diff --git a/src/core/vscore.cpp b/src/core/vscore.cpp
index 8fac88c8..f5a8ce75 100644
--- a/src/core/vscore.cpp
+++ b/src/core/vscore.cpp
@@ -2502,7 +2502,7 @@ void VSPlugin::load(const std::string &relFilename, bool lazy) {
         throw VSException("Core only supports API R" + std::to_string(VAPOURSYNTH_API_MAJOR) + "." + std::to_string(VAPOURSYNTH_API_MINOR) + " but the loaded plugin requires API R" + std::to_string(apiMajor) + "." + std::to_string(apiMinor) + "; Filename: " + relFilename + "; Name: " + fullname);
     }
 
-    if (lazy) {
+    if (lazy && getenv("VSC_DISABLE_LAZY_PLUGIN") == nullptr) {
         unload(true);
         hasConfig = false;
         readOnly = false;
@@ -2600,8 +2600,11 @@ bool VSPlugin::registerFunction(const std::string &name, const std::string &args
 VSMap *VSPlugin::invoke(const std::string &funcName, const VSMap &args) {
     auto it = funcs.find(funcName);
     if (it != funcs.end()) {
-        if (it->second.isLazy())
-            load(filename, false);
+        std::call_once(lazyOnce, [&it, this]() {
+            if (it->second.isLazy()) {
+                load(filename, false);
+            }
+        });
         return it->second.invoke(args);
     } else {
         VSMap *v = new VSMap();
diff --git a/src/core/vscore.h b/src/core/vscore.h
index 4ffe4f45..7de31f4b 100644
--- a/src/core/vscore.h
+++ b/src/core/vscore.h
@@ -1008,6 +1008,7 @@ struct VSPluginFunction {
     std::string getV3ArgString() const;
     bool rename(const std::string &newname); // 'vs-c'
 
+    // 'vs-c' lazy plugin support
     void setLazy() { func = nullptr; functionData = nullptr; }
     bool isLazy() const { return func == nullptr; }
     void setFunc(VSPublicFunction f, void *d) { func = f; functionData = d; }
@@ -1036,11 +1037,12 @@ struct VSPlugin {
     std::map<std::string, VSPluginFunction> funcs;
     std::mutex functionLock;
     VSCore *core;
+    std::once_flag lazyOnce;
 public:
     explicit VSPlugin(VSCore *core);
     VSPlugin(const std::string &relFilename, const std::string &forcedNamespace, const std::string &forcedId, bool altSearchPath, VSCore *core, bool lazy = false);
-    void load(const std::string &relFilename, bool lazy = false);
-    void unload(bool lazy = false);
+    void load(const std::string &relFilename, bool lazy = false); // 'vs-c'
+    void unload(bool lazy = false); // 'vs-c'
     ~VSPlugin();
     void lock() { readOnly = true; }
     void unlock() { readOnly = false; } // 'vs-c'