diff --git a/brainscore_core/plugin_management/conda_score.sh b/brainscore_core/plugin_management/conda_score.sh
index 66d9d12d..b082c252 100644
--- a/brainscore_core/plugin_management/conda_score.sh
+++ b/brainscore_core/plugin_management/conda_score.sh
@@ -53,6 +53,11 @@ conda install pip -y || {
     exit 1
 }
 
+# Install brainscore_core first
+CORE_PATH="$LIBRARY_PATH/core"
+echo "Installing local brainscore_core from $CORE_PATH"
+pip install -e "$CORE_PATH"
+
 # Change to the library directory
 cd "$LIBRARY_PATH/$LIBRARY_NAME" || {
     echo "Error: Could not change to directory $LIBRARY_PATH/$LIBRARY_NAME"
diff --git a/brainscore_core/plugin_management/test_plugin.sh b/brainscore_core/plugin_management/test_plugin.sh
index 3bd2a020..4222a0a0 100644
--- a/brainscore_core/plugin_management/test_plugin.sh
+++ b/brainscore_core/plugin_management/test_plugin.sh
@@ -30,6 +30,12 @@ conda activate $PLUGIN_NAME
 conda install pip
 pip install --upgrade pip setuptools
 
+# Install brainscore_core first
+LIBRARY_PATH_ABS="$(realpath "$LIBRARY_PATH")"
+CORE_PATH="$(dirname "$LIBRARY_PATH_ABS")/core"
+echo "Installing local brainscore_core from $CORE_PATH"
+python -m pip install -e "$CORE_PATH" --default-timeout=600 --retries=5
+
 output=$(python -m pip install -e ".[test]" --default-timeout=600 --retries=5 2>&1) # install library requirements
 
 if [ -f "$CONDA_ENV_PATH" ]; then