diff --git a/internal/plugin/installer/http_installer.go b/internal/plugin/installer/http_installer.go
index a8f8f9b3a..e42e2a439 100644
--- a/internal/plugin/installer/http_installer.go
+++ b/internal/plugin/installer/http_installer.go
@@ -92,7 +92,10 @@ func (i *HTTPInstaller) Install() error {
 	}
 	filename := fmt.Sprintf("%s-%s.tgz", metadata.Name, metadata.Version)
 	pluginsPath := helmpath.DataPath("plugins")
-	foundPlugins, _ := plugin.FindPlugins([]string{pluginsPath}, plugin.Descriptor{Name: metadata.Name})
+	foundPlugins, err := plugin.FindPlugins([]string{pluginsPath}, plugin.Descriptor{Name: metadata.Name})
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to search for existing plugins: %w", err)
+	}
 	if len(foundPlugins) > 0 {
 		return fmt.Errorf("plugin %q already exists at %q", metadata.Name, foundPlugins[0].Dir())
 	}
diff --git a/internal/plugin/installer/local_installer.go b/internal/plugin/installer/local_installer.go
index 475f1d920..1d05baaee 100644
--- a/internal/plugin/installer/local_installer.go
+++ b/internal/plugin/installer/local_installer.go
@@ -106,7 +106,10 @@ func (i *LocalInstaller) installFromDirectory() error {
 	metadata := p.Metadata()
 
 	pluginsPath := helmpath.DataPath("plugins")
-	foundPlugins, _ := plugin.FindPlugins([]string{pluginsPath}, plugin.Descriptor{Name: metadata.Name})
+	foundPlugins, err := plugin.FindPlugins([]string{pluginsPath}, plugin.Descriptor{Name: metadata.Name})
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to search for existing plugins: %w", err)
+	}
 	if len(foundPlugins) > 0 {
 		return fmt.Errorf("plugin %q already exists at %q", metadata.Name, foundPlugins[0].Dir())
 	}
@@ -131,7 +134,10 @@ func (i *LocalInstaller) installFromArchive() error {
 	}
 	filename := fmt.Sprintf("%s-%s.tgz", metadata.Name, metadata.Version)
 	pluginsPath := helmpath.DataPath("plugins")
-	foundPlugins, _ := plugin.FindPlugins([]string{pluginsPath}, plugin.Descriptor{Name: metadata.Name})
+	foundPlugins, err := plugin.FindPlugins([]string{pluginsPath}, plugin.Descriptor{Name: metadata.Name})
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to search for existing plugins: %w", err)
+	}
 	if len(foundPlugins) > 0 {
 		return fmt.Errorf("plugin %q already exists at %q", metadata.Name, foundPlugins[0].Dir())
 	}
diff --git a/internal/plugin/installer/oci_installer.go b/internal/plugin/installer/oci_installer.go
index 346646d3e..51df15f61 100644
--- a/internal/plugin/installer/oci_installer.go
+++ b/internal/plugin/installer/oci_installer.go
@@ -102,7 +102,10 @@ func (i *OCIInstaller) Install() error {
 	}
 	filename := fmt.Sprintf("%s-%s.tgz", metadata.Name, metadata.Version)
 	pluginsPath := helmpath.DataPath("plugins")
-	foundPlugins, _ := plugin.FindPlugins([]string{pluginsPath}, plugin.Descriptor{Name: metadata.Name})
+	foundPlugins, err := plugin.FindPlugins([]string{pluginsPath}, plugin.Descriptor{Name: metadata.Name})
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to search for existing plugins: %w", err)
+	}
 	if len(foundPlugins) > 0 {
 		return fmt.Errorf("plugin %q already exists at %q", metadata.Name, foundPlugins[0].Dir())
 	}