diff --git a/core/lib/ui_builder.js b/core/lib/ui_builder.js
index c8b5be431..0195ab040 100644
--- a/core/lib/ui_builder.js
+++ b/core/lib/ui_builder.js
@@ -536,7 +536,7 @@ var ui_builder = function () {
     output += 'var viewAllPaths = ' + JSON.stringify(patternlab.viewAllPaths) + ';' + eol;
 
     //plugins
-    output += 'var plugins = ' + JSON.stringify(patternlab.plugins) + ';' + eol;
+    output += 'var plugins = ' + JSON.stringify(patternlab.plugins || []) + ';' + eol;
 
     //smaller config elements
     output += 'var defaultShowPatternInfo = ' + (patternlab.config.defaultShowPatternInfo ? patternlab.config.defaultShowPatternInfo : 'false') + ';' + eol;