diff --git a/InvenTree/InvenTree/helpers.py b/InvenTree/InvenTree/helpers.py
index 6ae31d6f5f..253f008715 100644
--- a/InvenTree/InvenTree/helpers.py
+++ b/InvenTree/InvenTree/helpers.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import InvenTree.version
 from common.models import InvenTreeSetting
 from .settings import MEDIA_URL, STATIC_URL
 from common.settings import currency_code_default
+from plugin.models import PluginConfig
 
 from djmoney.money import Money
 
@@ -711,3 +712,12 @@ def inheritors(cls):
                 subcls.add(child)
                 work.append(child)
     return subcls
+
+
+def setup_plugin(plg_key, plg_name):
+    """
+    Enables plugins by reference
+    """
+    plg_setting, _ = PluginConfig.objects.get_or_create(key=plg_key, name=plg_name)
+    plg_setting.active = True
+    plg_setting.save()
diff --git a/InvenTree/plugin/samples/integration/test_samples_integration.py b/InvenTree/plugin/samples/integration/test_samples_integration.py
index 733e443638..6291e2005f 100644
--- a/InvenTree/plugin/samples/integration/test_samples_integration.py
+++ b/InvenTree/plugin/samples/integration/test_samples_integration.py
@@ -3,6 +3,10 @@
 from django.test import TestCase
 from django.contrib.auth import get_user_model
 
+from InvenTree.helpers import setup_plugin
+
+from plugin.samples.integration.sample import SampleIntegrationPlugin
+
 
 class SampleIntegrationPluginTests(TestCase):
     """ Tests for SampleIntegrationPlugin """
@@ -13,6 +17,7 @@ class SampleIntegrationPluginTests(TestCase):
         user.objects.create_user('testuser', 'test@testing.com', 'password')
 
         self.client.login(username='testuser', password='password')
+        setup_plugin(SampleIntegrationPlugin.PLUGIN_SLUG, SampleIntegrationPlugin.PLUGIN_NAME)
 
     def test_view(self):
         """check the function of the custom  sample plugin """
diff --git a/InvenTree/plugin/test_integration.py b/InvenTree/plugin/test_integration.py
index 3befdf6b00..54c8bd99e9 100644
--- a/InvenTree/plugin/test_integration.py
+++ b/InvenTree/plugin/test_integration.py
@@ -7,7 +7,9 @@ from django.contrib.auth import get_user_model
 
 from datetime import datetime
 
+from InvenTree.helpers import setup_plugin
 from plugin.integration import AppMixin, IntegrationPluginBase, SettingsMixin, UrlsMixin, NavigationMixin
+from plugin.samples.integration.sample import SampleIntegrationPlugin
 
 
 class BaseMixinDefinition:
@@ -110,6 +112,8 @@ class AppMixinTest(BaseMixinDefinition, TestCase):
             pass
         self.mixin = TestCls()
 
+        setup_plugin(SampleIntegrationPlugin.PLUGIN_SLUG, SampleIntegrationPlugin.PLUGIN_NAME)
+
     def test_function(self):
         # test that this plugin is in settings
         self.assertIn('plugin.samples.integration', settings.INSTALLED_APPS)