diff --git a/skimage/io/_plugins/plugin.py b/skimage/io/_plugins/plugin.py
index ec8ed7c9..2ff2f938 100644
--- a/skimage/io/_plugins/plugin.py
+++ b/skimage/io/_plugins/plugin.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ except ImportError:
 
 import os.path
 from glob import glob
+from skimage.io.inherited_config import InheritedConfig
 
 
 __all__ = ['use_plugin', 'call_plugin', 'plugin_info', 'plugin_order',
@@ -29,11 +30,11 @@ def _clear_plugins():
 
     """
     global plugin_store
-    plugin_store = {'imread': [],
-                    'imsave': [],
-                    'imshow': [],
-                    'imread_collection': [],
-                    '_app_show': []}
+    plugin_store = InheritedConfig({'imread': [],
+                                    'imsave': [],
+                                    'imshow': [],
+                                    'imread_collection': [],
+                                    '_app_show': []})
 _clear_plugins()