diff --git a/application.cpp b/application.cpp
index 04771c561..4b493aaaf 100644
--- a/application.cpp
+++ b/application.cpp
@@ -57,8 +57,13 @@ bfs::path application::get_logging_conf() const {
 }
 
 void application::startup() {
-   for (auto plugin : initialized_plugins)
-      plugin->startup();
+   try {
+      for (auto plugin : initialized_plugins)
+         plugin->startup();
+   } catch(...) {
+      shutdown();
+      throw;
+   }
 }
 
 application& application::instance() {