diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 0ec16a5..face090 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 # Zlux App Server Changelog
 
 All notable changes to the Zlux App Server package will be documented in this file.
+    
+## v2.12.0
+- enhancement: new versions of components can change the location of their plugins, as the app-server will now re-inspect the plugin locations on each startup. (#280)
+
 
 ## v2.11.0
 
diff --git a/bin/init/plugins-init.js b/bin/init/plugins-init.js
index 15e5e58..d99e7de 100644
--- a/bin/init/plugins-init.js
+++ b/bin/init/plugins-init.js
@@ -38,33 +38,27 @@ function deleteFile(path) {
 }
 
 function registerPlugin(pluginPath, pluginDefinition) {
-  const pointerPath = `${pluginPointerDirectory}/${pluginDefinition.identifier}.json`;
-  if (fs.fileExists(pointerPath)) {
-    //in case of upgrade
-    registerApp2App(pluginPath, pluginDefinition.identifier, pluginDefinition.pluginVersion);
-    return true;
-  } else {
-    let location, relativeTo;
-    if (pluginPath.startsWith(runtimeDirectory)) {
-      relativeTo = "$ZWE_zowe_runtimeDirectory";
-      location = pluginPath.substring(runtimeDirectory.length);
-      if (location.startsWith('/')) {
-        location = location.substring(1);
-      }
-
-      xplatform.storeFileUTF8(pointerPath, xplatform.AUTO_DETECT, JSON.stringify({
-        "identifier": pluginDefinition.identifier,
-        "pluginLocation": location,
-        "relativeTo": relativeTo
-      }, null, 2));
-    } else {
-      xplatform.storeFileUTF8(pointerPath, xplatform.AUTO_DETECT, JSON.stringify({
-        "identifier": pluginDefinition.identifier,
-        "pluginLocation": pluginPath
-      }, null, 2));
+  const pointerPath = `${pluginPointerDirectory}/${pluginDefinition.identifier}.json`; 
+  let location, relativeTo;
+  if (pluginPath.startsWith(runtimeDirectory)) {
+    relativeTo = "$ZWE_zowe_runtimeDirectory";
+    location = pluginPath.substring(runtimeDirectory.length);
+    if (location.startsWith('/')) {
+      location = location.substring(1);
     }
-    registerApp2App(pluginPath, pluginDefinition.identifier, pluginDefinition.pluginVersion);
+
+    xplatform.storeFileUTF8(pointerPath, xplatform.AUTO_DETECT, JSON.stringify({
+      "identifier": pluginDefinition.identifier,
+      "pluginLocation": location,
+      "relativeTo": relativeTo
+    }, null, 2));
+  } else {
+    xplatform.storeFileUTF8(pointerPath, xplatform.AUTO_DETECT, JSON.stringify({
+      "identifier": pluginDefinition.identifier,
+      "pluginLocation": pluginPath
+    }, null, 2));
   }
+  registerApp2App(pluginPath, pluginDefinition.identifier, pluginDefinition.pluginVersion);
 }