diff --git a/plugins/catalog/package.json b/plugins/catalog/package.json
index 412c7d0716..4ef0db4910 100644
--- a/plugins/catalog/package.json
+++ b/plugins/catalog/package.json
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@
     "@backstage/core-components": "workspace:^",
     "@backstage/core-plugin-api": "workspace:^",
     "@backstage/errors": "workspace:^",
+    "@backstage/frontend-plugin-api": "workspace:^",
     "@backstage/integration-react": "workspace:^",
     "@backstage/plugin-catalog-common": "workspace:^",
     "@backstage/plugin-catalog-react": "workspace:^",
diff --git a/plugins/catalog/src/alpha.ts b/plugins/catalog/src/alpha.ts
index 3509c1fb7f..ffa50ea1f7 100644
--- a/plugins/catalog/src/alpha.ts
+++ b/plugins/catalog/src/alpha.ts
@@ -15,3 +15,40 @@
  */
 
 export * from './translation';
+
+import {
+  DiscoveryApi,
+  FetchApi,
+  discoveryApiRef,
+  fetchApiRef,
+} from '@backstage/core-plugin-api';
+import { CatalogClient } from '@backstage/catalog-client';
+import {
+  createApiExtension,
+  createPlugin,
+} from '@backstage/frontend-plugin-api';
+import { catalogApiRef } from '@backstage/plugin-catalog-react';
+
+/** @alpha */
+export const CatalogApi = createApiExtension({
+  factory: {
+    api: catalogApiRef,
+    deps: {
+      discoveryApi: discoveryApiRef,
+      fetchApi: fetchApiRef,
+    },
+    factory: ({
+      discoveryApi,
+      fetchApi,
+    }: {
+      discoveryApi: DiscoveryApi;
+      fetchApi: FetchApi;
+    }) => new CatalogClient({ discoveryApi, fetchApi }),
+  },
+});
+
+/** @alpha */
+export default createPlugin({
+  id: 'plugin.catalog',
+  extensions: [CatalogApi],
+});