diff --git a/plugins/autolabor.cpp b/plugins/autolabor.cpp
index 1b442fe2f..963b6b417 100644
--- a/plugins/autolabor.cpp
+++ b/plugins/autolabor.cpp
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ using df::global::world;
 
 #define ARRAY_COUNT(array) (sizeof(array)/sizeof((array)[0]))
 
-static int enable_autolabor;
+static int enable_autolabor = 0;
 
 
 // Here go all the command declarations...
@@ -467,9 +467,12 @@ struct values_sorter
 DFhackCExport command_result plugin_onupdate ( color_ostream &out )
 {
 	static int step_count = 0;
-
-	if (!enable_autolabor)
-		return CR_OK;
+    // check run conditions
+    if(!world->map.block_index || !enable_autolabor)
+    {
+        // give up if we shouldn't be running'
+        return CR_OK;
+    }
 
 	if (++step_count < 60)
 		return CR_OK;
diff --git a/plugins/devel/kittens.cpp b/plugins/devel/kittens.cpp
index 5dbadcc72..2e8e6eaba 100644
--- a/plugins/devel/kittens.cpp
+++ b/plugins/devel/kittens.cpp
@@ -62,6 +62,8 @@ DFhackCExport command_result plugin_shutdown ( color_ostream &out )
 
 DFhackCExport command_result plugin_onstatechange(color_ostream &out, state_change_event event)
 {
+    if(!statetrack)
+        return CR_OK;
     switch (event) {
         case SC_MAP_LOADED:
             out << "Map loaded" << endl;
diff --git a/plugins/fastdwarf.cpp b/plugins/fastdwarf.cpp
index 87402e428..643a097c4 100644
--- a/plugins/fastdwarf.cpp
+++ b/plugins/fastdwarf.cpp
@@ -23,12 +23,16 @@ DFhackCExport command_result plugin_shutdown ( color_ostream &out )
     return CR_OK;
 }
 
-static int enable_fastdwarf;
+static int enable_fastdwarf = false;
 
 DFhackCExport command_result plugin_onupdate ( color_ostream &out )
 {
-    if (!enable_fastdwarf)
+    // check run conditions
+    if(!world->map.block_index || !enable_fastdwarf)
+    {
+        // give up if we shouldn't be running'
         return CR_OK;
+    }
     int32_t race = ui->race_id;
     int32_t civ = ui->civ_id;