diff --git a/build b/build
index 6da83c33..16fb5d7f 100755
--- a/build
+++ b/build
@@ -1,12 +1,16 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
-mkdir -p bin/plugins
-rm bin/plugins/* 2>/dev/null
-
 #
 # aborting if any command returns a non-zero value
 set -e
 
+#
+# do not build plugins when passing "core" as first argument
+if [ "$1" = "core" ];
+then
+    skip_plugins="true"
+fi
+
 #
 # set git build variables if git exists
 if git version > /dev/null && [ -z $GIT_COMMIT ] && [ -z $GIT_COMMIT ];
@@ -31,6 +35,14 @@ go build \
     " \
     cmd/neko/main.go;
 
+#
+# if plugins are ignored
+if [ "$skip_plugins" = "true" ];
+then
+    echo "Not building plugins..."
+    exit 0
+fi
+
 #
 # if plugins directory does not exist
 if [ ! -d "./plugins" ];
@@ -39,6 +51,11 @@ then
     exit 0
 fi
 
+#
+# ensure plugins folder exits and remove old plugins
+mkdir -p bin/plugins
+rm -f bin/plugins/*
+
 #
 # build plugins
 for plugPath in ./plugins/*; do