diff --git a/plugins/Makefile b/plugins/Makefile
index ae07729..c066e10 100644
--- a/plugins/Makefile
+++ b/plugins/Makefile
@@ -22,6 +22,12 @@ include ../dpf/Makefile.base.mk
 
 PLUGIN_FILES = plugins.cpp
 
+# --------------------------------------------------------------
+# Cardinal (built-in)
+
+PLUGIN_FILES += $(wildcard Cardinal/src/*.cpp)
+
+ifeq ($(NOPLUGINS),true)
 # --------------------------------------------------------------
 # AmalgamatedHarmonics
 
@@ -176,11 +182,6 @@ PLUGIN_FILES += $(wildcard BogaudioModules/src/dsp/filters/*.cpp)
 BOGAUDIO_CUSTOM = ADSR BlueNoiseGenerator LFO Noise VCA VCO VCF
 BOGAUDIO_CUSTOM_PER_FILE = ARQuantity AttackMenuItem ReleaseMenuItem
 
-# --------------------------------------------------------------
-# Cardinal (built-in)
-
-PLUGIN_FILES += $(wildcard Cardinal/src/*.cpp)
-
 # --------------------------------------------------------------
 # cf
 
@@ -241,6 +242,10 @@ PLUGIN_FILES += $(filter-out rackwindows/src/plugin.cpp,$(wildcard rackwindows/s
 
 PLUGIN_FILES += $(filter-out ZetaCarinaeModules/src/plugin.cpp,$(wildcard ZetaCarinaeModules/src/*.cpp))
 
+# --------------------------------------------------------------
+
+endif # NOPLUGINS
+
 # --------------------------------------------------------------
 # Build setup
 
@@ -290,6 +295,10 @@ ifeq ($(HEADLESS),true)
 BASE_FLAGS += -DHEADLESS
 endif
 
+ifeq ($(NOPLUGINS),true)
+BASE_FLAGS += -DNOPLUGINS
+endif
+
 ifeq ($(WITH_LTO),true)
 BASE_FLAGS += -fno-strict-aliasing -flto
 endif
@@ -316,7 +325,12 @@ clean:
 
 # --------------------------------------------------------------
 
-PLUGIN_LIST       = $(subst /plugin.json,,$(wildcard */plugin.json))
+ifeq ($(NOPLUGINS),true)
+PLUGIN_LIST = Cardinal
+else
+PLUGIN_LIST = $(subst /plugin.json,,$(wildcard */plugin.json))
+endif
+
 PLUGIN_RESOURCES  = ../bin/Cardinal.lv2/resources/PluginManifests/Core.json
 PLUGIN_RESOURCES += $(PLUGIN_LIST:%=../bin/Cardinal.lv2/resources/%)
 PLUGIN_RESOURCES += $(PLUGIN_LIST:%=../bin/Cardinal.lv2/resources/PluginManifests/%.json)
diff --git a/plugins/plugins.cpp b/plugins/plugins.cpp
index 53554c3..116f54f 100644
--- a/plugins/plugins.cpp
+++ b/plugins/plugins.cpp
@@ -19,6 +19,10 @@
 
 #include "DistrhoUtils.hpp"
 
+// Cardinal (built-in)
+#include "Cardinal/src/plugin.hpp"
+
+#ifndef NOPLUGINS
 // AmalgamatedHarmonics
 #include "AmalgamatedHarmonics/src/AH.hpp"
 
@@ -163,9 +167,6 @@
 #undef modelVCF
 #undef modelVCO
 
-// Cardinal (built-in)
-#include "Cardinal/src/plugin.hpp"
-
 // cf
 #include "cf/src/plugin.hpp"
 
@@ -227,6 +228,8 @@ extern Model *modelBlankPanel;
 // ZetaCarinaeModules
 #include "ZetaCarinaeModules/src/plugin.hpp"
 
+#endif // NOPLUGINS
+
 // stuff that reads config files, we dont want that
 int loadConsoleType() { return 0; }
 int loadDirectOutMode() { return 0; }
@@ -238,6 +241,8 @@ void saveDirectOutMode(bool) {}
 void saveHighQualityAsDefault(bool) {}
 
 // plugin instances
+Plugin* pluginInstance__Cardinal;
+#ifndef NOPLUGINS
 Plugin* pluginInstance__AmalgamatedHarmonics;
 Plugin* pluginInstance__AnimatedCircuits;
 Plugin* pluginInstance__AS;
@@ -245,7 +250,6 @@ Plugin* pluginInstance__AudibleInstruments;
 Plugin* pluginInstance__Befaco;
 Plugin* pluginInstance__Bidoo;
 Plugin* pluginInstance__BogaudioModules;
-Plugin* pluginInstance__Cardinal;
 Plugin* pluginInstance__cf;
 Plugin* pluginInstance__ESeries;
 Plugin* pluginInstance__Fundamental;
@@ -255,6 +259,7 @@ Plugin* pluginInstance__JW;
 Plugin* pluginInstance__rackwindows;
 Plugin* pluginInstance__ValleyAudio;
 Plugin* pluginInstance__ZetaCarinaeModules;
+#endif // NOPLUGINS
 
 namespace rack {
 
@@ -360,6 +365,20 @@ static void initStatic__Core()
     }
 }
 
+static void initStatic__Cardinal()
+{
+    Plugin* const p = new Plugin;
+    pluginInstance__Cardinal = p;
+
+    const StaticPluginLoader spl(p, "Cardinal");
+    if (spl.ok())
+    {
+        p->addModel(modelHostParameters);
+        p->addModel(modelHostTime);
+    }
+}
+
+#ifndef NOPLUGINS
 static void initStatic__AmalgamatedHarmonics()
 {
     Plugin* const p = new Plugin;
@@ -744,19 +763,6 @@ static void initStatic__BogaudioModules()
     }
 }
 
-static void initStatic__Cardinal()
-{
-    Plugin* const p = new Plugin;
-    pluginInstance__Cardinal = p;
-
-    const StaticPluginLoader spl(p, "Cardinal");
-    if (spl.ok())
-    {
-        p->addModel(modelHostParameters);
-        p->addModel(modelHostTime);
-    }
-}
-
 static void initStatic__cf()
 {
     Plugin* const p = new Plugin;
@@ -1018,10 +1024,13 @@ static void initStatic__ZetaCarinaeModules()
         p->addModel(modelFirefly);
     }
 }
+#endif // NOPLUGINS
 
 void initStaticPlugins()
 {
     initStatic__Core();
+    initStatic__Cardinal();
+#ifndef NOPLUGINS
     initStatic__AmalgamatedHarmonics();
     initStatic__AnimatedCircuits();
     initStatic__AS();
@@ -1029,7 +1038,6 @@ void initStaticPlugins()
     initStatic__Befaco();
     initStatic__Bidoo();
     initStatic__BogaudioModules();
-    initStatic__Cardinal();
     initStatic__cf();
     initStatic__ESeries();
     initStatic__Fundamental();
@@ -1041,6 +1049,7 @@ void initStaticPlugins()
     initStatic__ValleyAudio();
     */
     initStatic__ZetaCarinaeModules();
+#endif // NOPLUGINS
 }
 
 void destroyStaticPlugins()