diff --git a/packages/core-api/src/plugin/Plugin.tsx b/packages/core-api/src/plugin/Plugin.tsx
index 797dcd852e..dd6d7960ac 100644
--- a/packages/core-api/src/plugin/Plugin.tsx
+++ b/packages/core-api/src/plugin/Plugin.tsx
@@ -93,8 +93,8 @@ export class PluginImpl<
 }
 
 export function createPlugin<
-  Routes extends AnyRoutes,
-  ExternalRoutes extends AnyExternalRoutes
+  Routes extends AnyRoutes = {},
+  ExternalRoutes extends AnyExternalRoutes = {}
 >(
   config: PluginConfig<Routes, ExternalRoutes>,
 ): BackstagePlugin<Routes, ExternalRoutes> {
diff --git a/packages/core-api/src/plugin/types.ts b/packages/core-api/src/plugin/types.ts
index e3f2e38972..94bd4e8172 100644
--- a/packages/core-api/src/plugin/types.ts
+++ b/packages/core-api/src/plugin/types.ts
@@ -76,8 +76,8 @@ export type AnyRoutes = { [name: string]: RouteRef<any> };
 export type AnyExternalRoutes = { [name: string]: ExternalRouteRef };
 
 export type BackstagePlugin<
-  Routes extends AnyRoutes,
-  ExternalRoutes extends AnyExternalRoutes
+  Routes extends AnyRoutes = {},
+  ExternalRoutes extends AnyExternalRoutes = {}
 > = {
   getId(): string;
   output(): PluginOutput[];