patch 7.4.2164
Problem:    It is not possible to use plugins in an "after" directory to tune
            the behavior of a package.
Solution:   First load plugins from non-after directories, then packages and
            finally plugins in after directories.
            Reset 'loadplugins' before executing --cmd arguments.
diff --git a/src/ex_cmds2.c b/src/ex_cmds2.c
index 2cebbeb..0e332dd 100644
--- a/src/ex_cmds2.c
+++ b/src/ex_cmds2.c
@@ -3240,15 +3240,30 @@
 	rtp = rtp_copy;
 	while (*rtp != NUL && ((flags & DIP_ALL) || !did_one))
 	{
+	    size_t buflen;
+
 	    /* Copy the path from 'runtimepath' to buf[]. */
 	    copy_option_part(&rtp, buf, MAXPATHL, ",");
+	    buflen = STRLEN(buf);
+
+	    /* Skip after or non-after directories. */
+	    if (flags & (DIP_NOAFTER | DIP_AFTER))
+	    {
+		int is_after = buflen >= 5
+				     && STRCMP(buf + buflen - 5, "after") == 0;
+
+		if ((is_after && (flags & DIP_NOAFTER))
+			|| (!is_after && (flags & DIP_AFTER)))
+		    continue;
+	    }
+
 	    if (name == NULL)
 	    {
 		(*callback)(buf, (void *) &cookie);
 		if (!did_one)
 		    did_one = (cookie == NULL);
 	    }
-	    else if (STRLEN(buf) + STRLEN(name) + 2 < MAXPATHL)
+	    else if (buflen + STRLEN(name) + 2 < MAXPATHL)
 	    {
 		add_pathsep(buf);
 		tail = buf + STRLEN(buf);
@@ -3512,6 +3527,7 @@
 /*
  * ":packloadall"
  * Find plugins in the package directories and source them.
+ * "eap" is NULL when invoked during startup.
  */
     void
 ex_packloadall(exarg_T *eap)
diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index 51e4483..48e90c2 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -439,6 +439,11 @@
 #endif
 
 #ifndef NO_VIM_MAIN
+    /* Reset 'loadplugins' for "-u NONE" before "--cmd" arguments.
+     * Allows for setting 'loadplugins' there. */
+    if (params.use_vimrc != NULL && STRCMP(params.use_vimrc, "NONE") == 0)
+	p_lpl = FALSE;
+
     /* Execute --cmd arguments. */
     exe_pre_commands(&params);
 
@@ -453,14 +458,22 @@
     if (p_lpl)
     {
 # ifdef VMS	/* Somehow VMS doesn't handle the "**". */
-	source_runtime((char_u *)"plugin/*.vim", DIP_ALL);
+	source_runtime((char_u *)"plugin/*.vim", DIP_ALL | DIP_NOAFTER);
 # else
-	source_runtime((char_u *)"plugin/**/*.vim", DIP_ALL);
+	source_runtime((char_u *)"plugin/**/*.vim", DIP_ALL | DIP_NOAFTER);
 # endif
 	TIME_MSG("loading plugins");
 
 	ex_packloadall(NULL);
 	TIME_MSG("loading packages");
+
+# ifdef VMS	/* Somehow VMS doesn't handle the "**". */
+	source_runtime((char_u *)"plugin/*.vim", DIP_ALL | DIP_AFTER);
+# else
+	source_runtime((char_u *)"plugin/**/*.vim", DIP_ALL | DIP_AFTER);
+# endif
+	TIME_MSG("loading after plugins");
+
     }
 #endif
 
@@ -2945,8 +2958,6 @@
 	    if (use_gvimrc == NULL)	    /* don't load gvimrc either */
 		use_gvimrc = parmp->use_vimrc;
 #endif
-	    if (parmp->use_vimrc[2] == 'N')
-		p_lpl = FALSE;		    /* don't load plugins either */
 	}
 	else
 	{
diff --git a/src/testdir/Makefile b/src/testdir/Makefile
index 5c629ed..2153039 100644
--- a/src/testdir/Makefile
+++ b/src/testdir/Makefile
@@ -127,4 +127,6 @@
 
 
 .vim.res:
-	$(RUN_VIMTEST) -u NONE -U NONE -S runtest.vim $*.vim
+	@echo "$(RUN_VIMTEST)" > vimcmd
+	$(RUN_VIMTEST) -U NONE -S runtest.vim $*.vim
+	@rm vimcmd
diff --git a/src/testdir/setup.vim b/src/testdir/setup.vim
index f7e475a..dee3de2 100644
--- a/src/testdir/setup.vim
+++ b/src/testdir/setup.vim
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 " Common preparations for running tests.
 
-" Make sure 'runtimepath' does not include $HOME.
+" Make sure 'runtimepath' and 'packpath' does not include $HOME.
 set rtp=$VIM/vimfiles,$VIMRUNTIME,$VIM/vimfiles/after
+let &packpath = &rtp
 
 " Only when the +eval feature is present. 
 if 1
diff --git a/src/testdir/shared.vim b/src/testdir/shared.vim
index b28a26c..d0be241 100644
--- a/src/testdir/shared.vim
+++ b/src/testdir/shared.vim
@@ -120,3 +120,24 @@
     sleep 10m
   endfor
 endfunc
+
+" Run Vim, using the "vimcmd" file and "-u NORC".
+" "before" is a list of commands to be executed before loading plugins.
+" "after" is a list of commands to be executed after loading plugins.
+" Plugins are not loaded, unless 'loadplugins' is set in "before".
+" Return 1 if Vim could be executed.
+func RunVim(before, after)
+  if !filereadable('vimcmd')
+    return 0
+  endif
+  call writefile(a:before, 'Xbefore.vim')
+  call writefile(a:after, 'Xafter.vim')
+
+  let cmd = readfile('vimcmd')[0]
+  let cmd = substitute(cmd, '-u \f\+', '-u NONE', '')
+  exe "silent !" . cmd . " --cmd 'so Xbefore.vim' -S Xafter.vim"
+
+  call delete('Xbefore.vim')
+  call delete('Xafter.vim')
+  return 1
+endfunc
diff --git a/src/testdir/test_startup.vim b/src/testdir/test_startup.vim
index 0630b2a..26e7b9f 100644
--- a/src/testdir/test_startup.vim
+++ b/src/testdir/test_startup.vim
@@ -1,8 +1,56 @@
-" Check that loading startup.vim works.
+" Tests for startup.
 
+source shared.vim
+
+" Check that loading startup.vim works.
 func Test_startup_script()
   set compatible
   source $VIMRUNTIME/defaults.vim
 
   call assert_equal(0, &compatible)
 endfunc
+
+" Verify the order in which plugins are loaded:
+" 1. plugins in non-after directories
+" 2. packages
+" 3. plugins in after directories
+func Test_after_comes_later()
+  let before = [
+	\ 'let $HOME = "/does/not/exist"',
+	\ 'set loadplugins',
+	\ 'set rtp=Xhere,Xafter',
+	\ 'set packpath=Xhere,Xafter',
+	\ 'set nomore',
+	\ ]
+  let after = [
+	\ 'redir! > Xtestout',
+	\ 'scriptnames',
+	\ 'redir END',
+	\ 'quit',
+	\ ]
+  call mkdir('Xhere/plugin', 'p')
+  call writefile(['let done = 1'], 'Xhere/plugin/here.vim')
+  call mkdir('Xhere/pack/foo/start/foobar/plugin', 'p')
+  call writefile(['let done = 1'], 'Xhere/pack/foo/start/foobar/plugin/foo.vim')
+
+  call mkdir('Xafter/plugin', 'p')
+  call writefile(['let done = 1'], 'Xafter/plugin/later.vim')
+
+  call RunVim(before, after)
+
+  let lines = readfile('Xtestout')
+  let expected = ['Xbefore.vim', 'here.vim', 'foo.vim', 'later.vim', 'Xafter.vim']
+  let found = []
+  for line in lines
+    for one in expected
+      if line =~ one
+	call add(found, one)
+      endif
+    endfor
+  endfor
+  call assert_equal(expected, found)
+
+  call delete('Xtestout')
+  call delete('Xhere', 'rf')
+  call delete('Xafter', 'rf')
+endfunc
diff --git a/src/version.c b/src/version.c
index e648862..142801d 100644
--- a/src/version.c
+++ b/src/version.c
@@ -764,6 +764,8 @@
 static int included_patches[] =
 {   /* Add new patch number below this line */
 /**/
+    2164,
+/**/
     2163,
 /**/
     2162,
diff --git a/src/vim.h b/src/vim.h
index 398fcc5..928a558 100644
--- a/src/vim.h
+++ b/src/vim.h
@@ -2451,6 +2451,8 @@
 #define DIP_START   0x08	/* also use "start" directory in 'packpath' */
 #define DIP_OPT	    0x10	/* also use "opt" directory in 'packpath' */
 #define DIP_NORTP   0x20	/* do not use 'runtimepath' */
+#define DIP_NOAFTER 0x40	/* skip "after" directories */
+#define DIP_AFTER   0x80	/* only use "after" directories */
 
 /* Lowest number used for window ID. Cannot have this many windows. */
 #define LOWEST_WIN_ID 1000