diff --git a/bundles/org.eclipse.equinox.p2.repository/src/org/eclipse/equinox/internal/p2/repository/Activator.java b/bundles/org.eclipse.equinox.p2.repository/src/org/eclipse/equinox/internal/p2/repository/Activator.java
index 196f09f..e212929 100644
--- a/bundles/org.eclipse.equinox.p2.repository/src/org/eclipse/equinox/internal/p2/repository/Activator.java
+++ b/bundles/org.eclipse.equinox.p2.repository/src/org/eclipse/equinox/internal/p2/repository/Activator.java
@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@
 
 	public void start(BundleContext aContext) throws Exception {
 		Activator.context = aContext;
+
+		//Force the startup of the registry bundle to make sure that the preference scope is registered
+		Class.forName("org.eclipse.core.runtime.IExtensionRegistry"); //$NON-NLS-1$
 	}
 
 	public void stop(BundleContext aContext) throws Exception {