diff --git a/src/ejabberd_app.erl b/src/ejabberd_app.erl
index 30f34aff4..319e494c2 100644
--- a/src/ejabberd_app.erl
+++ b/src/ejabberd_app.erl
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ start(normal, _Args) ->
     ejabberd_commands:init(),
     ejabberd_admin:start(),
     gen_mod:start(),
+    ext_mod:start(),
     ejabberd_config:start(),
     set_settings_from_config(),
     acl:start(),
@@ -67,7 +68,6 @@ start(normal, _Args) ->
     %ejabberd_debug:eprof_start(),
     %ejabberd_debug:fprof_start(),
     maybe_add_nameservers(),
-    ext_mod:start(),
     ejabberd_auth:start(),
     start_modules(),
     ejabberd_listener:start_listeners(),
diff --git a/src/ejabberd_config.erl b/src/ejabberd_config.erl
index 5b97710a8..971d6dbd6 100644
--- a/src/ejabberd_config.erl
+++ b/src/ejabberd_config.erl
@@ -740,6 +740,7 @@ get_option(Opt, F, Default) ->
 
 get_modules_with_options() ->
     {ok, Mods} = application:get_key(ejabberd, modules),
+    ExtMods = [Name || {Name, _Details} <- ext_mod:installed()],
     lists:foldl(
       fun(Mod, D) ->
 	      case catch Mod:opt_type('') of
@@ -751,7 +752,7 @@ get_modules_with_options() ->
 		  {'EXIT', {undef, _}} ->
 		      D
 	      end
-      end, dict:new(), [?MODULE|Mods]).
+      end, dict:new(), [?MODULE|ExtMods++Mods]).
 
 validate_opts(#state{opts = Opts} = State) ->
     ModOpts = get_modules_with_options(),