diff --git a/config.mk b/config.mk
index a00f096..e07e903 100644
--- a/config.mk
+++ b/config.mk
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ ZATHURA_VERSION_REV = 7
 # If the API changes, the API version and the ABI version have to be bumped.
 ZATHURA_API_VERSION = 2
 # If the ABI breaks for any reason, this has to be bumped.
-ZATHURA_ABI_VERSION = 2
+ZATHURA_ABI_VERSION = 3
 VERSION = ${ZATHURA_VERSION_MAJOR}.${ZATHURA_VERSION_MINOR}.${ZATHURA_VERSION_REV}
 
 # version checks
diff --git a/zathura/plugin-api.h b/zathura/plugin-api.h
index 4043129..7a8ce5f 100644
--- a/zathura/plugin-api.h
+++ b/zathura/plugin-api.h
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@
 #include "version.h"
 
 typedef struct zathura_plugin_functions_s zathura_plugin_functions_t;
-
 /**
  * Functions register function
  *
@@ -17,31 +16,26 @@ typedef struct zathura_plugin_functions_s zathura_plugin_functions_t;
  */
 typedef void (*zathura_plugin_register_function_t)(zathura_plugin_functions_t* functions);
 
-/**
- * Sets the functions register function of the plugin
- *
- * @param plugin The plugin
- * @param register_function The register function that registers the document
- * functions
- */
-void zathura_plugin_set_register_functions_function(zathura_plugin_t* plugin,
-    zathura_plugin_register_function_t register_function);
+typedef struct zathura_plugin_version_s {
+  unsigned int major; /**< Major */
+  unsigned int minor; /**< Minor */
+  unsigned int rev; /**< Revision */
+} zathura_plugin_version_t;
 
-/**
- * Sets the name of the plugin
- *
- * @param plugin The plugin
- * @param name The name of the plugin
- */
-void zathura_plugin_set_name(zathura_plugin_t* plugin, const char* name);
+typedef struct zathura_plugin_definition_s
+{
+  const char* name;
+  const zathura_plugin_version_t version;
+  zathura_plugin_register_function_t register_function;
+  const size_t mime_types_size;
+  const char** mime_types;
+} zathura_plugin_definition_t;
 
-/**
- * Sets the functions register function of the plugin
- *
- * @param plugin The plugin
- * @param mime_type The mime type that should be added
- */
-void zathura_plugin_add_mimetype(zathura_plugin_t* plugin, const char* mime_type);
+#define JOIN(x, y) JOIN2(x, y)
+#define JOIN2(x, y) x ## _ ## y
+
+#define ZATHURA_PLUGIN_DEFINITION_SYMBOL \
+  JOIN(zathura_plugin, JOIN(ZATHURA_API_VERSION, ZATHURA_ABI_VERSION))
 
 /**
  * Register a plugin.
@@ -54,24 +48,15 @@ void zathura_plugin_add_mimetype(zathura_plugin_t* plugin, const char* mime_type
  * @param mimetypes a char array of mime types supported by the plugin
  */
 #define ZATHURA_PLUGIN_REGISTER(plugin_name, major, minor, rev, register_functions, mimetypes) \
-  unsigned int zathura_plugin_version_major(void) { return major; } \
-  unsigned int zathura_plugin_version_minor(void) { return minor; } \
-  unsigned int zathura_plugin_version_revision(void) { return rev; } \
-  unsigned int zathura_plugin_api_version(void) { return ZATHURA_API_VERSION; } \
-  unsigned int zathura_plugin_abi_version(void) { return ZATHURA_ABI_VERSION; } \
+  static const char* zathura_plugin_mime_types[] = mimetypes; \
   \
-  void zathura_plugin_register(zathura_plugin_t* plugin) \
-  { \
-    if (plugin == NULL) { \
-      return; \
-    } \
-    zathura_plugin_set_register_functions_function(plugin, register_functions); \
-    zathura_plugin_set_name(plugin, plugin_name); \
-    static const char* mime_types[] = mimetypes; \
-    for (size_t s = 0; s != sizeof(mime_types) / sizeof(const char*); ++s) { \
-      zathura_plugin_add_mimetype(plugin, mime_types[s]); \
-    } \
-  } \
+  const zathura_plugin_definition_t ZATHURA_PLUGIN_DEFINITION_SYMBOL = { \
+    .name = plugin_name, \
+    .version = { major, minor, rev }, \
+    .register_function = register_functions, \
+    .mime_types_size = sizeof(zathura_plugin_mime_types) / sizeof(zathura_plugin_mime_types[0]), \
+    .mime_types = zathura_plugin_mime_types \
+  }; \
 
 #define ZATHURA_PLUGIN_MIMETYPES(...) __VA_ARGS__
 
diff --git a/zathura/plugin.c b/zathura/plugin.c
index 8f3c302..45ce0d0 100644
--- a/zathura/plugin.c
+++ b/zathura/plugin.c
@@ -16,12 +16,10 @@
  */
 struct zathura_plugin_s {
   girara_list_t* content_types; /**< List of supported content types */
-  zathura_plugin_register_function_t register_function; /**< Document open function */
   zathura_plugin_functions_t functions; /**< Document functions */
   GModule* handle; /**< DLL handle */
-  char* name; /**< Name of the plugin */
   char* path; /**< Path to the plugin */
-  zathura_plugin_version_t version; /**< Version information */
+  const zathura_plugin_definition_t* definition;
 };
 
 /**
@@ -41,11 +39,7 @@ struct zathura_plugin_manager_s {
   girara_list_t* type_plugin_mapping; /**< List of type -> plugin mappings */
 };
 
-typedef void (*zathura_plugin_register_service_t)(zathura_plugin_t*);
-typedef unsigned int (*zathura_plugin_api_version_t)(void);
-typedef unsigned int (*zathura_plugin_abi_version_t)(void);
-typedef unsigned int (*zathura_plugin_version_function_t)(void);
-
+static void zathura_plugin_add_mimetype(zathura_plugin_t* plugin, const char* mime_type);
 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);
@@ -141,45 +135,38 @@ zathura_plugin_manager_load(zathura_plugin_manager_t* plugin_manager)
     }
 
     /* resolve symbols and check API and ABI version*/
-    zathura_plugin_api_version_t api_version = NULL;
-    if (g_module_symbol(handle, PLUGIN_API_VERSION_FUNCTION, (gpointer*) &api_version) == FALSE ||
-        api_version == NULL) {
-      girara_error("could not find '%s' function in plugin %s", PLUGIN_API_VERSION_FUNCTION, path);
+    const zathura_plugin_definition_t* plugin_definition = NULL;
+    if (g_module_symbol(handle, G_STRINGIFY(ZATHURA_PLUGIN_DEFINITION_SYMBOL), (void**) &plugin_definition) == FALSE ||
+        plugin_definition == NULL) {
+      girara_error("could not find '%s' in plugin %s - is not a plugin or needs to be rebuilt", G_STRINGIFY(ZATHURA_PLUGIN_DEFINITION_SYMBOL), path);
       g_free(path);
       g_module_close(handle);
       continue;
     }
 
-    if (api_version() != ZATHURA_API_VERSION) {
-      girara_error("plugin %s has been built againt zathura with a different API version (plugin: %d, zathura: %d)",
-                   path, api_version(), ZATHURA_API_VERSION);
+    /* check name */
+    if (plugin_definition->name == NULL) {
+      girara_error("plugin has no name");
       g_free(path);
+      g_free(plugin);
       g_module_close(handle);
       continue;
     }
 
-    zathura_plugin_abi_version_t abi_version = NULL;
-    if (g_module_symbol(handle, PLUGIN_ABI_VERSION_FUNCTION, (gpointer*) &abi_version) == FALSE ||
-        abi_version == NULL) {
-      girara_error("could not find '%s' function in plugin %s", PLUGIN_ABI_VERSION_FUNCTION, path);
+    /* check mime type */
+    if (plugin_definition->mime_types == NULL || plugin_definition->mime_types_size == 0) {
+      girara_error("plugin has no mime_types");
       g_free(path);
+      g_free(plugin);
       g_module_close(handle);
       continue;
     }
 
-    if (abi_version() != ZATHURA_ABI_VERSION) {
-      girara_error("plugin %s has been built againt zathura with a different ABI version (plugin: %d, zathura: %d)",
-                   path, abi_version(), ZATHURA_ABI_VERSION);
-      g_free(path);
-      g_module_close(handle);
-      continue;
-    }
-
-    zathura_plugin_register_service_t register_service = NULL;
-    if (g_module_symbol(handle, PLUGIN_REGISTER_FUNCTION, (gpointer*) &register_service) == FALSE ||
-        register_service == NULL) {
-      girara_error("could not find '%s' function in plugin %s", PLUGIN_REGISTER_FUNCTION, path);
+    /* check register functions */
+    if (plugin_definition->register_function == NULL) {
+      girara_error("plugin has no document functions register function");
       g_free(path);
+      g_free(plugin);
       g_module_close(handle);
       continue;
     }
@@ -192,42 +179,27 @@ zathura_plugin_manager_load(zathura_plugin_manager_t* plugin_manager)
       continue;
     }
 
+    plugin->definition = plugin_definition;
     plugin->content_types = girara_list_new2(g_free);
     plugin->handle = handle;
-
-    register_service(plugin);
-
-    /* register functions */
-    if (plugin->register_function == NULL) {
-      girara_error("plugin has no document functions register function");
-      g_free(path);
-      g_free(plugin);
-      g_module_close(handle);
-      continue;
-    }
-
-    plugin->register_function(&(plugin->functions));
     plugin->path = path;
 
+    // register mime types
+    for (size_t s = 0; s != plugin_definition->mime_types_size; ++s) {
+      zathura_plugin_add_mimetype(plugin, plugin_definition->mime_types[s]);
+    }
+    // register functions
+    plugin->definition->register_function(&(plugin->functions));
+
     bool ret = register_plugin(plugin_manager, plugin);
     if (ret == false) {
       girara_error("could not register plugin %s", path);
       zathura_plugin_free(plugin);
     } else {
       girara_debug("successfully loaded plugin %s", path);
-
-      zathura_plugin_version_function_t plugin_major = NULL, plugin_minor = NULL, plugin_rev = NULL;
-      g_module_symbol(handle, PLUGIN_VERSION_MAJOR_FUNCTION,    (gpointer*) &plugin_major);
-      g_module_symbol(handle, PLUGIN_VERSION_MINOR_FUNCTION,    (gpointer*) &plugin_minor);
-      g_module_symbol(handle, PLUGIN_VERSION_REVISION_FUNCTION, (gpointer*) &plugin_rev);
-      if (plugin_major != NULL && plugin_minor != NULL && plugin_rev != NULL) {
-        plugin->version.major = plugin_major();
-        plugin->version.minor = plugin_minor();
-        plugin->version.rev   = plugin_rev();
-        girara_debug("plugin '%s': version %u.%u.%u", path,
-                     plugin->version.major, plugin->version.minor,
-                     plugin->version.rev);
-      }
+      girara_debug("plugin '%s': version %u.%u.%u", path,
+                   plugin_definition->version.major, plugin_definition->version.minor,
+                   plugin_definition->version.rev);
     }
   }
   g_dir_close(dir);
@@ -289,7 +261,6 @@ register_plugin(zathura_plugin_manager_t* plugin_manager, zathura_plugin_t* plug
 {
   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");
@@ -355,11 +326,7 @@ zathura_plugin_free(zathura_plugin_t* plugin)
   if (plugin == NULL) {
     return;
   }
-
-  if (plugin->name != NULL) {
-    g_free(plugin->name);
-  }
-
+ 
   if (plugin->path != NULL) {
     g_free(plugin->path);
   }
@@ -370,18 +337,7 @@ zathura_plugin_free(zathura_plugin_t* plugin)
   g_free(plugin);
 }
 
-/* plugin-api.h */
-void
-zathura_plugin_set_register_functions_function(zathura_plugin_t* plugin, zathura_plugin_register_function_t register_function)
-{
-  if (plugin == NULL || register_function == NULL) {
-    return;
-  }
-
-  plugin->register_function = register_function;
-}
-
-void
+static void
 zathura_plugin_add_mimetype(zathura_plugin_t* plugin, const char* mime_type)
 {
   if (plugin == NULL || mime_type == NULL) {
@@ -401,19 +357,11 @@ zathura_plugin_get_functions(zathura_plugin_t* plugin)
   }
 }
 
-void
-zathura_plugin_set_name(zathura_plugin_t* plugin, const char* name)
-{
-  if (plugin != NULL && name != NULL) {
-    plugin->name = g_strdup(name);
-  }
-}
-
 const char*
 zathura_plugin_get_name(zathura_plugin_t* plugin)
 {
-  if (plugin != NULL) {
-    return plugin->name;
+  if (plugin != NULL && plugin->definition != NULL) {
+    return plugin->definition->name;
   } else {
     return NULL;
   }
@@ -432,8 +380,8 @@ zathura_plugin_get_path(zathura_plugin_t* plugin)
 zathura_plugin_version_t
 zathura_plugin_get_version(zathura_plugin_t* plugin)
 {
-  if (plugin != NULL) {
-    return plugin->version;
+  if (plugin != NULL && plugin->definition != NULL) {
+    return plugin->definition->version;
   }
 
   zathura_plugin_version_t version = { 0, 0, 0 };
diff --git a/zathura/plugin.h b/zathura/plugin.h
index 5578ee1..d69745e 100644
--- a/zathura/plugin.h
+++ b/zathura/plugin.h
@@ -11,19 +11,6 @@
 #include "version.h"
 #include "zathura.h"
 
-#define PLUGIN_REGISTER_FUNCTION         "zathura_plugin_register"
-#define PLUGIN_API_VERSION_FUNCTION      "zathura_plugin_api_version"
-#define PLUGIN_ABI_VERSION_FUNCTION      "zathura_plugin_abi_version"
-#define PLUGIN_VERSION_MAJOR_FUNCTION    "zathura_plugin_version_major"
-#define PLUGIN_VERSION_MINOR_FUNCTION    "zathura_plugin_version_minor"
-#define PLUGIN_VERSION_REVISION_FUNCTION "zathura_plugin_version_revision"
-
-typedef struct zathura_plugin_version_s {
-  unsigned int major; /**< Major */
-  unsigned int minor; /**< Minor */
-  unsigned int rev; /**< Revision */
-} zathura_plugin_version_t;
-
 /**
  * Creates a new instance of the plugin manager
  *
@@ -84,7 +71,7 @@ zathura_plugin_functions_t* zathura_plugin_get_functions(zathura_plugin_t* plugi
  * @param plugin The plugin
  * @return The name of the plugin or NULL
  */
-char* zathura_plugin_get_name(zathura_plugin_t* plugin);
+const char* zathura_plugin_get_name(zathura_plugin_t* plugin);
 
 /**
  * Returns the path to the plugin