diff --git a/src/cli/grampscli.py b/src/cli/grampscli.py
index e83b6d970..2138aeb7b 100644
--- a/src/cli/grampscli.py
+++ b/src/cli/grampscli.py
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ class CLIManager(object):
         Register the plugins at initialization time.
         """
         self._pmgr.reg_plugins(const.PLUGINS_DIR)
-        self._pmgr.reg_plugins(const.USER_PLUGINS)
+        self._pmgr.reg_plugins(const.USER_PLUGINS, append=False)
 
 def startcli(errors, argparser):
     """
diff --git a/src/gen/plug/_manager.py b/src/gen/plug/_manager.py
index bb92aa3b4..9a1187669 100644
--- a/src/gen/plug/_manager.py
+++ b/src/gen/plug/_manager.py
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ class BasePluginManager(object):
         self.__registereddir_set = set()
         self.__loaded_plugins = {}
 
-    def reg_plugins(self, direct):
+    def reg_plugins(self, direct, append=True):
         """
         Searches the specified directory, and registers python plugin that
         are being defined in gpr.py files. 
@@ -118,7 +118,8 @@ class BasePluginManager(object):
                 if dirname.startswith(".") or dirname in ["po", "locale"]:
                     dirnames.remove(dirname)
             # add the directory to the python search path
-            sys.path.append(dirpath)
+            if append:
+                sys.path.append(dirpath)
             # if the path has not already been loaded, save it in the 
             # registereddir_list list for use on reloading.
             self.__registereddir_set.add(dirpath)
@@ -165,14 +166,13 @@ class BasePluginManager(object):
                 del self.__failmsg_list[index]
         else:
             self.__attempt_list.append(filename)
-        plugin = pdata.mod_name
         try: 
-            _module = __import__(plugin)
+            _module = self.import_plugin(pdata)
             if need_reload:
                 # For some strange reason second importing of a failed plugin
                 # results in success. Then reload reveals the actual error.
                 # Looks like a bug in Python.
-                reload(_module)
+                _module = self.reload(_module, pdata)
             self.__success_list.append((filename, _module, pdata))
             self.__modules[filename] = _module
             self.__loaded_plugins[pdata.id] = _module
@@ -183,6 +183,23 @@ class BasePluginManager(object):
 
         return None
 
+    def import_plugin(self, pdata):
+        """
+        Rather than just __import__(id), this will add the pdata.fpath
+        to sys.path first (if needed), import, and then reset path.
+        """
+        if isinstance(pdata, basestring):
+            pdata = self.get_plugin(pdata)
+        if not pdata:
+            return None
+        if pdata.fpath not in sys.path:
+            sys.path.insert(0, pdata.fpath)
+            module = __import__(pdata.mod_name)
+            sys.path.pop(0)
+        else:
+            module = __import__(pdata.mod_name)
+        return module
+
     def empty_managed_plugins(self):
         """ For some plugins, managed Plugin are used. These are only 
         reobtained from the registry if this method is called
@@ -216,7 +233,7 @@ class BasePluginManager(object):
                 #module already reloaded, a second plugin in same module
                 continue
             try: 
-                reload(plugin[1])
+                self.reload(plugin[1], pdata)
                 self.__modules[filename] = plugin[1]
                 self.__loaded_plugins[pdata.id] = plugin[1]
             except:
@@ -235,6 +252,15 @@ class BasePluginManager(object):
         for (filename, message, pdata) in oldfailmsg:
             self.load_plugin(pdata)
 
+    def reload(self, module, pdata):
+        """
+        """
+        try:
+            reload(module)
+        except:
+            module = self.import_plugin(pdata)
+        return module
+
     def get_fail_list(self):
         """ Return the list of failed plugins. """
         return self.__failmsg_list
diff --git a/src/gen/plug/_pluginreg.py b/src/gen/plug/_pluginreg.py
index 2be679a12..0c224edf3 100644
--- a/src/gen/plug/_pluginreg.py
+++ b/src/gen/plug/_pluginreg.py
@@ -137,6 +137,22 @@ END   = 2
 # Functions and classes
 #
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+def myint(s):
+    """
+    Protected version of int()
+    """
+    try:
+        v = int(s)
+    except:
+        v = s
+    return v
+
+def version(sversion):
+    """
+    Return the tuple version of a string version.
+    """
+    return tuple([myint(x or "0") for x in (sversion + "..").split(".")])
+
 def valid_plugin_version(plugin_version_string):
     """
     Checks to see if string is a valid version string for this version
@@ -1067,15 +1083,17 @@ class PluginRegister(object):
 
     def get_plugin(self, id):
         """Return the PluginData for the plugin with id"""
-        for x in self.__plugindata:
-            if x.id == id:
-                return x
+        matches = [x for x in self.__plugindata if x.id == id]
+        matches.sort(key=lambda x: version(x.version))
+        if len(matches) > 0:
+            return matches[-1]
         return None
 
     def type_plugins(self, ptype):
         """Return a list of PluginData that are of type ptype
         """
-        return [x for x in self.__plugindata if x.ptype == ptype]
+        return [self.get_plugin(id) for id in 
+                set([x.id for x in self.__plugindata if x.ptype == ptype])]
 
     def report_plugins(self, gui=True):
         """Return a list of gui or cli PluginData that are of type REPORT
@@ -1158,4 +1176,5 @@ class PluginRegister(object):
     def filter_load_on_reg(self):
         """Return a list of PluginData that have load_on_reg == True
         """
-        return [x for x in self.__plugindata if x.load_on_reg == True]
+        return [self.get_plugin(id) for id in 
+                set([x.id for x in self.__plugindata if x.load_on_reg == True])]