diff --git a/src/gen/plug/_manager.py b/src/gen/plug/_manager.py
index 7026a27f9..5705b881a 100644
--- a/src/gen/plug/_manager.py
+++ b/src/gen/plug/_manager.py
@@ -256,11 +256,11 @@ class BasePluginManager(object):
         """
         Reloads modules that might not be in the path.
         """
-        if pdata.mod_name in sys.modules:
-            del sys.modules[pdata.mod_name]
         try:
             reload(module)
         except:
+            if pdata.mod_name in sys.modules:
+                del sys.modules[pdata.mod_name]
             module = self.import_plugin(pdata)
         return module