diff --git a/commons/zenoh-config/src/lib.rs b/commons/zenoh-config/src/lib.rs
index b0857f2caf..faaf362b95 100644
--- a/commons/zenoh-config/src/lib.rs
+++ b/commons/zenoh-config/src/lib.rs
@@ -46,11 +46,12 @@ use zenoh_protocol::{
 use zenoh_result::{bail, zerror, ZResult};
 use zenoh_util::LibLoader;
 
-pub type ValidationFunction = std::sync::Arc<
+type ValidationFunction = std::sync::Arc<
     dyn Fn(
-            &str,
-            &serde_json::Map<String, serde_json::Value>,
-            &serde_json::Map<String, serde_json::Value>,
+            &str,                                        // plugin name
+            &str, // `path`, the relative path from the plugin's configuration root to the changed value.
+            &serde_json::Map<String, serde_json::Value>, // `current`, the current configuration of the plugin (from its root).
+            &serde_json::Map<String, serde_json::Value>, // `new`, the proposed new configuration of the plugin.
         ) -> ZResult<Option<serde_json::Map<String, serde_json::Value>>>
         + Send
         + Sync,
@@ -949,6 +950,7 @@ impl PluginsConfig {
         }
         let new_conf = if let Some(validator) = validator {
             match validator(
+                plugin,
                 &key[("plugins/".len() + plugin.len())..],
                 old_conf.as_object().unwrap(),
                 new_conf.as_object().unwrap(),
diff --git a/zenoh/src/net/runtime/adminspace.rs b/zenoh/src/net/runtime/adminspace.rs
index 99b48367cd..97a276ad6b 100644
--- a/zenoh/src/net/runtime/adminspace.rs
+++ b/zenoh/src/net/runtime/adminspace.rs
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 use super::routing::face::Face;
 use super::Runtime;
 use crate::key_expr::KeyExpr;
-use crate::plugins::sealed as plugins;
+use crate::plugins::sealed::{self as plugins, ValidationFunction};
 use crate::prelude::sync::{Sample, SyncResolve};
 use crate::queryable::Query;
 use crate::queryable::QueryInner;
@@ -64,6 +64,18 @@ enum PluginDiff {
     Start(crate::config::PluginLoad),
 }
 
+fn make_plugin_validator(admin: &Arc<AdminSpace>) -> ValidationFunction {
+    let admin = admin.clone();
+    Arc::new(move |name: &_, path: &_, old: &_, new: &_| {
+        let plugins_mgr = zlock!(admin.context.plugins_mgr);
+        if let Some(plugin) = plugins_mgr.plugin(name) {
+            plugin.config_checker(path, old, new)
+        } else {
+            Err(format!("Plugin {name} not found").into())
+        }
+    })
+}
+
 impl AdminSpace {
     pub async fn start(runtime: &Runtime, plugins_mgr: plugins::PluginsManager, version: String) {
         let zid_str = runtime.state.zid.to_string();
@@ -128,6 +140,11 @@ impl AdminSpace {
             context,
         });
 
+        let mut config_guard = admin.context.runtime.state.config.lock();
+        for (name, (_, plugin)) in plugins.running_plugins() {
+            config_guard.add_plugin_validator(name, make_plugin_validator(&admin))
+        }
+
         let cfg_rx = admin.context.runtime.state.config.subscribe();
         task::spawn({
             let admin = admin.clone();
@@ -196,24 +213,9 @@ impl AdminSpace {
                                                 active_plugins.insert(name.into(), path.into());
                                                 let mut cfg_guard =
                                                     admin.context.runtime.state.config.lock();
-                                                let validation_function = {
-                                                    let name = name.clone();
-                                                    let admin = admin.clone();
-                                                    Arc::new(move |path: &_, old: &_, new: &_| {
-                                                        let plugins_mgr =
-                                                            zlock!(admin.context.plugins_mgr);
-                                                        if let Some(plugin) =
-                                                            plugins_mgr.plugin(name.as_str())
-                                                        {
-                                                            plugin.config_checker(path, old, new)
-                                                        } else {
-                                                            Err("Plugin not found".into())
-                                                        }
-                                                    })
-                                                };
                                                 cfg_guard.add_plugin_validator(
                                                     name,
-                                                    validation_function,
+                                                    make_plugin_validator(&admin),
                                                 );
                                                 log::info!(
                                                     "Successfully started plugin `{}` from {}",
diff --git a/zenohd/src/main.rs b/zenohd/src/main.rs
index 5c9396e3d8..28df513a46 100644
--- a/zenohd/src/main.rs
+++ b/zenohd/src/main.rs
@@ -136,14 +136,6 @@ clap::Arg::new("adminspace-permissions").long("adminspace-permissions").value_na
         }
         log::info!("Finished loading plugins");
 
-        {
-            let mut config_guard = runtime.config().lock();
-            for (name, (_, plugin)) in plugins.running_plugins() {
-                let hook = plugin.config_checker();
-                config_guard.add_plugin_validator(name, hook)
-            }
-        }
-
         AdminSpace::start(&runtime, plugins, LONG_VERSION.clone()).await;
 
         future::pending::<()>().await;