diff --git a/src/core/meta-context.c b/src/core/meta-context.c
index 80e6e0676..fda7e4635 100644
--- a/src/core/meta-context.c
+++ b/src/core/meta-context.c
@@ -154,6 +154,14 @@ compositor_type_to_description (MetaCompositorType compositor_type)
   g_assert_not_reached ();
 }
 
+static void
+init_introspection (MetaContext *context)
+{
+#ifdef HAVE_INTROSPECTION
+  g_irepository_prepend_search_path (MUTTER_PKGLIBDIR);
+#endif
+}
+
 static gboolean
 meta_context_real_setup (MetaContext  *context,
                          GError      **error)
@@ -186,6 +194,8 @@ meta_context_setup (MetaContext  *context,
 
   meta_plugin_manager_load (priv->plugin_name);
 
+  init_introspection (context);
+
   return META_CONTEXT_GET_CLASS (context)->setup (context, error);
 }