diff --git a/pkgs/development/tools/gauge/wrapper.nix b/pkgs/development/tools/gauge/wrapper.nix
index 12e2923ada05..67b1a8ddc52b 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/tools/gauge/wrapper.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/tools/gauge/wrapper.nix
@@ -45,7 +45,15 @@ stdenvNoCC.mkDerivation {
 
   nativeBuildInputs = [ gauge-unwrapped makeWrapper xorg.lndir ];
 
-  passthru.withPlugins = f: gauge.override { plugins = f gaugePlugins; };
+  passthru = {
+    withPlugins = f: gauge.override { plugins = f gaugePlugins; };
+    fromManifest = path:
+      let
+        manifest = lib.importJSON path;
+        requiredPlugins = with manifest; [ Language ] ++ Plugins;
+        manifestPlugins = plugins: map (name: plugins.${name} or (throw "Gauge plugin ${name} is not available!")) requiredPlugins;
+      in gauge.withPlugins manifestPlugins;
+  };
 
   inherit (gauge-unwrapped) meta;
 }