diff --git a/command/server.go b/command/server.go
index b1cc61d8e..705aa3a32 100644
--- a/command/server.go
+++ b/command/server.go
@@ -967,7 +967,7 @@ CLUSTER_SYNTHESIS_COMPLETE:
 			return 1
 		}
 
-		var plugins []string
+		var plugins, pluginsNotLoaded []string
 		if c.flagDevPluginDir != "" && c.flagDevPluginInit {
 
 			f, err := os.Open(c.flagDevPluginDir)
@@ -986,8 +986,12 @@ CLUSTER_SYNTHESIS_COMPLETE:
 			for _, name := range list {
 				path := filepath.Join(f.Name(), name)
 				if err := c.addPlugin(path, init.RootToken, core); err != nil {
-					c.UI.Error(fmt.Sprintf("Error enabling plugin %s: %s", name, err))
-					return 1
+					if !errwrap.Contains(err, vault.ErrPluginBadType.Error()) {
+						c.UI.Error(fmt.Sprintf("Error enabling plugin %s: %s", name, err))
+						return 1
+					}
+					pluginsNotLoaded = append(pluginsNotLoaded, name)
+					continue
 				}
 				plugins = append(plugins, name)
 			}
@@ -1044,6 +1048,15 @@ CLUSTER_SYNTHESIS_COMPLETE:
 			}
 		}
 
+		if len(pluginsNotLoaded) > 0 {
+			c.UI.Warn("")
+			c.UI.Warn(wrapAtLength(
+				"The following dev plugins FAILED to be registered in the catalog due to unknown type:"))
+			for _, p := range pluginsNotLoaded {
+				c.UI.Warn(fmt.Sprintf("    - %s", p))
+			}
+		}
+
 		c.UI.Warn("")
 		c.UI.Warn(wrapAtLength(
 			"Development mode should NOT be used in production installations!"))
diff --git a/vault/plugin_catalog.go b/vault/plugin_catalog.go
index ad5fc2b4d..b81b024aa 100644
--- a/vault/plugin_catalog.go
+++ b/vault/plugin_catalog.go
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ var (
 	pluginCatalogPath         = "core/plugin-catalog/"
 	ErrDirectoryNotConfigured = errors.New("could not set plugin, plugin directory is not configured")
 	ErrPluginNotFound         = errors.New("plugin not found in the catalog")
+	ErrPluginBadType          = errors.New("unable to determine plugin type")
 )
 
 // PluginCatalog keeps a record of plugins known to vault. External plugins need
@@ -270,7 +271,7 @@ func (c *PluginCatalog) setInternal(ctx context.Context, name string, pluginType
 
 		pluginType, err = c.getPluginTypeFromUnknown(ctx, entryTmp)
 		if err != nil || pluginType == consts.PluginTypeUnknown {
-			return errors.New("unable to determine plugin type")
+			return ErrPluginBadType
 		}
 	}