diff --git a/ckan/config/middleware/flask_app.py b/ckan/config/middleware/flask_app.py
index 2a6d8ce86b3..0d49826809b 100644
--- a/ckan/config/middleware/flask_app.py
+++ b/ckan/config/middleware/flask_app.py
@@ -307,7 +307,8 @@ def ckan_after_request(response):
 
 def helper_functions():
     u'''Make helper functions (`h`) available to Flask templates'''
-    helpers.load_plugin_helpers()
+    if not helpers.helper_functions:
+        helpers.load_plugin_helpers()
     return dict(h=helpers.helper_functions)