--- a/src/core/vscore.cpp
+++ b/src/core/vscore.cpp
@@ -1862,7 +1862,7 @@
 
         // Autoload bundled plugins
         std::wstring corePluginPath = readRegistryValue(VS_INSTALL_REGKEY, L"CorePlugins");
-        if (!loadAllPluginsInPath(corePluginPath, filter))
+        if (!corePluginPath.empty() && !loadAllPluginsInPath(corePluginPath, filter))
             logMessage(mtCritical, "Core plugin autoloading failed. Installation is broken!");
 
         if (!disableAutoLoading) {
