diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index b61a1a26..08c737cc 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ AC_ARG_ENABLE(quiet,
         AS_HELP_STRING([--disable-quiet], [Disable quiet mode, default: silent after boot]))
 
 # Check for extra plugins to enable
+enable_all_plugins=auto
 AC_PLUGIN([alsa-utils], [no],  [Save and restore ALSA sound settings using alsactl])
 AC_PLUGIN([dbus],       [no],  [Setup and start system message bus, D-Bus])
 AC_PLUGIN([inetd-echo], [no],  [Inetd plugin: echo server, RFC862])
@@ -60,6 +61,7 @@ AC_PLUGIN([inetd-time], [no],  [Inetd plugin: time (rdate) server, RFC868])
 AC_PLUGIN([lost],       [no],  [Example HOOK_SVC_LOST plugin, very noisy as-is!])
 AC_PLUGIN([resolvconf], [no],  [Setup necessary files for resolvconf])
 AC_PLUGIN([x11-common], [no],  [Console setup (for X)])
+AC_PLUGIN([netlink],    [yes], [Basic netlink plugin for IFUP/IFDN and GW events. Can be replaced with externally built plugin that links with libnl or similar.])
 
 # Check for extra arguments or packages
 AC_ARG_WITH(fifo,
diff --git a/plugins/Makefile.am b/plugins/Makefile.am
index ad620c55..7a9940e5 100644
--- a/plugins/Makefile.am
+++ b/plugins/Makefile.am
@@ -5,8 +5,7 @@ AM_CPPFLAGS        += -DFINIT_FIFO=\"$(fifo)\" $(lite_CFLAGS)
 
 if STATIC
 noinst_LTLIBRARIES  = libplug.la
-libplug_la_SOURCES  = bootmisc.c hwclock.c initctl.c netlink.c pidfile.c	\
-		      tty.c urandom.c
+libplug_la_SOURCES  = bootmisc.c hwclock.c initctl.c pidfile.c tty.c urandom.c
 
 if BUILD_ALSA_UTILS_PLUGIN
 libplug_la_SOURCES += alsa-utils.c
@@ -28,13 +27,16 @@ if BUILD_LOST_PLUGIN
 libplug_la_SOURCES += lost.c
 endif
 
+if BUILD_NETLINK_PLUGIN
+libplug_la_SOURCES += netlink.c
+endif
+
 if BUILD_RESOLVCONF_PLUGIN
 libplug_la_SOURCES += resolvconf.c
 endif
 
 else
-pkglib_LTLIBRARIES  = bootmisc.la hwclock.la initctl.la netlink.la pidfile.la	\
-		      tty.la urandom.la
+pkglib_LTLIBRARIES  = bootmisc.la hwclock.la initctl.la pidfile.la tty.la urandom.la
 
 if BUILD_ALSA_UTILS_PLUGIN
 pkglib_LTLIBRARIES += alsa-utils.la
@@ -56,6 +58,10 @@ if BUILD_LOST_PLUGIN
 pkglib_LTLIBRARIES += lost.la
 endif
 
+if BUILD_NETLINK_PLUGIN
+pkglib_LTLIBRARIES += netlink.la
+endif
+
 if BUILD_RESOLVCONF_PLUGIN
 pkglib_LTLIBRARIES += resolvconf.la
 endif