diff --git a/scikits/image/io/__init__.py b/scikits/image/io/__init__.py
index 96700a12..b8db58cb 100644
--- a/scikits/image/io/__init__.py
+++ b/scikits/image/io/__init__.py
@@ -4,13 +4,12 @@ The following plug-ins are available:
 
 """
 
-from _plugins import load as load_plugin
 from _plugins import use as use_plugin
 from _plugins import available as plugins
 from _plugins import info as plugin_info
 
 # Add this plugin so that we can read images by default
-load_plugin('pil')
+use_plugin('pil')
 
 from sift import *
 from collection import *
diff --git a/scikits/image/io/_plugins/plugin.py b/scikits/image/io/_plugins/plugin.py
index bb5168e6..a5ca599f 100644
--- a/scikits/image/io/_plugins/plugin.py
+++ b/scikits/image/io/_plugins/plugin.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 """
 
-__all__ = ['use', 'load', 'available', 'call', 'info']
+__all__ = ['use', 'available', 'call', 'info']
 
 import warnings
 from ConfigParser import ConfigParser
@@ -87,7 +87,8 @@ command.  A list of all available plugins can be found using
     return func(*args, **kwargs)
 
 def use(name, kind=None):
-    """Set the default plugin for a specified operation.
+    """Set the default plugin for a specified operation.  The plugin
+    will be loaded if it hasn't been already.
 
     Parameters
     ----------
@@ -97,10 +98,14 @@ def use(name, kind=None):
         Set the plugin for this function.  By default,
         the plugin is set for all functions.
 
+    See Also
+    --------
+    plugins : List of available plugins
+
     Examples
     --------
 
-    Use Python Imaging Library to read images:
+    Use the Python Imaging Library to read images:
 
     >>> from scikits.image.io import plugin
     >>> plugin.use('PIL', 'read')
@@ -109,13 +114,13 @@ def use(name, kind=None):
     if kind is None:
         kind = plugin_store.keys()
     else:
-        kind = [kind]
         if not kind in plugin_provides[name]:
             raise RuntimeError("Plugin %s does not support `%s`." % \
                                (name, kind))
+        kind = [kind]
 
     if not name in available(loaded=True):
-        raise RuntimeError("No plugin '%s' has been loaded." % name)
+        _load(name)
 
     for k in kind:
         if not k in plugin_store:
@@ -153,7 +158,7 @@ def available(loaded=False):
 
     return d
 
-def load(plugin):
+def _load(plugin):
     """Load the given plugin.
 
     Parameters
diff --git a/scikits/image/io/tests/test_plugin.py b/scikits/image/io/tests/test_plugin.py
index 3ed62869..d4ee9db8 100644
--- a/scikits/image/io/tests/test_plugin.py
+++ b/scikits/image/io/tests/test_plugin.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ from copy import deepcopy
 
 def setup_module(self):
     self.backup_plugin_store = deepcopy(plugin.plugin_store)
-    plugin.load('test')
+    plugin.use('test')
 
 def teardown_module(self):
     plugin.plugin_store = self.backup_plugin_store
@@ -25,8 +25,9 @@ class TestPlugin:
 
     def test_use(self):
         plugin.use('test')
+        plugin.use('test', 'imshow')
 
-    @raises(RuntimeError)
+    @raises(ValueError)
     def test_failed_use(self):
         plugin.use('asd')