diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b714631..78188c0 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # XtendR
-![Latest Version](https://gitpot.lerk.ing/badges/badge/static?label=Latest+version&message=0.5.2&color=blue)
+![Latest Version](https://gitpot.lerk.ing/badges/badge/static?label=Latest+version&message=0.5.3&color=blue)
 
 A very basic Python 3.12 friendly plugin system based on the K.I.S.S principle.
 
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index ff5b722..67c1001 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
 
     setup(
         name="XtendR",
-        version="0.5.2",
+        version="0.5.3",
         packages=find_packages(),
         install_requires=[],
         author="Jan Lerking",
diff --git a/xtendr/xtendrsystem.py b/xtendr/xtendrsystem.py
index c9d4fd5..4ec0ad8 100644
--- a/xtendr/xtendrsystem.py
+++ b/xtendr/xtendrsystem.py
@@ -65,26 +65,23 @@ class XtendRSystem:
         self._lock = threading.RLock()
 
         # -- signature verification setup ---------------------------------
+        # Paths are kept (not just the loaded key/whitelist objects) so
+        # reload() can re-read them from disk later -- e.g. after an admin
+        # re-signs a plugin or adds a whitelist entry for it -- without
+        # restarting the whole process.
+        #
         # If either the public key or the whitelist can't be loaded, we
         # fail closed: self._public_key / self._whitelist stay None, and
         # every plugin will come back as SIG_UNSIGNED (disabled) rather
         # than silently skipping verification. This is deliberate -- an
         # admin who wants unsigned plugins to run should not be able to
         # get there by accident (e.g. a missing/misspelled key path).
+        self._public_key_path = public_key_path
+        self._whitelist_path = whitelist_path
+        self._whitelist_passphrase = whitelist_passphrase
         self._public_key = None
         self._whitelist = None
-
-        if public_key_path is not None:
-            try:
-                self._public_key = xsign.load_public_key(Path(public_key_path))
-            except (OSError, ValueError) as e:
-                logger.error("Could not load XtendR public key from '%s': %s", public_key_path, e)
-
-        if whitelist_path is not None:
-            try:
-                self._whitelist = xsign.Whitelist.load(Path(whitelist_path), whitelist_passphrase)
-            except (OSError, ValueError) as e:
-                logger.error("Could not load XtendR plugin whitelist from '%s': %s", whitelist_path, e)
+        self._reload_verification_material()
 
         if self._public_key is None or self._whitelist is None:
             logger.warning(
@@ -93,6 +90,30 @@ class XtendRSystem:
                 pluginpath,
             )
 
+    def _reload_verification_material(self) -> None:
+        """(Re-)read the public key and whitelist from disk into
+        self._public_key / self._whitelist. Called once from __init__,
+        and again from reload() so a freshly-signed plugin or updated
+        whitelist can be picked up without restarting the process.
+
+        Fails closed on error, same as __init__ did: a key/whitelist
+        that can't be (re)loaded leaves that half of verification as
+        None rather than keeping around whatever was previously loaded.
+        """
+        self._public_key = None
+        if self._public_key_path is not None:
+            try:
+                self._public_key = xsign.load_public_key(Path(self._public_key_path))
+            except (OSError, ValueError) as e:
+                logger.error("Could not load XtendR public key from '%s': %s", self._public_key_path, e)
+
+        self._whitelist = None
+        if self._whitelist_path is not None:
+            try:
+                self._whitelist = xsign.Whitelist.load(Path(self._whitelist_path), self._whitelist_passphrase)
+            except (OSError, ValueError) as e:
+                logger.error("Could not load XtendR plugin whitelist from '%s': %s", self._whitelist_path, e)
+
     def version(self) -> str:
         return "XtendR v" + __version__
 
@@ -272,6 +293,43 @@ class XtendRSystem:
             self.plugins[name]["pre_load_thread"] = thread
             thread.start()
 
+    def reload(self, name: str, callback=None) -> bool:
+        """Re-attempt attaching a plugin that's currently disabled due to
+        failed signature verification (SIG_UNSIGNED / SIG_INVALID) -- e.g.
+        after re-signing it or adding/fixing its whitelist entry.
+
+        This is specifically a recovery path for that one state, not a
+        general-purpose re-attach: a plugin that isn't currently attached,
+        or is attached but not disabled, is left alone and this returns
+        False without side effects.
+
+        The public key and whitelist are re-read from disk before
+        re-verifying -- __init__ only loads them once, so without this a
+        freshly-updated whitelist would never actually take effect and
+        reload() would just repeat the same failed check.
+
+        Returns True if the plugin ends up attached and enabled, False if
+        it's still disabled (or wasn't reloadable to begin with).
+        """
+        with self._lock:
+            entry = self.plugins.get(name)
+            if entry is None:
+                logger.error("Plugin '%s' is not attached; nothing to reload.", name)
+                return False
+            if not entry.get("disabled"):
+                logger.info("Plugin '%s' is not disabled; reload() is a no-op.", name)
+                return False
+            # Drop the disabled placeholder so attach() below doesn't just
+            # see 'already attached' and bail out immediately.
+            self.plugins.pop(name, None)
+
+        self._reload_verification_material()
+        self.attach(name, callback)
+
+        with self._lock:
+            entry = self.plugins.get(name)
+            return entry is not None and not entry.get("disabled")
+
     def run(self, name: str, *args, **kwargs):
         """Run the plugin's 'run' method if available."""
         with self._lock: