diff --git a/src/corelib/plugin/qpluginloader.cpp b/src/corelib/plugin/qpluginloader.cpp
index 00480198bd8..1bb44575945 100644
--- a/src/corelib/plugin/qpluginloader.cpp
+++ b/src/corelib/plugin/qpluginloader.cpp
@@ -305,7 +305,6 @@ static QString locatePlugin(const QString& fileName)
         paths.append(fileName.left(slash)); // don't include the '/'
     } else {
         paths = QCoreApplication::libraryPaths();
-        paths.prepend(QStringLiteral(".")); // search in current dir first
     }
 
     for (const QString &path : qAsConst(paths)) {