diff --git a/tests/test_env.py b/tests/test_env.py
index cd52abc..0542d19 100644
--- a/tests/test_env.py
+++ b/tests/test_env.py
@@ -123,3 +123,14 @@ class EnvTests(unittest.TestCase):
                     self.assertTrue(os.path.exists(dst_rendered))
                     with open(dst_rendered) as f:
                         self.assertEqual("Hello my ID is abcd", f.read())
+
+    def test_renderer_is_reset_on_config_change(self):
+        config = {"PLUGINS": []}
+        env1 = env.Renderer.environment(config)
+        config["PLUGINS"].append("minio")
+        env2 = env.Renderer.environment(config)
+
+        self.assertNotIn(
+            "minio/hooks/mino-client/pre-init", env1.loader.list_templates()
+        )
+        self.assertIn("minio/hooks/minio-client/pre-init", env2.loader.list_templates())
diff --git a/tests/test_plugins.py b/tests/test_plugins.py
index 97766fe..7940551 100644
--- a/tests/test_plugins.py
+++ b/tests/test_plugins.py
@@ -189,3 +189,11 @@ class PluginsTests(unittest.TestCase):
             self.assertEqual(
                 [("plugin1", "/tmp/templates")], list(plugins.iter_templates({}))
             )
+
+    def test_plugins_are_updated_on_config_change(self):
+        config = {"PLUGINS": []}
+        instance1 = plugins.Plugins(config)
+        self.assertEqual(0, len(list(instance1.iter_enabled())))
+        config["PLUGINS"].append("minio")
+        instance2 = plugins.Plugins(config)
+        self.assertEqual(1, len(list(instance2.iter_enabled())))
diff --git a/tutor/env.py b/tutor/env.py
index 9cb2ed7..bc47131 100644
--- a/tutor/env.py
+++ b/tutor/env.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import codecs
+from copy import deepcopy
 import os
 import shutil
 
@@ -22,7 +23,6 @@ class Renderer:
     @classmethod
     def environment(cls, config):
         if cls.ENVIRONMENT_CONFIG != config:
-            cls.ENVIRONMENT_CONFIG = config
             template_roots = [TEMPLATES_ROOT]
             for _, plugin_templates in plugins.iter_templates(config):
                 template_roots.append(plugin_templates)
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ class Renderer:
             environment.filters["reverse_host"] = utils.reverse_host
             environment.filters["walk_templates"] = walk_templates
             environment.globals["TUTOR_VERSION"] = __version__
+
+            cls.ENVIRONMENT_CONFIG = deepcopy(config)
             cls.ENVIRONMENT = environment
 
         return cls.ENVIRONMENT
@@ -42,6 +44,7 @@ class Renderer:
     @classmethod
     def reset(cls):
         cls.ENVIRONMENT = None
+        cls.ENVIRONMENT_CONFIG = None
 
     @classmethod
     def render_str(cls, config, text):
diff --git a/tutor/plugins.py b/tutor/plugins.py
index 532215e..0448b07 100644
--- a/tutor/plugins.py
+++ b/tutor/plugins.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+from copy import deepcopy
 import pkg_resources
 
 from . import exceptions
@@ -42,7 +43,7 @@ class Plugins:
     EXTRA_INSTALLED = {}
 
     def __init__(self, config):
-        self.config = config
+        self.config = deepcopy(config)
         self.patches = {}
         self.hooks = {}
         self.templates = {}