diff --git a/packages/core-plugin-api/package.json b/packages/core-plugin-api/package.json
index 03ecdfab74..7c8e7dc1fa 100644
--- a/packages/core-plugin-api/package.json
+++ b/packages/core-plugin-api/package.json
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
     "@backstage/types": "^1.0.0",
     "@backstage/version-bridge": "^1.0.1",
     "history": "^5.0.0",
+    "lodash": "^4.17.21",
     "prop-types": "^15.7.2",
     "react-router-dom": "6.0.0-beta.0",
     "zen-observable": "^0.8.15"
diff --git a/packages/core-plugin-api/src/extensions/extensions.test.tsx b/packages/core-plugin-api/src/extensions/extensions.test.tsx
index 5cb223cc31..28d84cae3e 100644
--- a/packages/core-plugin-api/src/extensions/extensions.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/core-plugin-api/src/extensions/extensions.test.tsx
@@ -44,6 +44,9 @@ const customPlugin = createPlugin({
   id: 'custom-plugin',
   metadata: {
     pluginLabel: 'initial label',
+    table: {
+      tableHeader: 'table header',
+    },
   },
 });
 
@@ -178,7 +181,7 @@ describe('extensions', () => {
   it('should allow for the plugin to redefine default labels', async () => {
     customPlugin.reconfigure({
       pluginLabel: 'new label',
-    });
+    } as any);
 
     const CustomPluginExtension = customPlugin.provide(
       createReactExtension({
@@ -189,6 +192,9 @@ describe('extensions', () => {
               <>
                 <div data-testid="plugin-label">
                   {props.metadata?.pluginLabel}
+                  <div data-testid="plugin-table-summary">
+                    <h3>{props.metadata?.table.tableHeader}</h3>
+                  </div>
                 </div>
               </>
             );
@@ -201,5 +207,8 @@ describe('extensions', () => {
     expect(updatedComponent.getByTestId('plugin-label')).toHaveTextContent(
       'new label',
     );
+    expect(
+      updatedComponent.getByTestId('plugin-table-summary'),
+    ).toHaveTextContent('table header');
   });
 });
diff --git a/packages/core-plugin-api/src/plugin/Plugin.tsx b/packages/core-plugin-api/src/plugin/Plugin.tsx
index 61b8a5db8c..29eacde6ae 100644
--- a/packages/core-plugin-api/src/plugin/Plugin.tsx
+++ b/packages/core-plugin-api/src/plugin/Plugin.tsx
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import {
   AnyMetadata,
   PluginFeatureFlagConfig,
 } from './types';
+import { merge } from 'lodash';
 import { AnyApiFactory } from '../apis';
 
 /**
@@ -71,7 +72,7 @@ export class PluginImpl<
   }
 
   reconfigure(metadata: PluginMetadata): BackstagePlugin {
-    this.config.metadata = { ...this.config.metadata, ...metadata };
+    this.config.metadata = merge(this.config.metadata, metadata);
     return this;
   }