diff --git a/src/ex_cmds2.c b/src/ex_cmds2.c
index 36ee57e..225225a 100644
--- a/src/ex_cmds2.c
+++ b/src/ex_cmds2.c
@@ -3633,27 +3633,41 @@
     vim_free(ffname);
 }
 
-static int did_source_packages = FALSE;
+/*
+ * Add all packages in the "start" directory to 'runtimepath'.
+ */
+    void
+add_pack_start_dirs(void)
+{
+    do_in_path(p_pp, (char_u *)"pack/*/start/*", DIP_ALL + DIP_DIR,
+					       add_pack_plugin, &APP_ADD_DIR);
+}
+
+/*
+ * Load plugins from all packages in the "start" directory.
+ */
+    void
+load_start_packages(void)
+{
+    did_source_packages = TRUE;
+    do_in_path(p_pp, (char_u *)"pack/*/start/*", DIP_ALL + DIP_DIR,
+						  add_pack_plugin, &APP_LOAD);
+}
 
 /*
  * ":packloadall"
  * Find plugins in the package directories and source them.
- * "eap" is NULL when invoked during startup.
  */
     void
 ex_packloadall(exarg_T *eap)
 {
-    if (!did_source_packages || (eap != NULL && eap->forceit))
+    if (!did_source_packages || eap->forceit)
     {
-	did_source_packages = TRUE;
-
 	/* First do a round to add all directories to 'runtimepath', then load
 	 * the plugins. This allows for plugins to use an autoload directory
 	 * of another plugin. */
-	do_in_path(p_pp, (char_u *)"pack/*/start/*", DIP_ALL + DIP_DIR,
-					       add_pack_plugin, &APP_ADD_DIR);
-	do_in_path(p_pp, (char_u *)"pack/*/start/*", DIP_ALL + DIP_DIR,
-						  add_pack_plugin, &APP_LOAD);
+	add_pack_start_dirs();
+	load_start_packages();
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/globals.h b/src/globals.h
index 7bc5471..56df6d5 100644
--- a/src/globals.h
+++ b/src/globals.h
@@ -326,6 +326,8 @@
 EXTERN scid_T	current_SID INIT(= 0);
 #endif
 
+EXTERN int	did_source_packages INIT(= FALSE);
+
 /* Magic number used for hashitem "hi_key" value indicating a deleted item.
  * Only the address is used. */
 EXTERN char_u	hash_removed;
diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index ebd1ec3..0c7aa98 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -449,6 +449,12 @@
      */
     if (p_lpl)
     {
+	/* First add all package directories to 'runtimepath', so that their
+	 * autoload directories can be found.  Only if not done already with a
+	 * :packloadall command. */
+	if (!did_source_packages)
+	    add_pack_start_dirs();
+
 # ifdef VMS	/* Somehow VMS doesn't handle the "**". */
 	source_runtime((char_u *)"plugin/*.vim", DIP_ALL | DIP_NOAFTER);
 # else
@@ -456,7 +462,10 @@
 # endif
 	TIME_MSG("loading plugins");
 
-	ex_packloadall(NULL);
+	/* Only source "start" packages if not done already with a :packloadall
+	 * command. */
+	if (!did_source_packages)
+	    load_start_packages();
 	TIME_MSG("loading packages");
 
 # ifdef VMS	/* Somehow VMS doesn't handle the "**". */
diff --git a/src/proto/ex_cmds2.pro b/src/proto/ex_cmds2.pro
index 4a40f0a..e8d2814 100644
--- a/src/proto/ex_cmds2.pro
+++ b/src/proto/ex_cmds2.pro
@@ -72,6 +72,8 @@
 int source_runtime(char_u *name, int flags);
 int do_in_path(char_u *path, char_u *name, int flags, void (*callback)(char_u *fname, void *ck), void *cookie);
 int do_in_runtimepath(char_u *name, int flags, void (*callback)(char_u *fname, void *ck), void *cookie);
+void add_pack_start_dirs(void);
+void load_start_packages(void);
 void ex_packloadall(exarg_T *eap);
 void ex_packadd(exarg_T *eap);
 void ex_options(exarg_T *eap);
diff --git a/src/testdir/test_startup.vim b/src/testdir/test_startup.vim
index bce431f..08a107e 100644
--- a/src/testdir/test_startup.vim
+++ b/src/testdir/test_startup.vim
@@ -61,6 +61,38 @@
   call delete('Xafter', 'rf')
 endfunc
 
+func Test_pack_in_rtp_when_plugins_run()
+  if !has('packages')
+    return
+  endif
+  let before = [
+	\ 'set nocp viminfo+=nviminfo',
+	\ 'set guioptions+=M',
+	\ 'let $HOME = "/does/not/exist"',
+	\ 'set loadplugins',
+	\ 'set rtp=Xhere',
+	\ 'set packpath=Xhere',
+	\ 'set nomore',
+	\ ]
+  let after = [
+	\ 'quit',
+	\ ]
+  call mkdir('Xhere/plugin', 'p')
+  call writefile(['redir! > Xtestout', 'silent set runtimepath?', 'silent! call foo#Trigger()', 'redir END'], 'Xhere/plugin/here.vim')
+  call mkdir('Xhere/pack/foo/start/foobar/autoload', 'p')
+  call writefile(['function! foo#Trigger()', 'echo "autoloaded foo"', 'endfunction'], 'Xhere/pack/foo/start/foobar/autoload/foo.vim')
+
+  if RunVim(before, after, '')
+
+    let lines = filter(readfile('Xtestout'), '!empty(v:val)')
+    call assert_match('Xhere[/\\]pack[/\\]foo[/\\]start[/\\]foobar', get(lines, 0))
+    call assert_match('autoloaded foo', get(lines, 1))
+  endif
+
+  call delete('Xtestout')
+  call delete('Xhere', 'rf')
+endfunc
+
 func Test_help_arg()
   if !has('unix') && has('gui')
     " this doesn't work with gvim on MS-Windows
diff --git a/src/version.c b/src/version.c
index 2d91a72..91cd500 100644
--- a/src/version.c
+++ b/src/version.c
@@ -765,6 +765,8 @@
 static int included_patches[] =
 {   /* Add new patch number below this line */
 /**/
+    612,
+/**/
     611,
 /**/
     610,