diff --git a/contrib/plugins/meson.build b/contrib/plugins/meson.build
index 484b9a808c..fa8a426c8b 100644
--- a/contrib/plugins/meson.build
+++ b/contrib/plugins/meson.build
@@ -26,3 +26,5 @@ if t.length() > 0
 else
   run_target('contrib-plugins', command: find_program('true'))
 endif
+
+plugin_modules += t
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 4899d896de..9d9c11731f 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -3668,6 +3668,7 @@ qtest_module_ss = ss.source_set()
 
 modules = {}
 target_modules = {}
+plugin_modules = []
 hw_arch = {}
 target_arch = {}
 target_system_arch = {}
diff --git a/tests/functional/meson.build b/tests/functional/meson.build
index 7fcc4731d5..e78560a901 100644
--- a/tests/functional/meson.build
+++ b/tests/functional/meson.build
@@ -385,7 +385,7 @@ foreach speed : ['quick', 'thorough']
       # 'run_target' logic below & in Makefile.include
       test('func-' + testname,
            python,
-           depends: [test_deps, test_emulator, emulator_modules],
+           depends: [test_deps, test_emulator, emulator_modules, plugin_modules],
            env: test_env,
            args: [testpath],
            protocol: 'tap',
diff --git a/tests/tcg/plugins/meson.build b/tests/tcg/plugins/meson.build
index 87a17d67bd..c8cb0626a6 100644
--- a/tests/tcg/plugins/meson.build
+++ b/tests/tcg/plugins/meson.build
@@ -19,3 +19,5 @@ if t.length() > 0
 else
   run_target('test-plugins', command: find_program('true'))
 endif
+
+plugin_modules += t