diff --git a/scikits/image/io/_plugins/__init__.py b/scikits/image/io/_plugins/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..309c2665
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scikits/image/io/_plugins/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+from plugin import *
diff --git a/scikits/image/io/matplotlib_plugin.py b/scikits/image/io/_plugins/matplotlib_plugin.py
similarity index 100%
rename from scikits/image/io/matplotlib_plugin.py
rename to scikits/image/io/_plugins/matplotlib_plugin.py
diff --git a/scikits/image/io/pil_plugin.py b/scikits/image/io/_plugins/pil_plugin.py
similarity index 100%
rename from scikits/image/io/pil_plugin.py
rename to scikits/image/io/_plugins/pil_plugin.py
diff --git a/scikits/image/io/plugin.py b/scikits/image/io/_plugins/plugin.py
similarity index 100%
rename from scikits/image/io/plugin.py
rename to scikits/image/io/_plugins/plugin.py
diff --git a/scikits/image/io/qt_plugin.py b/scikits/image/io/_plugins/qt_plugin.py
similarity index 100%
rename from scikits/image/io/qt_plugin.py
rename to scikits/image/io/_plugins/qt_plugin.py
diff --git a/scikits/image/io/_plugins/test_plugin.py b/scikits/image/io/_plugins/test_plugin.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..bd160829
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scikits/image/io/_plugins/test_plugin.py
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+import plugin
+
+def save(fname, arr):
+    return fname, arr
+
+plugin.register('test', save=save)
diff --git a/scikits/image/io/_plugin_util.py b/scikits/image/io/_plugins/util.py
similarity index 100%
rename from scikits/image/io/_plugin_util.py
rename to scikits/image/io/_plugins/util.py
diff --git a/scikits/image/io/wxpython_plugin.py b/scikits/image/io/_plugins/wx_plugin.py
similarity index 100%
rename from scikits/image/io/wxpython_plugin.py
rename to scikits/image/io/_plugins/wx_plugin.py