diff --git a/bucket_engine.c b/bucket_engine.c
index 66a9cef..72020a6 100644
--- a/bucket_engine.c
+++ b/bucket_engine.c
@@ -341,7 +341,16 @@ static ENGINE_HANDLE *load_engine(const char *soname, const char *config_str,
         return NULL;
     }
 
-    if (engine->interface != 1) {
+    if (engine->interface == 1) {
+        ENGINE_HANDLE_V1 *v1 = (ENGINE_HANDLE_V1*)engine;
+        if (v1->initialize(engine, config_str) != ENGINE_SUCCESS) {
+            v1->destroy(engine);
+            fprintf(stderr, "Failed to initialize instance. Error code: %d\n",
+                    error);
+            dlclose(handle);
+            return NULL;
+        }
+    } else {
         fprintf(stderr, "Unsupported interface level\n");
         dlclose(handle);
         return NULL;