diff --git a/packages/backend-next/package.json b/packages/backend-next/package.json
index 4e989c81cf..7e83203cea 100644
--- a/packages/backend-next/package.json
+++ b/packages/backend-next/package.json
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
   },
   "dependencies": {
     "@backstage/backend-defaults": "workspace:^",
+    "@backstage/plugin-app-backend": "workspace:^",
     "@backstage/plugin-catalog-backend": "workspace:^",
     "@backstage/plugin-scaffolder-backend": "workspace:^"
   },
diff --git a/packages/backend-next/src/index.ts b/packages/backend-next/src/index.ts
index c6b7da8fa7..8196b28452 100644
--- a/packages/backend-next/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/backend-next/src/index.ts
@@ -17,9 +17,11 @@
 import { catalogPlugin } from '@backstage/plugin-catalog-backend';
 import { scaffolderCatalogModule } from '@backstage/plugin-scaffolder-backend';
 import { createBackend } from '@backstage/backend-defaults';
+import { appPlugin } from '@backstage/plugin-app-backend';
 
 const backend = createBackend();
 
 backend.add(catalogPlugin());
 backend.add(scaffolderCatalogModule());
+backend.add(appPlugin({ appPackageName: 'example-app' }));
 backend.start();
diff --git a/yarn.lock b/yarn.lock
index 6ef0daf878..a1d37af851 100644
--- a/yarn.lock
+++ b/yarn.lock
@@ -21756,6 +21756,7 @@ __metadata:
   dependencies:
     "@backstage/backend-defaults": "workspace:^"
     "@backstage/cli": "workspace:^"
+    "@backstage/plugin-app-backend": "workspace:^"
     "@backstage/plugin-catalog-backend": "workspace:^"
     "@backstage/plugin-scaffolder-backend": "workspace:^"
   languageName: unknown