -39,7 +39,8 @@ def canAppAccessDatabase(allow_test=False):
         'createsuperuser',
         'wait_for_db',
         'prerender',
-        'rebuild',
+        'rebuild_models',
+        'rebuild_thumbnails',
         'collectstatic',
         'makemessages',
         'compilemessages',
diff --git a/InvenTree/InvenTree/tests.py b/InvenTree/InvenTree/tests.py
index 501eed0834..26b50a0eca 100644
--- a/InvenTree/InvenTree/tests.py
+++ b/InvenTree/InvenTree/tests.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import json
 import os
+import time
 
 from unittest import mock
 
@@ -406,11 +407,23 @@ class CurrencyTests(TestCase):
         with self.assertRaises(MissingRate):
             convert_money(Money(100, 'AUD'), 'USD')
 
-        InvenTree.tasks.update_exchange_rates()
+        update_successful = False
 
-        rates = Rate.objects.all()
+        # Note: the update sometimes fails in CI, let's give it a few chances
+        for idx in range(10):
+            InvenTree.tasks.update_exchange_rates()
 
-        self.assertEqual(rates.count(), len(currency_codes()))
+            rates = Rate.objects.all()
+
+            if rates.count() == len(currency_codes()):
+                update_successful = True
+                break
+
+            else:
+                print("Exchange rate update failed - retrying")
+                time.sleep(1)
+
+        self.assertTrue(update_successful)
 
         # Now that we have some exchange rate information, we can perform conversions
 
diff --git a/InvenTree/plugin/apps.py b/InvenTree/plugin/apps.py
index 233f037ec7..c0e894fef1 100644
--- a/InvenTree/plugin/apps.py
+++ b/InvenTree/plugin/apps.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ from django.utils.translation import gettext_lazy as _
 
 from maintenance_mode.core import set_maintenance_mode
 
-from InvenTree.ready import isImportingData
+from InvenTree.ready import canAppAccessDatabase
 from plugin import registry
 from plugin.helpers import check_git_version, log_error
 
@@ -20,9 +20,8 @@ class PluginAppConfig(AppConfig):
 
     def ready(self):
         if settings.PLUGINS_ENABLED:
-
-            if isImportingData():  # pragma: no cover
-                logger.info('Skipping plugin loading for data import')
+            if not canAppAccessDatabase(allow_test=True):
+                logger.info("Skipping plugin loading sequence")
             else:
                 logger.info('Loading InvenTree plugins')
 
@@ -48,3 +47,6 @@ class PluginAppConfig(AppConfig):
             registry.git_is_modern = check_git_version()
             if not registry.git_is_modern:  # pragma: no cover  # simulating old git seems not worth it for coverage
                 log_error(_('Your enviroment has an outdated git version. This prevents InvenTree from loading plugin details.'), 'load')
+
+        else:
+            logger.info("Plugins not enabled - skipping loading sequence")
diff --git a/InvenTree/plugin/base/integration/mixins.py b/InvenTree/plugin/base/integration/mixins.py
index 64de5df22b..6977ef3dd9 100644
--- a/InvenTree/plugin/base/integration/mixins.py
+++ b/InvenTree/plugin/base/integration/mixins.py
@@ -11,7 +11,8 @@ from django.db.utils import OperationalError, ProgrammingError
 
 import InvenTree.helpers
 
-from plugin.helpers import MixinImplementationError, MixinNotImplementedError, render_template
+from plugin.helpers import MixinImplementationError, MixinNotImplementedError
+from plugin.helpers import render_template, render_text
 from plugin.models import PluginConfig, PluginSetting
 from plugin.registry import registry
 from plugin.urls import PLUGIN_BASE
@@ -59,6 +60,7 @@ class SettingsMixin:
 
         if not plugin:
             # Cannot find associated plugin model, return
+            logger.error(f"Plugin configuration not found for plugin '{self.slug}'")
             return  # pragma: no cover
 
         PluginSetting.set_setting(key, value, user, plugin=plugin)
@@ -578,10 +580,16 @@ class PanelMixin:
             if content_template:
                 # Render content template to HTML
                 panel['content'] = render_template(self, content_template, ctx)
+            else:
+                # Render content string to HTML
+                panel['content'] = render_text(panel.get('content', ''), ctx)
 
             if javascript_template:
                 # Render javascript template to HTML
                 panel['javascript'] = render_template(self, javascript_template, ctx)
+            else:
+                # Render javascript string to HTML
+                panel['javascript'] = render_text(panel.get('javascript', ''), ctx)
 
             # Check for required keys
             required_keys = ['title', 'content']
diff --git a/InvenTree/plugin/base/integration/test_mixins.py b/InvenTree/plugin/base/integration/test_mixins.py
index ef3f7062e3..c1afa39fc2 100644
--- a/InvenTree/plugin/base/integration/test_mixins.py
+++ b/InvenTree/plugin/base/integration/test_mixins.py
@@ -2,14 +2,19 @@
 
 from django.test import TestCase
 from django.conf import settings
-from django.urls import include, re_path
+from django.urls import include, re_path, reverse
 from django.contrib.auth import get_user_model
+from django.contrib.auth.models import Group
+
+from error_report.models import Error
 
 from plugin import InvenTreePlugin
 from plugin.mixins import AppMixin, SettingsMixin, UrlsMixin, NavigationMixin, APICallMixin
 from plugin.urls import PLUGIN_BASE
 from plugin.helpers import MixinNotImplementedError
 
+from plugin.registry import registry
+
 
 class BaseMixinDefinition:
     def test_mixin_name(self):
@@ -244,3 +249,161 @@ class APICallMixinTest(BaseMixinDefinition, TestCase):
         # cover wrong token setting
         with self.assertRaises(MixinNotImplementedError):
             self.mixin_wrong2.has_api_call()
+
+
+class PanelMixinTests(TestCase):
+    """Test that the PanelMixin plugin operates correctly"""
+
+    fixtures = [
+        'category',
+        'part',
+        'location',
+        'stock',
+    ]
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        super().setUp()
+
+        # Create a user which has all the privelages
+        user = get_user_model()
+
+        self.user = user.objects.create_user(
+            username='username',
+            email='user@email.com',
+            password='password'
+        )
+
+        # Put the user into a group with the correct permissions
+        group = Group.objects.create(name='mygroup')
+        self.user.groups.add(group)
+
+        # Give the group *all* the permissions!
+        for rule in group.rule_sets.all():
+            rule.can_view = True
+            rule.can_change = True
+            rule.can_add = True
+            rule.can_delete = True
+
+            rule.save()
+
+        self.client.login(username='username', password='password')
+
+    def test_installed(self):
+        """Test that the sample panel plugin is installed"""
+
+        plugins = registry.with_mixin('panel')
+
+        self.assertTrue(len(plugins) > 0)
+
+        self.assertIn('samplepanel', [p.slug for p in plugins])
+
+        plugins = registry.with_mixin('panel', active=True)
+
+        self.assertEqual(len(plugins), 0)
+
+    def test_disabled(self):
+        """Test that the panels *do not load* if the plugin is not enabled"""
+
+        plugin = registry.get_plugin('samplepanel')
+
+        plugin.set_setting('ENABLE_HELLO_WORLD', True)
+        plugin.set_setting('ENABLE_BROKEN_PANEL', True)
+
+        # Ensure that the plugin is *not* enabled
+        config = plugin.plugin_config()
+
+        self.assertFalse(config.active)
+
+        # Load some pages, ensure that the panel content is *not* loaded
+        for url in [
+            reverse('part-detail', kwargs={'pk': 1}),
+            reverse('stock-item-detail', kwargs={'pk': 2}),
+            reverse('stock-location-detail', kwargs={'pk': 1}),
+        ]:
+            response = self.client.get(
+                url
+            )
+
+            self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 200)
+
+            # Test that these panels have *not* been loaded
+            self.assertNotIn('No Content', str(response.content))
+            self.assertNotIn('Hello world', str(response.content))
+            self.assertNotIn('Custom Part Panel', str(response.content))
+
+    def test_enabled(self):
+        """
+        Test that the panels *do* load if the plugin is enabled
+        """
+
+        plugin = registry.get_plugin('samplepanel')
+
+        self.assertEqual(len(registry.with_mixin('panel', active=True)), 0)
+
+        # Ensure that the plugin is enabled
+        config = plugin.plugin_config()
+        config.active = True
+        config.save()
+
+        self.assertTrue(config.active)
+        self.assertEqual(len(registry.with_mixin('panel', active=True)), 1)
+
+        # Load some pages, ensure that the panel content is *not* loaded
+        urls = [
+            reverse('part-detail', kwargs={'pk': 1}),
+            reverse('stock-item-detail', kwargs={'pk': 2}),
+            reverse('stock-location-detail', kwargs={'pk': 1}),
+        ]
+
+        plugin.set_setting('ENABLE_HELLO_WORLD', False)
+        plugin.set_setting('ENABLE_BROKEN_PANEL', False)
+
+        for url in urls:
+            response = self.client.get(url)
+
+            self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 200)
+
+            self.assertIn('No Content', str(response.content))
+
+            # This panel is disabled by plugin setting
+            self.assertNotIn('Hello world!', str(response.content))
+
+            # This panel is only active for the "Part" view
+            if url == urls[0]:
+                self.assertIn('Custom Part Panel', str(response.content))
+            else:
+                self.assertNotIn('Custom Part Panel', str(response.content))
+
+        # Enable the 'Hello World' panel
+        plugin.set_setting('ENABLE_HELLO_WORLD', True)
+
+        for url in urls:
+            response = self.client.get(url)
+
+            self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 200)
+
+            self.assertIn('Hello world!', str(response.content))
+
+            # The 'Custom Part' panel should still be there, too
+            if url == urls[0]:
+                self.assertIn('Custom Part Panel', str(response.content))
+            else:
+                self.assertNotIn('Custom Part Panel', str(response.content))
+
+        # Enable the 'broken panel' setting - this will cause all panels to not render
+        plugin.set_setting('ENABLE_BROKEN_PANEL', True)
+
+        n_errors = Error.objects.count()
+
+        for url in urls:
+            response = self.client.get(url)
+            self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 200)
+
+            # No custom panels should have been loaded
+            self.assertNotIn('No Content', str(response.content))
+            self.assertNotIn('Hello world!', str(response.content))
+            self.assertNotIn('Broken Panel', str(response.content))
+            self.assertNotIn('Custom Part Panel', str(response.content))
+
+        # Assert that each request threw an error
+        self.assertEqual(Error.objects.count(), n_errors + len(urls))
diff --git a/InvenTree/plugin/helpers.py b/InvenTree/plugin/helpers.py
index 1217fa4d47..90ffe61478 100644
--- a/InvenTree/plugin/helpers.py
+++ b/InvenTree/plugin/helpers.py
@@ -245,4 +245,15 @@ def render_template(plugin, template_file, context=None):
     html = tmp.render(context)
 
     return html
+
+
+def render_text(text, context=None):
+    """
+    Locate a raw string with provided context
+    """
+
+    ctx = template.Context(context)
+
+    return template.Template(text).render(ctx)
+
 # endregion
diff --git a/InvenTree/plugin/registry.py b/InvenTree/plugin/registry.py
index 3d58634340..1ec5adb161 100644
--- a/InvenTree/plugin/registry.py
+++ b/InvenTree/plugin/registry.py
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ class PluginsRegistry:
     # endregion
 
     # region registry functions
-    def with_mixin(self, mixin: str):
+    def with_mixin(self, mixin: str, active=None):
         """
         Returns reference to all plugins that have a specified mixin enabled
         """
@@ -251,6 +251,14 @@ class PluginsRegistry:
 
         for plugin in self.plugins.values():
             if plugin.mixin_enabled(mixin):
+
+                if active is not None:
+                    # Filter by 'enabled' status
+                    config = plugin.plugin_config()
+
+                    if config.active != active:
+                        continue
+
                 result.append(plugin)
 
         return result
diff --git a/InvenTree/plugin/samples/event/event_sample.py b/InvenTree/plugin/samples/event/event_sample.py
index 5411781e05..bea21c3ea0 100644
--- a/InvenTree/plugin/samples/event/event_sample.py
+++ b/InvenTree/plugin/samples/event/event_sample.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ class EventPluginSample(EventMixin, InvenTreePlugin):
     """
 
     NAME = "EventPlugin"
-    SLUG = "event"
+    SLUG = "sampleevent"
     TITLE = "Triggered Events"
 
     def process_event(self, event, *args, **kwargs):
diff --git a/InvenTree/plugin/samples/integration/custom_panel_sample.py b/InvenTree/plugin/samples/integration/custom_panel_sample.py
index 0203fc4e04..3d44bc0c5b 100644
--- a/InvenTree/plugin/samples/integration/custom_panel_sample.py
+++ b/InvenTree/plugin/samples/integration/custom_panel_sample.py
@@ -15,17 +15,23 @@ class CustomPanelSample(PanelMixin, SettingsMixin, InvenTreePlugin):
     """
 
     NAME = "CustomPanelExample"
-    SLUG = "panel"
+    SLUG = "samplepanel"
     TITLE = "Custom Panel Example"
     DESCRIPTION = "An example plugin demonstrating how custom panels can be added to the user interface"
     VERSION = "0.1"
 
     SETTINGS = {
         'ENABLE_HELLO_WORLD': {
-            'name': 'Hello World',
+            'name': 'Enable Hello World',
             'description': 'Enable a custom hello world panel on every page',
             'default': False,
             'validator': bool,
+        },
+        'ENABLE_BROKEN_PANEL': {
+            'name': 'Enable Broken Panel',
+            'description': 'Enable a panel with rendering issues',
+            'default': False,
+            'validator': bool,
         }
     }
 
@@ -52,21 +58,48 @@ class CustomPanelSample(PanelMixin, SettingsMixin, InvenTreePlugin):
 
         panels = [
             {
-                # This panel will not be displayed, as it is missing the 'content' key
+                # Simple panel without any actual content
                 'title': 'No Content',
             }
         ]
 
         if self.get_setting('ENABLE_HELLO_WORLD'):
+
+            # We can use template rendering in the raw content
+            content = """
+            <strong>Hello world!</strong>
+            <hr>
+            <div class='alert-alert-block alert-info'>
+                <em>We can render custom content using the templating system!</em>
+            </div>
+            <hr>
+            <table class='table table-striped'>
+                <tr><td><strong>Path</strong></td><td>{{ request.path }}</tr>
+                <tr><td><strong>User</strong></td><td>{{ user.username }}</tr>
+            </table>
+            """
+
             panels.append({
                 # This 'hello world' panel will be displayed on any view which implements custom panels
                 'title': 'Hello World',
                 'icon': 'fas fa-boxes',
-                'content': '<b>Hello world!</b>',
+                'content': content,
                 'description': 'A simple panel which renders hello world',
                 'javascript': 'console.log("Hello world, from a custom panel!");',
             })
 
+        if self.get_setting('ENABLE_BROKEN_PANEL'):
+
+            # Enabling this panel will cause panel rendering to break,
+            # due to the invalid tags
+            panels.append({
+                'title': 'Broken Panel',
+                'icon': 'fas fa-times-circle',
+                'content': '{% tag_not_loaded %}',
+                'description': 'This panel is broken',
+                'javascript': '{% another_bad_tag %}',
+            })
+
         # This panel will *only* display on the PartDetail view
         if isinstance(view, PartDetail):
             panels.append({
diff --git a/InvenTree/plugin/views.py b/InvenTree/plugin/views.py
index 8d28872695..ad4d54daea 100644
--- a/InvenTree/plugin/views.py
+++ b/InvenTree/plugin/views.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import logging
 import sys
 import traceback
 
@@ -9,6 +10,9 @@ from error_report.models import Error
 from plugin.registry import registry
 
 
+logger = logging.getLogger('inventree')
+
+
 class InvenTreePluginViewMixin:
     """
     Custom view mixin which adds context data to the view,
@@ -25,7 +29,7 @@ class InvenTreePluginViewMixin:
 
         panels = []
 
-        for plug in registry.with_mixin('panel'):
+        for plug in registry.with_mixin('panel', active=True):
 
             try:
                 panels += plug.render_panels(self, self.request, ctx)
@@ -42,6 +46,8 @@ class InvenTreePluginViewMixin:
                     html=ExceptionReporter(self.request, kind, info, data).get_traceback_html(),
                 )
 
+                logger.error(f"Plugin '{plug.slug}' could not render custom panels at '{self.request.path}'")
+
         return panels
 
     def get_context_data(self, **kwargs):
diff --git a/setup.cfg b/setup.cfg
index a483481f5d..0aeaf4d01b 100644
--- a/setup.cfg
+++ b/setup.cfg
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ ignore =
 	N806,
 	# - N812 - lowercase imported as non-lowercase
 	N812,
-exclude = .git,__pycache__,*/migrations/*,*/lib/*,*/bin/*,*/media/*,*/static/*
+exclude = .git,__pycache__,*/migrations/*,*/lib/*,*/bin/*,*/media/*,*/static/*,InvenTree/plugins/*
 max-complexity = 20
 
 [coverage:run]