diff --git a/document.c b/document.c
index 654955f..686be5f 100644
--- a/document.c
+++ b/document.c
@@ -103,13 +103,7 @@ zathura_document_open(zathura_t* zathura, const char* path, const char* password
     return NULL;
   }
 
-  zathura_plugin_t* plugin = NULL;
-  GIRARA_LIST_FOREACH(zathura->plugins.type_plugin_mapping, zathura_type_plugin_mapping_t*, iter, mapping)
-    if (g_content_type_equals(content_type, mapping->type)) {
-      plugin = mapping->plugin;
-      break;
-    }
-  GIRARA_LIST_FOREACH_END(zathura->plugins.type_plugin_mapping, zathura_type_plugin_mapping_t*, iter, mapping);
+  zathura_plugin_t* plugin = zathura_plugin_manager_get_plugin(zathura->plugins.manager, content_type);
   g_free((void*)content_type);
 
   if (plugin == NULL) {
diff --git a/page.c b/page.c
index 8accf5c..d42c5c2 100644
--- a/page.c
+++ b/page.c
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include "plugin.h"
 #include "utils.h"
 #include "internal.h"
+#include "types.h"
 
 struct zathura_page_s {
   double height; /**< Page height */
diff --git a/plugin.c b/plugin.c
index e26438c..41590da 100644
--- a/plugin.c
+++ b/plugin.c
@@ -13,14 +13,57 @@
 #include <girara/settings.h>
 
 /**
- * Register document plugin
+ * Plugin manager
  */
-static bool zathura_document_plugin_register(zathura_t* zathura, zathura_plugin_t* new_plugin);
+struct zathura_plugin_manager_s
+{
+  girara_list_t* plugins; /**< List of plugins */
+  girara_list_t* path; /**< List of plugin paths */
+  girara_list_t* type_plugin_mapping; /**< List of type -> plugin mappings */
+};
+
+static bool register_plugin(zathura_plugin_manager_t* plugin_manager, zathura_plugin_t* plugin);
+static bool plugin_mapping_new(zathura_plugin_manager_t* plugin_manager, const gchar* type, zathura_plugin_t* plugin);
+static void zathura_plugin_free(zathura_plugin_t* plugin);
+static void zathura_type_plugin_mapping_free(zathura_type_plugin_mapping_t* mapping);
+
+zathura_plugin_manager_t*
+zathura_plugin_manager_new()
+{
+  zathura_plugin_manager_t* plugin_manager = g_malloc0(sizeof(zathura_plugin_manager_t));
+
+  plugin_manager->plugins = girara_list_new2((girara_free_function_t) zathura_plugin_free);
+  plugin_manager->path    = girara_list_new2(g_free);
+  plugin_manager->type_plugin_mapping = girara_list_new2((girara_free_function_t)zathura_type_plugin_mapping_free);
+
+  if (plugin_manager->plugins == NULL
+      || plugin_manager->path == NULL
+      || plugin_manager->type_plugin_mapping == NULL) {
+    zathura_plugin_manager_free(plugin_manager);
+    return NULL;
+  }
+
+  return plugin_manager;
+}
 
 void
-zathura_document_plugins_load(zathura_t* zathura)
+zathura_plugin_manager_add_dir(zathura_plugin_manager_t* plugin_manager, const char* dir)
 {
-  GIRARA_LIST_FOREACH(zathura->plugins.path, char*, iter, plugindir)
+  if (plugin_manager == NULL || plugin_manager->path == NULL) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  girara_list_append(plugin_manager->path, g_strdup(dir));
+}
+
+void
+zathura_plugin_manager_load(zathura_plugin_manager_t* plugin_manager)
+{
+  if (plugin_manager == NULL || plugin_manager->path == NULL) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  GIRARA_LIST_FOREACH(plugin_manager->path, char*, iter, plugindir)
     /* read all files in the plugin directory */
     GDir* dir = g_dir_open(plugindir, 0, NULL);
     if (dir == NULL) {
@@ -31,7 +74,7 @@ zathura_document_plugins_load(zathura_t* zathura)
 
     char* name = NULL;
     while ((name = (char*) g_dir_read_name(dir)) != NULL) {
-      char* path           = g_build_filename(plugindir, name, NULL);
+      char* path = g_build_filename(plugindir, name, NULL);
       if (g_file_test(path, G_FILE_TEST_IS_REGULAR) == 0) {
         girara_info("%s is not a regular file. Skipping.", path);
         g_free(path);
@@ -92,10 +135,10 @@ zathura_document_plugins_load(zathura_t* zathura)
 #endif
       }
 
-      zathura_plugin_register_service_t register_plugin;
-      *(void**)(&register_plugin) = dlsym(handle, PLUGIN_REGISTER_FUNCTION);
+      zathura_plugin_register_service_t register_service;
+      *(void**)(&register_service) = dlsym(handle, PLUGIN_REGISTER_FUNCTION);
 
-      if (register_plugin == NULL) {
+      if (register_service == NULL) {
         girara_error("could not find '%s' function in plugin %s", PLUGIN_REGISTER_FUNCTION, path);
         g_free(path);
         dlclose(handle);
@@ -106,7 +149,7 @@ zathura_document_plugins_load(zathura_t* zathura)
       plugin->content_types = girara_list_new2(g_free);
       plugin->handle = handle;
 
-      register_plugin(plugin);
+      register_service(plugin);
 
       /* register functions */
       if (plugin->register_function == NULL) {
@@ -118,11 +161,11 @@ zathura_document_plugins_load(zathura_t* zathura)
 
       plugin->register_function(&(plugin->functions));
 
-      bool r = zathura_document_plugin_register(zathura, plugin);
+      bool ret = register_plugin(plugin_manager, plugin);
 
-      if (r == false) {
+      if (ret == false) {
         girara_error("could not register plugin %s", path);
-        zathura_document_plugin_free(plugin);
+        zathura_plugin_free(plugin);
       } else {
         girara_info("successfully loaded plugin %s", path);
       }
@@ -133,61 +176,97 @@ zathura_document_plugins_load(zathura_t* zathura)
   GIRARA_LIST_FOREACH_END(zathura->plugins.path, char*, iter, plugindir);
 }
 
-void
-zathura_document_plugin_free(zathura_plugin_t* plugin)
+zathura_plugin_t*
+zathura_plugin_manager_get_plugin(zathura_plugin_manager_t* plugin_manager, const char* type)
 {
-  if (plugin == NULL) {
+  if (plugin_manager == NULL || plugin_manager->type_plugin_mapping == NULL || type == NULL) {
+    return NULL;
+  }
+
+  zathura_plugin_t* plugin = NULL;
+  GIRARA_LIST_FOREACH(plugin_manager->type_plugin_mapping, zathura_type_plugin_mapping_t*, iter, mapping)
+    if (g_content_type_equals(type, mapping->type)) {
+      plugin = mapping->plugin;
+      break;
+    }
+  GIRARA_LIST_FOREACH_END(plugin_manager->type_plugin_mapping, zathura_type_plugin_mapping_t*, iter, mapping);
+
+  return plugin;
+}
+
+void
+zathura_plugin_manager_free(zathura_plugin_manager_t* plugin_manager)
+{
+  if (plugin_manager == NULL) {
     return;
   }
 
-  dlclose(plugin->handle);
-  girara_list_free(plugin->content_types);
-  g_free(plugin);
+  if (plugin_manager->plugins != NULL) {
+    girara_list_free(plugin_manager->plugins);
+  }
+
+  if (plugin_manager->path != NULL) {
+    girara_list_free(plugin_manager->path);
+  }
+
+  if (plugin_manager->type_plugin_mapping != NULL) {
+    girara_list_free(plugin_manager->type_plugin_mapping);
+  }
+
+  g_free(plugin_manager);
 }
 
 static bool
-zathura_document_plugin_register(zathura_t* zathura, zathura_plugin_t* new_plugin)
+register_plugin(zathura_plugin_manager_t* plugin_manager, zathura_plugin_t* plugin)
 {
-  if (new_plugin == NULL || new_plugin->content_types == NULL || new_plugin->register_function == NULL) {
+  if (plugin == NULL
+      || plugin->content_types == NULL
+      || plugin->register_function == NULL
+      || plugin_manager == NULL
+      || plugin_manager->plugins == NULL) {
     girara_error("plugin: could not register\n");
     return false;
   }
 
-  bool atleastone = false;
-  GIRARA_LIST_FOREACH(new_plugin->content_types, gchar*, iter, type)
-    if (!zathura_type_plugin_mapping_new(zathura, type, new_plugin)) {
+  bool at_least_one = false;
+  GIRARA_LIST_FOREACH(plugin->content_types, gchar*, iter, type)
+    if (plugin_mapping_new(plugin_manager, type, plugin) == false) {
       girara_error("plugin: already registered for filetype %s\n", type);
     } else {
-      atleastone = true;
+      at_least_one = true;
     }
-  GIRARA_LIST_FOREACH_END(new_plugin->content_types, gchar*, iter, type);
+  GIRARA_LIST_FOREACH_END(plugin->content_types, gchar*, iter, type);
 
-  if (atleastone) {
-    girara_list_append(zathura->plugins.plugins, new_plugin);
+  if (at_least_one == true) {
+    girara_list_append(plugin_manager->plugins, plugin);
   }
-  return atleastone;
+
+  return at_least_one;
 }
 
-bool
-zathura_type_plugin_mapping_new(zathura_t* zathura, const gchar* type, zathura_plugin_t* plugin)
+static bool
+plugin_mapping_new(zathura_plugin_manager_t* plugin_manager, const gchar* type, zathura_plugin_t* plugin)
 {
-  g_return_val_if_fail(zathura && type && plugin, false);
+  g_return_val_if_fail(plugin_manager != NULL, false);
+  g_return_val_if_fail(type           != NULL, false);
+  g_return_val_if_fail(plugin         != NULL, false);
 
-  GIRARA_LIST_FOREACH(zathura->plugins.type_plugin_mapping, zathura_type_plugin_mapping_t*, iter, mapping)
+  GIRARA_LIST_FOREACH(plugin_manager->type_plugin_mapping, zathura_type_plugin_mapping_t*, iter, mapping)
     if (g_content_type_equals(type, mapping->type)) {
       girara_list_iterator_free(iter);
       return false;
     }
-  GIRARA_LIST_FOREACH_END(zathura->plugins.type_plugin_mapping, zathura_type_plugin_mapping_t*, iter, mapping);
+  GIRARA_LIST_FOREACH_END(plugin_manager->type_plugin_mapping, zathura_type_plugin_mapping_t*, iter, mapping);
 
   zathura_type_plugin_mapping_t* mapping = g_malloc(sizeof(zathura_type_plugin_mapping_t));
-  mapping->type = g_strdup(type);
+  mapping->type   = g_strdup(type);
   mapping->plugin = plugin;
-  girara_list_append(zathura->plugins.type_plugin_mapping, mapping);
+  girara_list_append(plugin_manager->type_plugin_mapping, mapping);
+
   return true;
 }
 
-void
+static void
 zathura_type_plugin_mapping_free(zathura_type_plugin_mapping_t* mapping)
 {
   if (mapping == NULL) {
@@ -198,6 +277,19 @@ zathura_type_plugin_mapping_free(zathura_type_plugin_mapping_t* mapping)
   g_free(mapping);
 }
 
+static void
+zathura_plugin_free(zathura_plugin_t* plugin)
+{
+  if (plugin == NULL) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  dlclose(plugin->handle);
+  girara_list_free(plugin->content_types);
+  g_free(plugin);
+}
+
+/* plugin-api.h */
 void
 zathura_plugin_set_register_functions_function(zathura_plugin_t* plugin, zathura_plugin_register_function_t register_function)
 {
@@ -215,5 +307,5 @@ zathura_plugin_add_mimetype(zathura_plugin_t* plugin, const char* mime_type)
     return;
   }
 
-  girara_list_append(plugin->content_types, g_content_type_from_mime_type(mime_type)); 
+  girara_list_append(plugin->content_types, g_content_type_from_mime_type(mime_type));
 }
diff --git a/plugin.h b/plugin.h
index 039ca90..378349f 100644
--- a/plugin.h
+++ b/plugin.h
@@ -14,15 +14,6 @@
 #define PLUGIN_API_VERSION_FUNCTION "zathura_plugin_api_version"
 #define PLUGIN_ABI_VERSION_FUNCTION "zathura_plugin_abi_version"
 
-/**
- * Plugin mapping
- */
-typedef struct zathura_type_plugin_mapping_s
-{
-  const gchar* type; /**< Plugin type */
-  zathura_plugin_t* plugin; /**< Mapped plugin */
-} zathura_type_plugin_mapping_t;
-
 /**
  * Document plugin structure
  */
@@ -34,6 +25,55 @@ struct zathura_plugin_s
   void* handle; /**< DLL handle */
 };
 
+typedef struct zathura_plugin_manager_s zathura_plugin_manager_t;
+
+/**
+ * Creates a new instance of the plugin manager
+ *
+ * @return A plugin manager object or NULL if an error occured
+ */
+zathura_plugin_manager_t* zathura_plugin_manager_new();
+
+/**
+ * Adds a plugin directory to the plugin manager
+ *
+ * @param plugin_manager The plugin manager
+ * @param dir Path to a directory with plugins
+ */
+void zathura_plugin_manager_add_dir(zathura_plugin_manager_t* plugin_manager, const char* dir);
+
+/**
+ * Loads all plugins available in the previously given directories
+ *
+ * @param plugin_manager The plugin manager
+ */
+void zathura_plugin_manager_load(zathura_plugin_manager_t* plugin_manager);
+
+/**
+ * Returns the (if available) associated plugin
+ *
+ * @param plugin_manager The plugin manager
+ * @param type The document type
+ * @return The plugin or NULL if no matching plugin is available
+ */
+zathura_plugin_t* zathura_plugin_manager_get_plugin(zathura_plugin_manager_t* plugin_manager, const char* type);
+
+/**
+ * Frees the plugin manager
+ *
+ * @param plugin_manager
+ */
+void zathura_plugin_manager_free(zathura_plugin_manager_t* plugin_manager);
+
+/**
+ * Plugin mapping
+ */
+typedef struct zathura_type_plugin_mapping_s
+{
+  const gchar* type; /**< Plugin type */
+  zathura_plugin_t* plugin; /**< Mapped plugin */
+} zathura_type_plugin_mapping_t;
+
 /**
  * Function prototype that is called to register a document plugin
  *
@@ -56,34 +96,4 @@ typedef unsigned int (*zathura_plugin_api_version_t)();
  */
 typedef unsigned int (*zathura_plugin_abi_version_t)();
 
-/**
- * Load all document plugins
- *
- * @param zathura the zathura session
- */
-void zathura_document_plugins_load(zathura_t* zathura);
-
-/**
- * Free a document plugin
- *
- * @param plugin The plugin
- */
-void zathura_document_plugin_free(zathura_plugin_t* plugin);
-
-/**
- * Add type -> plugin mapping
- * @param zathura zathura instance
- * @param type content type
- * @param plugin plugin instance
- * @return true on success, false if another plugin is already registered for
- * that type
- */
-bool zathura_type_plugin_mapping_new(zathura_t* zathura, const gchar* type, zathura_plugin_t* plugin);
-
-/**
- * Free type -> plugin mapping
- * @param mapping To be freed
- */
-void zathura_type_plugin_mapping_free(zathura_type_plugin_mapping_t* mapping);
-
 #endif // PLUGIN_H
diff --git a/types.h b/types.h
index f0e285f..c9c2d73 100644
--- a/types.h
+++ b/types.h
@@ -5,11 +5,6 @@
 
 #include "zathura.h"
 
-/**
- * Plugin
- */
-typedef struct zathura_plugin_s zathura_plugin_t;
-
 /**
  * Error types
  */
@@ -39,6 +34,11 @@ typedef enum zathura_document_information_type_e
   ZATHURA_DOCUMENT_INFORMATION_OTHER /**< Any other information */
 } zathura_document_information_type_t;
 
+/**
+  * Plugin
+  */
+typedef struct zathura_plugin_s zathura_plugin_t;
+
 /**
  * Document information entry
  *
diff --git a/utils.c b/utils.c
index 642253a..a65b6ca 100644
--- a/utils.c
+++ b/utils.c
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ file_get_extension(const char* path)
 bool
 file_valid_extension(zathura_t* zathura, const char* path)
 {
-  if (zathura == NULL || path == NULL) {
+  if (zathura == NULL || zathura->plugins.manager == NULL || path == NULL) {
     return false;
   }
 
@@ -56,16 +56,10 @@ file_valid_extension(zathura_t* zathura, const char* path)
     return false;
   }
 
-  bool result = false;
-  GIRARA_LIST_FOREACH(zathura->plugins.type_plugin_mapping, zathura_type_plugin_mapping_t*, iter, mapping)
-    if (g_content_type_equals(content_type, mapping->type)) {
-      result = true;
-      break;
-    }
-  GIRARA_LIST_FOREACH_END(zathura->plugins.type_plugin_mapping, zathura_type_plugin_mapping_t*, iter, mapping);
-
+	zathura_plugin_t* plugin = zathura_plugin_manager_get_plugin(zathura->plugins.manager, content_type);
   g_free((void*)content_type);
-  return result;
+
+  return (plugin == NULL) ? false : true;
 }
 
 bool
diff --git a/zathura.c b/zathura.c
index 58f7a8f..6398abd 100644
--- a/zathura.c
+++ b/zathura.c
@@ -103,12 +103,12 @@ zathura_init(int argc, char* argv[])
   zathura_t* zathura = g_malloc0(sizeof(zathura_t));
 
   /* plugins */
-  zathura->plugins.plugins = girara_list_new2(
-      (girara_free_function_t)zathura_document_plugin_free);
-  zathura->plugins.path    = girara_list_new2(g_free);
-  zathura->plugins.type_plugin_mapping = girara_list_new2(
-      (girara_free_function_t)zathura_type_plugin_mapping_free);
+  zathura->plugins.manager = zathura_plugin_manager_new();
+  if (zathura->plugins.manager == NULL) {
+    goto error_free;
+  }
 
+  /* configuration and data */
   if (config_dir != NULL) {
     zathura->config.config_dir = g_strdup(config_dir);
   } else {
@@ -131,12 +131,16 @@ zathura_init(int argc, char* argv[])
 
   if (plugin_path != NULL) {
     girara_list_t* paths = girara_split_path_array(plugin_path);
-    girara_list_merge(zathura->plugins.path, paths);
+    GIRARA_LIST_FOREACH(paths, char*, iter, path)
+      zathura_plugin_manager_add_dir(zathura->plugins.manager, path);
+    GIRARA_LIST_FOREACH_END(paths, char*, iter, path);
     girara_list_free(paths);
   } else {
 #ifdef ZATHURA_PLUGINDIR
     girara_list_t* paths = girara_split_path_array(ZATHURA_PLUGINDIR);
-    girara_list_merge(zathura->plugins.path, paths);
+    GIRARA_LIST_FOREACH(paths, char*, iter, path)
+      zathura_plugin_manager_add_dir(zathura->plugins.manager, path);
+    GIRARA_LIST_FOREACH_END(paths, char*, iter, path);
     girara_list_free(paths);
 #endif
   }
@@ -153,7 +157,7 @@ zathura_init(int argc, char* argv[])
   zathura->global.update_page_number = true;
 
   /* load plugins */
-  zathura_document_plugins_load(zathura);
+  zathura_plugin_manager_load(zathura->plugins.manager);
 
   /* configuration */
   config_load_default(zathura);
@@ -335,9 +339,7 @@ zathura_free(zathura_t* zathura)
   }
 
   /* free registered plugins */
-  girara_list_free(zathura->plugins.type_plugin_mapping);
-  girara_list_free(zathura->plugins.plugins);
-  girara_list_free(zathura->plugins.path);
+  zathura_plugin_manager_free(zathura->plugins.manager);
 
   /* free config variables */
   g_free(zathura->config.config_dir);
diff --git a/zathura.h b/zathura.h
index 17d581c..75fe785 100644
--- a/zathura.h
+++ b/zathura.h
@@ -63,9 +63,7 @@ typedef struct zathura_s
 
   struct
   {
-    girara_list_t* plugins; /**< List of plugins */
-    girara_list_t* path; /**< List of plugin paths */
-    girara_list_t* type_plugin_mapping; /**< List of type -> plugin mappings */
+    void* manager; /**< Plugin manager */
   } plugins;
 
   struct