diff --git a/lib/Cake/TestSuite/CakeTestLoader.php b/lib/Cake/TestSuite/CakeTestLoader.php
index 1cf2e5da749..223ec85e7a8 100644
--- a/lib/Cake/TestSuite/CakeTestLoader.php
+++ b/lib/Cake/TestSuite/CakeTestLoader.php
@@ -54,7 +54,10 @@ protected static function _basePath($params) {
 			$result = CORE_TEST_CASES;
 		} elseif (!empty($params['app'])) {
 			$result = APP_TEST_CASES;
-		} else if (!empty($params['plugin']) && CakePlugin::loaded($params['plugin'])) {
+		} else if (!empty($params['plugin'])) {
+			if (!CakePlugin::loaded($params['plugin'])) {
+				CakePlugin::load($params['plugin']);
+			}
 			$pluginPath = CakePlugin::path($params['plugin']);
 			$result = $pluginPath . 'Test' . DS . 'Case';
 		}