diff --git a/src/libstrongswan/plugins/plugin_loader.c b/src/libstrongswan/plugins/plugin_loader.c
index 6c25cfbe2..44081d15f 100644
--- a/src/libstrongswan/plugins/plugin_loader.c
+++ b/src/libstrongswan/plugins/plugin_loader.c
@@ -105,6 +105,10 @@ static int load(private_plugin_loader_t *this, char *path, char *list)
 			{
 				pos++;
 			}
+			if (!*pos)
+			{
+				break;
+			}
 		}
 		plugin = load_plugin(this, path, list);
 		if (plugin)