diff --git a/plugins/python/python_plugin_approval.c b/plugins/python/python_plugin_approval.c
index 55f197fb5..7451f03bc 100644
--- a/plugins/python/python_plugin_approval.c
+++ b/plugins/python/python_plugin_approval.c
@@ -38,12 +38,6 @@ struct ApprovalPluginContext
 // This also verifies compile time that the name matches the sudo plugin API.
 #define CALLBACK_PYNAME(func_name) ((void)CALLBACK_PLUGINFUNC(func_name), #func_name)
 
-#define MARK_CALLBACK_OPTIONAL(function_name) \
-    do { \
-        python_plugin_mark_callback_optional(plugin_ctx, CALLBACK_PYNAME(function_name), \
-            (void **)&CALLBACK_PLUGINFUNC(function_name)); \
-    } while(0)
-
 
 static int
 python_plugin_approval_open(struct ApprovalPluginContext *approval_ctx,
@@ -93,9 +87,6 @@ python_plugin_approval_open(struct ApprovalPluginContext *approval_ctx,
         debug_return_int(rc);
     }
 
-    // skip plugin callbacks which are not mandatory
-    MARK_CALLBACK_OPTIONAL(show_version);
-
     debug_return_int(rc);
 }
 
diff --git a/plugins/python/python_plugin_common.c b/plugins/python/python_plugin_common.c
index 1225d5fb9..ee573a803 100644
--- a/plugins/python/python_plugin_common.c
+++ b/plugins/python/python_plugin_common.c
@@ -531,8 +531,13 @@ python_plugin_show_version(struct PluginContext *plugin_ctx, const char *python_
 {
     debug_decl(python_plugin_show_version, PYTHON_DEBUG_CALLBACKS);
 
-    debug_return_int(python_plugin_api_rc_call(plugin_ctx, python_callback_name,
-                                               Py_BuildValue("(i)", is_verbose)));
+    int rc = SUDO_RC_OK;
+    if (PyObject_HasAttrString(plugin_ctx->py_instance, python_callback_name)) {
+        rc = python_plugin_api_rc_call(plugin_ctx, python_callback_name,
+                                       Py_BuildValue("(i)", is_verbose));
+    }
+
+    debug_return_int(rc);
 }
 
 void