diff --git a/plugin/plugin.go b/plugin/plugin.go
index d2231b5b..5d1c7cd8 100644
--- a/plugin/plugin.go
+++ b/plugin/plugin.go
@@ -547,6 +547,16 @@ func (m *manager) start() error {
 				return errors.Wrapf(err, "start %s syncer", v.Name())
 			}
 		}
+
+		// controller starter?
+		controllerStarter, ok := v.(syncer.ControllerStarter)
+		if ok {
+			log.Infof("Start controller %s", v.Name())
+			err = controllerStarter.Register(m.context)
+			if err != nil {
+				return errors.Wrapf(err, "start %s controller", v.Name())
+			}
+		}
 	}
 
 	log.Infof("Successfully started plugin.")
diff --git a/syncer/types.go b/syncer/types.go
index ed273dfa..f36a67c1 100644
--- a/syncer/types.go
+++ b/syncer/types.go
@@ -130,3 +130,9 @@ type IndicesRegisterer interface {
 type ControllerModifier interface {
 	ModifyController(ctx *context.RegisterContext, builder *builder.Builder) (*builder.Builder, error)
 }
+
+// ControllerStarter is a generic controller that can be used if the syncer abstraction does not fit
+// the use case
+type ControllerStarter interface {
+	Register(ctx *context.RegisterContext) error
+}