diff --git a/tljh/jupyterhub_config.py b/tljh/jupyterhub_config.py
index 51455dc..38fbaa9 100644
--- a/tljh/jupyterhub_config.py
+++ b/tljh/jupyterhub_config.py
@@ -4,13 +4,12 @@ JupyterHub config for the littlest jupyterhub.
 
 from glob import glob
 import os
-import pluggy
 
 from systemdspawner import SystemdSpawner
-from tljh import configurer, user, hooks
+from tljh import configurer, user
 from tljh.config import INSTALL_PREFIX, USER_ENV_PREFIX, CONFIG_DIR
 from tljh.normalize import generate_system_username
-from tljh.yaml import yaml
+from tljh.utils import get_plugin_manager
 from jupyterhub_traefik_proxy import TraefikTomlProxy
 
 from traitlets import Dict, Unicode, List
@@ -68,11 +67,8 @@ configurer.apply_config(tljh_config, c)
 
 # Let TLJH hooks modify `c` if they want
 
-# Set up plugin infrastructure
-pm = pluggy.PluginManager('tljh')
-pm.add_hookspecs(hooks)
-pm.load_setuptools_entrypoints('tljh')
 # Call our custom configuration plugin
+pm = get_plugin_manager()
 pm.hook.tljh_custom_jupyterhub_config(c=c)
 
 # Load arbitrary .py config files if they exist.
diff --git a/tljh/user.py b/tljh/user.py
index c0ef336..6ced6bd 100644
--- a/tljh/user.py
+++ b/tljh/user.py
@@ -8,14 +8,8 @@ import pwd
 import subprocess
 from os.path import expanduser
 
-import pluggy
-
-from tljh import hooks
-
 # Set up plugin infrastructure
-pm = pluggy.PluginManager('tljh')
-pm.add_hookspecs(hooks)
-pm.load_setuptools_entrypoints('tljh')
+from tljh.utils import get_plugin_manager
 
 
 def ensure_user(username):
@@ -31,6 +25,8 @@ def ensure_user(username):
         # User doesn't exist, time to create!
         pass
 
+    pm = get_plugin_manager()
+
     subprocess.check_call([
         'useradd',
         '--create-home',
diff --git a/tljh/utils.py b/tljh/utils.py
index 395d395..460b24d 100644
--- a/tljh/utils.py
+++ b/tljh/utils.py
@@ -1,11 +1,15 @@
 """
-Miscelaneous functions useful in at least two places unrelated to each other
+Miscellaneous functions useful in at least two places unrelated to each other
 """
-import subprocess
 import logging
-
+import subprocess
 
 # Copied into bootstrap/bootstrap.py. Make sure these two copies are exactly the same!
+import pluggy
+
+from tljh import hooks
+
+
 def run_subprocess(cmd, *args, **kwargs):
     """
     Run given cmd with smart output behavior.
@@ -33,4 +37,16 @@ def run_subprocess(cmd, *args, **kwargs):
         ))
         # This produces multi line log output, unfortunately. Not sure how to fix.
         # For now, prioritizing human readability over machine readability.
-        logger.debug(proc.stdout.decode())
\ No newline at end of file
+        logger.debug(proc.stdout.decode())
+
+
+def get_plugin_manager():
+    """
+    Return plugin manager instance
+    """
+    # Set up plugin infrastructure
+    pm = pluggy.PluginManager('tljh')
+    pm.add_hookspecs(hooks)
+    pm.load_setuptools_entrypoints('tljh')
+
+    return pm