diff --git a/pkg/setting/setting_plugins.go b/pkg/setting/setting_plugins.go
index 005950e9611..3739e253cfc 100644
--- a/pkg/setting/setting_plugins.go
+++ b/pkg/setting/setting_plugins.go
@@ -145,13 +145,15 @@ func (cfg *Cfg) readPluginSettings(iniFile *ini.File) error {
 			delete(preinstallPluginsAsync, disabledPlugin)
 			delete(preinstallPluginsSync, disabledPlugin)
 		}
+		for _, plugin := range preinstallPluginsSync {
+			cfg.PreinstallPluginsSync = append(cfg.PreinstallPluginsSync, plugin)
+			// preinstallSync plugin has priority over preinstallAsync
+			delete(preinstallPluginsAsync, plugin.ID)
+		}
 		for _, plugin := range preinstallPluginsAsync {
 			cfg.PreinstallPluginsAsync = append(cfg.PreinstallPluginsAsync, plugin)
 		}
 
-		for _, plugin := range preinstallPluginsSync {
-			cfg.PreinstallPluginsSync = append(cfg.PreinstallPluginsSync, plugin)
-		}
 		installPluginsInAsync := pluginsSection.Key("preinstall_async").MustBool(true)
 		if !installPluginsInAsync {
 			for key, plugin := range preinstallPluginsAsync {
diff --git a/pkg/setting/setting_plugins_test.go b/pkg/setting/setting_plugins_test.go
index 74425c95a0e..4a5437548ed 100644
--- a/pkg/setting/setting_plugins_test.go
+++ b/pkg/setting/setting_plugins_test.go
@@ -237,6 +237,13 @@ func Test_readPluginSettings(t *testing.T) {
 					return plugins
 				}(),
 			},
+			{
+				name:         "when same plugin is defined in preinstall and preinstall_sync, should be only in preinstallSync",
+				rawInput:     "plugin1",
+				rawInputSync: "plugin1",
+				expected:     defaultPreinstallPluginsList,
+				expectedSync: []InstallPlugin{{ID: "plugin1"}},
+			},
 		}
 		for _, tc := range tests {
 			t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {