diff --git a/lib/inspec/control_eval_context.rb b/lib/inspec/control_eval_context.rb
index 51a0ecbbc..dc2b994fc 100644
--- a/lib/inspec/control_eval_context.rb
+++ b/lib/inspec/control_eval_context.rb
@@ -40,7 +40,8 @@ module Inspec
           if hook
             # OK, load the hook if it hasn't been already.  We'll then know a module,
             # which we can then inject into the context
-            registry.activate(:control_dsl, method_name) unless hook.activated?
+            hook.activate
+
             # Inject the module's methods into the context.
             # implementation_class is the field name, but this is actually a module.
             self.class.include(hook.implementation_class)
diff --git a/lib/inspec/dsl.rb b/lib/inspec/dsl.rb
index 6a07c6f9e..4c59054d0 100644
--- a/lib/inspec/dsl.rb
+++ b/lib/inspec/dsl.rb
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ module Inspec::DSL
     if hook
       # OK, load the hook if it hasn't been already.  We'll then know a module,
       # which we can then inject into the context
-      registry.activate(:outer_profile_dsl, method_name) unless hook.activated?
+      hook.activate
       # Inject the module's methods into the context
       # implementation_class is the field name, but this is actually a module.
       self.class.include(hook.implementation_class)
diff --git a/lib/inspec/plugin/v1/plugin_types/resource.rb b/lib/inspec/plugin/v1/plugin_types/resource.rb
index f2520a96e..24002443e 100644
--- a/lib/inspec/plugin/v1/plugin_types/resource.rb
+++ b/lib/inspec/plugin/v1/plugin_types/resource.rb
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ module Inspec
       if hook
         # OK, load the hook if it hasn't been already.  We'll then know a module,
         # which we can then inject into the resource
-        registry.activate(:resource_dsl, method_name) unless hook.activated?
+        hook.activate
         # Inject the module's methods into the resource as class methods.
         # implementation_class is the field name, but this is actually a module.
         extend(hook.implementation_class)
diff --git a/lib/inspec/plugin/v2/activator.rb b/lib/inspec/plugin/v2/activator.rb
index cdc380dc2..129fda716 100644
--- a/lib/inspec/plugin/v2/activator.rb
+++ b/lib/inspec/plugin/v2/activator.rb
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ module Inspec::Plugin::V2
     :plugin_name,
     :plugin_type,
     :activator_name,
-    :'activated?',
+    :activated?,
     :exception,
     :activation_proc,
     :implementation_class,
@@ -14,8 +14,29 @@ module Inspec::Plugin::V2
     end
 
     def activated?(new_value = nil)
-      return self[:'activated?'] if new_value.nil?
-      self[:'activated?'] = new_value
+      return self[:activated?] if new_value.nil?
+      self[:activated?] = new_value
+    end
+
+    # Load a plugin, but if an error is encountered, store it and continue
+    def activate
+      return if activated?
+      # rubocop: disable Lint/RescueException
+      begin
+        impl_class = self[:activation_proc].call
+        self[:activated?] = true
+        self[:implementation_class] = impl_class
+      rescue Exception => ex
+        self[:exception] = ex
+        Inspec::Log.error "Could not activate #{self[:plugin_type]} hook named '#{self[:activator_name]}' for plugin #{self[:plugin_name]}"
+      end
+      # rubocop: enable Lint/RescueException
+    end
+
+    # Load a plugin, but if an error is encountered, re-throw it
+    def activate!
+      activate
+      raise exception if exception
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/inspec/plugin/v2/loader.rb b/lib/inspec/plugin/v2/loader.rb
index 334727c7b..4008e4ddf 100644
--- a/lib/inspec/plugin/v2/loader.rb
+++ b/lib/inspec/plugin/v2/loader.rb
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ module Inspec::Plugin::V2
 
         # OK, activate.
         if activate_me
-          registry.activate(:cli_command, act.activator_name)
+          act.activate
           act.implementation_class.register_with_thor
         end
       end
diff --git a/lib/inspec/plugin/v2/registry.rb b/lib/inspec/plugin/v2/registry.rb
index f9fd30a60..a52097eba 100644
--- a/lib/inspec/plugin/v2/registry.rb
+++ b/lib/inspec/plugin/v2/registry.rb
@@ -67,19 +67,15 @@ module Inspec::Plugin::V2
       end
     end
 
-    def activate(plugin_type, hook_name)
-      activator = find_activators(plugin_type: plugin_type, activator_name: hook_name).first
-      # We want to capture literally any possible exception here, since we are storing them.
-      # rubocop: disable Lint/RescueException
-      begin
-        impl_class = activator.activation_proc.call
-        activator.activated?(true)
-        activator.implementation_class = impl_class
-      rescue Exception => ex
-        activator.exception = ex
-        Inspec::Log.error "Could not activate #{activator.plugin_type} hook named '#{activator.activator_name}' for plugin #{plugin_name}"
+    # Convenience method for when you expect exactly one
+    def find_activator(filters = {})
+      matched_plugins = find_activators(filters)
+      if matched_plugins.count > 1
+        raise Inspec::Plugin::V2::LoadError, "Plugin hooks search returned multiple results for filter #{filters.inspect} - use more filters, or use find_activators (plural)"
+      elsif matched_plugins.empty?
+        raise Inspec::Plugin::V2::LoadError, "Plugin hooks search returned zero results for filter #{filters.inspect}"
       end
-      # rubocop: enable Lint/RescueException
+      matched_plugins.first
     end
 
     def register(name, status)
diff --git a/lib/inspec/rspec_extensions.rb b/lib/inspec/rspec_extensions.rb
index 2f66ebc56..7977280f9 100644
--- a/lib/inspec/rspec_extensions.rb
+++ b/lib/inspec/rspec_extensions.rb
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ module Inspec
       if hook
         # OK, load the hook if it hasn't been already.  We'll then know a module,
         # which we can then inject into the context
-        registry.activate(:describe_dsl, method_name) unless hook.activated?
+        hook.activate
 
         # Inject the module's methods into the example group contexts.
         # implementation_class is the field name, but this is actually a module.
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ module Inspec
       if hook
         # OK, load the hook if it hasn't been already.  We'll then know a module,
         # which we can then inject into the context
-        registry.activate(:test_dsl, method_name) unless hook.activated?
+        hook.activate
 
         # Inject the module's methods into the example group contexts.
         # implementation_class is the field name, but this is actually a module.
diff --git a/test/unit/plugin/v2/loader_test.rb b/test/unit/plugin/v2/loader_test.rb
index 84a30757d..17ae1fece 100644
--- a/test/unit/plugin/v2/loader_test.rb
+++ b/test/unit/plugin/v2/loader_test.rb
@@ -187,7 +187,6 @@ class PluginLoaderTests < MiniTest::Test
     # Management methods for activation
     assert_respond_to status, :activators, 'A plugin status should respond to `activators`'
     assert_respond_to registry, :find_activators, 'Registry should respond to `find_activators`'
-    assert_respond_to registry, :activate, 'Registry should respond to `activate`'
 
     # Finding an Activator
     assert_kind_of Array, status.activators, 'status should have an array for activators'
@@ -205,7 +204,7 @@ class PluginLoaderTests < MiniTest::Test
     assert_nil activator.implementation_class, 'Test activator should not know implementation class prior to activation'
     refute InspecPlugins::MeaningOfLife.const_defined?(:MockPlugin), 'impl_class should not be defined prior to activation'
 
-    registry.activate(:mock_plugin_type, :'meaning-of-life-the-universe-and-everything')
+    activator.activate
 
     # Activation postconditions
     assert activator.activated?, 'Test activator should be activated after activate'