diff --git a/modules/programs/zplug.nix b/modules/programs/zplug.nix
index 0df395292..6cb5e98e3 100644
--- a/modules/programs/zplug.nix
+++ b/modules/programs/zplug.nix
@@ -45,11 +45,14 @@ in {
             optionalString (plugin.tags != [ ]) ''
               ${concatStrings (map (tag: ", ${tag}") plugin.tags)}
             ''
-          } 
+          }
         '') cfg.plugins)}
       ''}
 
-      zplug install
+      if ! zplug check; then
+        zplug install
+      fi
+
       zplug load
     '';
 
diff --git a/tests/modules/programs/zplug/modules.nix b/tests/modules/programs/zplug/modules.nix
index 8ebf82b86..704c5c5e2 100644
--- a/tests/modules/programs/zplug/modules.nix
+++ b/tests/modules/programs/zplug/modules.nix
@@ -38,8 +38,10 @@ with lib;
       assertFileContains home-files/.zshrc \
         'zplug "lib/clipboard", from:oh-my-zsh, if:"[[ $OSTYPE == *darwin* ]]"'
 
-      assertFileRegex home-files/.zshrc \
-        '^zplug install$'
+      assertFileContains home-files/.zshrc \
+        'if ! zplug check; then
+           zplug install
+         fi'
 
       assertFileRegex home-files/.zshrc \
         '^zplug load$'