diff --git a/packages/api/src/utility/directories.js b/packages/api/src/utility/directories.js
index ff9426480..0444c151f 100644
--- a/packages/api/src/utility/directories.js
+++ b/packages/api/src/utility/directories.js
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ const path = require('path');
 const fs = require('fs');
 const cleanDirectory = require('./cleanDirectory');
 const platformInfo = require('./platformInfo');
+const processArgs = require('./processArgs');
 
 const createDirectories = {};
 const ensureDirectory = (dir, clean) => {
@@ -56,6 +57,9 @@ function packagedPluginsDir() {
     // node_modules
     return global['PLUGINS_DIR'];
   }
+  if (processArgs.pluginsDir) {
+    return processArgs.pluginsDir;
+  }
   if (platformInfo.isElectronBundle) {
     return path.resolve(__dirname, '../../plugins');
 
diff --git a/packages/api/src/utility/processArgs.js b/packages/api/src/utility/processArgs.js
index a98992f90..f1a0ab002 100644
--- a/packages/api/src/utility/processArgs.js
+++ b/packages/api/src/utility/processArgs.js
@@ -9,10 +9,17 @@ function getNamedArg(name) {
 const checkParent = process.argv.includes('--checkParent');
 const startProcess = getNamedArg('--start-process');
 const isForkedApi = process.argv.includes('--is-forked-api');
+const pluginsDir = getNamedArg('--plugins-dir');
 
 function getPassArgs() {
-  if (global['NATIVE_MODULES']) return ['--native-modules', global['NATIVE_MODULES']];
-  return [];
+  const res = [];
+  if (global['NATIVE_MODULES']) {
+    res.push('--native-modules', global['NATIVE_MODULES']);
+  }
+  if (global['PLUGINS_DIR']) {
+    res.push('--plugins-dir', global['PLUGINS_DIR']);
+  }
+  return res;
 }
 
 module.exports = {
@@ -20,4 +27,5 @@ module.exports = {
   startProcess,
   isForkedApi,
   getPassArgs,
+  pluginsDir,
 };