diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/cfg_mgr_fix.yml b/changelogs/fragments/cfg_mgr_fix.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..06f2716dea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/cfg_mgr_fix.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+bugfixes:
+    - configuration retrieval would fail on non primed plugins
diff --git a/lib/ansible/config/manager.py b/lib/ansible/config/manager.py
index ab0db12926..6a7b388f37 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/config/manager.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/config/manager.py
@@ -363,14 +363,8 @@ class ConfigManager(object):
         # Note: sources that are lists listed in low to high precedence (last one wins)
         value = None
         origin = None
-        defs = {}
-        if plugin_type is None:
-            defs = self._base_defs
-        elif plugin_name is None:
-            defs = self._plugins[plugin_type]
-        else:
-            defs = self._plugins[plugin_type][plugin_name]
 
+        defs = self.get_configuration_definitions(plugin_type, plugin_name)
         if config in defs:
 
             # direct setting via plugin arguments, can set to None so we bypass rest of processing/defaults