diff --git a/host/main-window.cc b/host/main-window.cc
index feee8a1..79cc827 100644
--- a/host/main-window.cc
+++ b/host/main-window.cc
@@ -46,7 +46,9 @@ void MainWindow::createMenu() {
 
    QMenu *fileMenu = menuBar->addMenu(tr("File"));
    // TODO: fileMenu->addAction(tr("Load plugin"));
-   connect(fileMenu->addAction(tr("Load Native Plugin Preset")),
+
+   _loadPluginPresetAction = fileMenu->addAction(tr("Load Native Plugin Preset"));
+   connect(_loadPluginPresetAction,
            &QAction::triggered,
            this,
            &MainWindow::loadNativePluginPreset);
@@ -62,11 +64,15 @@ void MainWindow::createMenu() {
            &Application::quit);
 
    auto windowsMenu = menuBar->addMenu("Windows");
-   connect(windowsMenu->addAction(tr("Show Parameters")),
+
+   _showPluginParametersAction = windowsMenu->addAction(tr("Show Parameters"));
+   connect(_showPluginParametersAction,
            &QAction::triggered,
            this,
            &MainWindow::showPluginParametersWindow);
-   connect(windowsMenu->addAction(tr("Show Quick Controls")),
+
+   _showPluginQuickControlsAction = windowsMenu->addAction(tr("Show Quick Controls"));
+   connect(_showPluginQuickControlsAction,
            &QAction::triggered,
            this,
            &MainWindow::showPluginQuickControlsWindow);
@@ -76,11 +82,15 @@ void MainWindow::createMenu() {
       dialog.exec();
    });
    menuBar->addSeparator();
-   connect(windowsMenu->addAction(tr("Toggle Plugin Window Visibility")),
+
+   _togglePluginWindowVisibilityAction = windowsMenu->addAction(tr("Toggle Plugin Window Visibility"));
+   connect(_togglePluginWindowVisibilityAction,
            &QAction::triggered,
            this,
            &MainWindow::togglePluginWindowVisibility);
-   connect(windowsMenu->addAction(tr("Recreate Plugin Window")),
+
+   _recreatePluginWindowAction = windowsMenu->addAction(tr("Recreate Plugin Window"));
+   connect(_recreatePluginWindowAction,
            &QAction::triggered,
            this,
            &MainWindow::recreatePluginWindow);
@@ -88,6 +98,16 @@ void MainWindow::createMenu() {
    QMenu *helpMenu = menuBar->addMenu(tr("Help"));
    connect(
       helpMenu->addAction(tr("About")), &QAction::triggered, this, &MainWindow::showAboutDialog);
+
+   updateMenuItems();
+}
+
+void MainWindow::updateMenuItems() {
+   _loadPluginPresetAction->setEnabled(_pluginLoaded);
+   _showPluginParametersAction->setEnabled(_pluginLoaded);
+   _showPluginQuickControlsAction->setEnabled(_pluginLoaded);
+   _togglePluginWindowVisibilityAction->setEnabled(_pluginLoaded);
+   _recreatePluginWindowAction->setEnabled(_pluginLoaded);
 }
 
 void MainWindow::showSettingsDialog() {
@@ -117,6 +137,11 @@ void MainWindow::resizePluginView(int width, int height) {
    adjustSize();
 }
 
+void MainWindow::onPluginLoadChange(bool const i_pluginLoaded) {
+   _pluginLoaded = i_pluginLoaded;
+   updateMenuItems();
+}
+
 void MainWindow::loadNativePluginPreset() {
    auto file = QFileDialog::getOpenFileName(this, tr("Load Plugin Native Preset"));
    if (file.isEmpty())
diff --git a/host/main-window.hh b/host/main-window.hh
index 1dcfa07..260407e 100644
--- a/host/main-window.hh
+++ b/host/main-window.hh
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ public:
    void showPluginParametersWindow();
    void showPluginQuickControlsWindow();
    void resizePluginView(int width, int height);
+   void onPluginLoadChange(bool i_pluginLoaded);
 
    void showPluginWindow() { _pluginViewWidget->show(); }
 
@@ -41,11 +42,20 @@ private:
    void togglePluginWindowVisibility();
    void recreatePluginWindow();
    void showAboutDialog();
+   void updateMenuItems();
 
    Application &_application;
    QWindow *_pluginViewWindow = nullptr;
    QWidget *_pluginViewWidget = nullptr;
 
+   QAction *_loadPluginPresetAction = nullptr;
+   QAction *_showPluginParametersAction = nullptr;
+   QAction *_showPluginQuickControlsAction = nullptr;
+   QAction *_togglePluginWindowVisibilityAction = nullptr;
+   QAction *_recreatePluginWindowAction = nullptr;
+
+   bool _pluginLoaded = false;
+
    PluginParametersWidget *_pluginParametersWidget = nullptr;
    PluginQuickControlsWidget *_pluginRemoteControlsWidget = nullptr;
 };
diff --git a/host/plugin-host.cc b/host/plugin-host.cc
index fa45677..175f826 100644
--- a/host/plugin-host.cc
+++ b/host/plugin-host.cc
@@ -147,12 +147,17 @@ bool PluginHost::load(const QString &path, int pluginIndex) {
 
    scanParams();
    scanQuickControls();
+
+   Application::instance().mainWindow()->onPluginLoadChange(true);
+
    return true;
 }
 
 void PluginHost::unload() {
    checkForMainThread();
 
+   Application::instance().mainWindow()->onPluginLoadChange(false);
+
    if (!_library.isLoaded())
       return;
 
@@ -1171,12 +1176,6 @@ void PluginHost::remoteControlsSuggestPage(clap_id page_id) noexcept {
 bool PluginHost::loadNativePluginPreset(const std::string &path) {
    checkForMainThread();
 
-    if(!_plugin)
-    {
-        std::cerr << "called with a null clap_plugin pointer!" << std::endl;
-        return false;
-    }
-
    if (!_plugin->canUsePresetLoad())
       return false;