diff --git a/garak/_plugins.py b/garak/_plugins.py
index f2400ba1d..3e9cfd705 100644
--- a/garak/_plugins.py
+++ b/garak/_plugins.py
@@ -416,8 +416,9 @@ def load_plugin(path, break_on_fail=True, config_root=_config) -> object:
                     raise ValueError(
                         f"Unknown plugin module specification: {category}.{module_name}"
                     ) from e
-                if generator_mod.DEFAULT_CLASS:
-                    plugin_class_name = generator_mod.DEFAULT_CLASS
+                default_class = getattr(generator_mod, "DEFAULT_CLASS", None)
+                if default_class:
+                    plugin_class_name = default_class
                 else:
                     raise ValueError(
                         f"module {module_name} has no default class; pass module.ClassName to target_type"
diff --git a/tests/plugins/test_plugin_load.py b/tests/plugins/test_plugin_load.py
index b8b5529c4..5dce2e708 100644
--- a/tests/plugins/test_plugin_load.py
+++ b/tests/plugins/test_plugin_load.py
@@ -146,3 +146,12 @@ def test_instantiate_generators(plugin_configuration):
         pytest.skip("required deps not present")
     assert isinstance(g, garak.generators.base.Generator)
     ensure_pickle_support(g)
+
+
+def test_load_plugin_module_without_default_class():
+    assert _plugins.load_plugin("detectors.always", break_on_fail=False) is False
+
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError) as exc_info:
+        _plugins.load_plugin("detectors.always")
+
+    assert "no default class" in str(exc_info.value.__cause__)