diff --git a/changelogs/unreleased/2350-skriss b/changelogs/unreleased/2350-skriss
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..236696a97
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/unreleased/2350-skriss
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Allow `plugins/` as a valid top-level directory within backup storage locations. This directory is a place for plugin authors to store arbitrary data as needed. It is recommended to create an additional subdirectory under `plugins/` specifically for your plugin, e.g. `plugins/my-plugin-data/`.
diff --git a/pkg/persistence/object_store_layout.go b/pkg/persistence/object_store_layout.go
index afea93a70..ebf75af19 100644
--- a/pkg/persistence/object_store_layout.go
+++ b/pkg/persistence/object_store_layout.go
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ func NewObjectStoreLayout(prefix string) *ObjectStoreLayout {
 		"restores": path.Join(prefix, "restores") + "/",
 		"restic":   path.Join(prefix, "restic") + "/",
 		"metadata": path.Join(prefix, "metadata") + "/",
+		"plugins":  path.Join(prefix, "plugins") + "/",
 	}
 
 	return &ObjectStoreLayout{
diff --git a/pkg/persistence/object_store_test.go b/pkg/persistence/object_store_test.go
index fe573b2a0..61d628c09 100644
--- a/pkg/persistence/object_store_test.go
+++ b/pkg/persistence/object_store_test.go
@@ -138,6 +138,13 @@ func TestIsValid(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 			expectErr: false,
 		},
+		{
+			name: "backup store with plugins directory is valid",
+			storageData: map[string][]byte{
+				"plugins/vsphere/foo": {},
+			},
+			expectErr: false,
+		},
 	}
 
 	for _, tc := range tests {