diff --git a/skimage/io/tests/test_io.py b/skimage/io/tests/test_io.py
index 8049860a..51b9a336 100644
--- a/skimage/io/tests/test_io.py
+++ b/skimage/io/tests/test_io.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ from numpy.testing import assert_array_equal, raises, run_module_suite
 import numpy as np
 
 import skimage.io as io
+from skimage.io._plugins.plugin import plugin_store
 from skimage import data_dir
 
 
@@ -28,5 +29,13 @@ def test_imread_url():
     assert image.shape == (512, 512)
 
 
+@raises(RuntimeError)
+def test_imread_no_plugin():
+    # tweak data path so that file URI works on both unix and windows.
+    image_path = os.path.join(data_dir, 'lena.png')
+    plugin_store['imread'] = []
+    io.imread(image_path)
+
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     run_module_suite()