diff --git a/pkg/admission/initializer/initializer.go b/pkg/admission/initializer/initializer.go
index 740db6d61..613baf8ef 100644
--- a/pkg/admission/initializer/initializer.go
+++ b/pkg/admission/initializer/initializer.go
@@ -51,6 +51,11 @@ func New(
 // Initialize checks the initialization interfaces implemented by a plugin
 // and provide the appropriate initialization data
 func (i pluginInitializer) Initialize(plugin admission.Interface) {
+	// First tell the plugin about enabled features, so it can decide whether to start informers or not
+	if wants, ok := plugin.(WantsFeatures); ok {
+		wants.InspectFeatureGates(i.featureGates)
+	}
+
 	if wants, ok := plugin.(WantsExternalKubeClientSet); ok {
 		wants.SetExternalKubeClientSet(i.externalClient)
 	}
@@ -62,10 +67,6 @@ func (i pluginInitializer) Initialize(plugin admission.Interface) {
 	if wants, ok := plugin.(WantsAuthorizer); ok {
 		wants.SetAuthorizer(i.authorizer)
 	}
-
-	if wants, ok := plugin.(WantsFeatures); ok {
-		wants.InspectFeatureGates(i.featureGates)
-	}
 }
 
 var _ admission.PluginInitializer = pluginInitializer{}