diff --git a/contrib/pylightning/lightning/lightning.py b/contrib/pylightning/lightning/lightning.py
index 23122728b..824a4b346 100644
--- a/contrib/pylightning/lightning/lightning.py
+++ b/contrib/pylightning/lightning/lightning.py
@@ -714,6 +714,51 @@ class LightningRpc(UnixDomainSocketRpc):
         }
         return self.call("ping", payload)
 
+    def plugin_start(self, plugin):
+        """
+        Adds a plugin to lightningd.
+        """
+        payload = {
+            "subcommand": "start",
+            "plugin": plugin
+        }
+        return self.call("plugin", payload)
+
+    def plugin_startdir(self, directory):
+        """
+        Adds all plugins from a directory to lightningd.
+        """
+        payload = {
+            "subcommand": "startdir",
+            "directory": directory
+        }
+        return self.call("plugin", payload)
+
+    def plugin_stop(self, plugin):
+        """
+        Stops a lightningd plugin, will fail if plugin is not dynamic.
+        """
+        payload = {
+            "subcommand": "stop",
+            "plugin": plugin
+        }
+        return self.call("plugin", payload)
+
+    def plugin_list(self):
+        """
+        Lists all plugins lightningd knows about.
+        """
+        payload = {
+            "subcommand": "list"
+        }
+        return self.call("plugin", payload)
+
+    def plugin_rescan(self):
+        payload = {
+            "subcommand": "rescan"
+        }
+        return self.call("plugin", payload)
+
     def sendpay(self, route, payment_hash, description=None, msatoshi=None):
         """
         Send along {route} in return for preimage of {payment_hash}
diff --git a/tests/test_plugin.py b/tests/test_plugin.py
index ed5ee19b7..e13154a3d 100644
--- a/tests/test_plugin.py
+++ b/tests/test_plugin.py
@@ -90,6 +90,47 @@ def test_plugin_dir(node_factory):
     node_factory.get_node(options={'plugin-dir': plugin_dir, 'greeting': 'Mars'})
 
 
+def test_plugin_command(node_factory):
+    """Tests the 'plugin' RPC command"""
+    n = node_factory.get_node()
+
+    # Make sure that the 'hello' command from the helloworld.py plugin
+    # is not available.
+    cmd = [hlp for hlp in n.rpc.help()["help"] if "hello" in hlp["command"]]
+    assert(len(cmd) == 0)
+
+    # Add the 'contrib/plugins' test dir
+    time.sleep(2)
+    n.rpc.plugin_startdir(directory=os.path.join(os.getcwd(), "contrib/plugins"))
+    n.daemon.wait_for_log(r"Plugin helloworld.py initialized")
+    # Make sure that the 'hello' command from the helloworld.py plugin
+    # is now available.
+    cmd = [hlp for hlp in n.rpc.help()["help"] if "hello" in hlp["command"]]
+    assert(len(cmd) == 1)
+
+    # Make sure 'rescan' and 'list' controls dont crash
+    n.rpc.plugin_rescan()
+    n.rpc.plugin_list()
+    time.sleep(1)
+
+    # Make sure the plugin behaves normally after stop and restart
+    n.rpc.plugin_stop(plugin="helloworld.py")
+    n.daemon.wait_for_log(r"Killing plugin: helloworld.py")
+    time.sleep(1)
+    n.rpc.plugin_start(plugin=os.path.join(os.getcwd(), "contrib/plugins/helloworld.py"))
+    n.daemon.wait_for_log(r"Plugin helloworld.py initialized")
+    assert("Hello world" == n.rpc.call(method="hello"))
+
+    # Now stop the helloworld plugin
+    n.rpc.plugin_stop(plugin="helloworld.py")
+    n.daemon.wait_for_log(r"Killing plugin: helloworld.py")
+    time.sleep(1)
+    # Make sure that the 'hello' command from the helloworld.py plugin
+    # is not available anymore.
+    cmd = [hlp for hlp in n.rpc.help()["help"] if "hello" in hlp["command"]]
+    assert(len(cmd) == 0)
+
+
 def test_plugin_disable(node_factory):
     """--disable-plugin works"""
     plugin_dir = 'contrib/plugins'