diff --git a/packages/docusaurus/src/server/plugins/init.ts b/packages/docusaurus/src/server/plugins/init.ts
index de8d098fd8..5d1d607ffe 100644
--- a/packages/docusaurus/src/server/plugins/init.ts
+++ b/packages/docusaurus/src/server/plugins/init.ts
@@ -6,8 +6,10 @@
  */
 
 import Module from 'module';
+import {join} from 'path';
 import importFresh from 'import-fresh';
 import {LoadContext, Plugin, PluginConfig} from '@docusaurus/types';
+import {CONFIG_FILE_NAME} from '../../constants';
 
 export function initPlugins({
   pluginConfigs,
@@ -21,7 +23,7 @@ export function initPlugins({
   // We need to fallback to createRequireFromPath since createRequire is only available in node v12.
   // See: https://nodejs.org/api/modules.html#modules_module_createrequire_filename
   const createRequire = Module.createRequire || Module.createRequireFromPath;
-  const pluginRequire = createRequire(context.siteDir);
+  const pluginRequire = createRequire(join(context.siteDir, CONFIG_FILE_NAME));
 
   const plugins: Plugin<any>[] = pluginConfigs
     .map((pluginItem) => {