diff --git a/docs/_include/models-table.py b/docs/_include/models-table.py
index 9df816d6dcd..863b87ed73c 100644
--- a/docs/_include/models-table.py
+++ b/docs/_include/models-table.py
@@ -19,10 +19,10 @@
 """Prints an RST table of available models from the inference.models
 module.
 """
-from pycbc.inference.models import models
+from pycbc.inference.models import get_models
 from _dict_to_rst import (rst_dict_table, format_class)
 
-tbl = rst_dict_table(models, key_format='``\'{0}\'``'.format,
+tbl = rst_dict_table(get_models(), key_format='``\'{0}\'``'.format,
                      header=('Name', 'Class'),
                      val_format=format_class)
 
diff --git a/pycbc/inference/__init__.py b/pycbc/inference/__init__.py
index a52dc2e94f7..55c3d58ec84 100644
--- a/pycbc/inference/__init__.py
+++ b/pycbc/inference/__init__.py
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-
 # pylint: disable=unused-import
 from . import (models, sampler, io)
 from . import (burn_in, entropy, gelman_rubin, geweke, option_utils)
diff --git a/pycbc/inference/models/__init__.py b/pycbc/inference/models/__init__.py
index 0f47348fa95..b12f3879c16 100644
--- a/pycbc/inference/models/__init__.py
+++ b/pycbc/inference/models/__init__.py
@@ -20,6 +20,10 @@
 """
 
 
+import logging
+from pkg_resources import iter_entry_points as _iter_entry_points
+from .base import BaseModel
+from .base_data import BaseDataModel
 from .analytic import (TestEggbox, TestNormal, TestRosenbrock, TestVolcano,
                        TestPrior, TestPosterior)
 from .gaussian_noise import GaussianNoise
@@ -176,10 +180,10 @@ def read_from_config(cp, **kwargs):
     """
     # use the name to get the distribution
     name = cp.get("model", "name")
-    return models[name].from_config(cp, **kwargs)
+    return get_model(name).from_config(cp, **kwargs)
 
 
-models = {_cls.name: _cls for _cls in (
+_models = {_cls.name: _cls for _cls in (
     TestEggbox,
     TestNormal,
     TestRosenbrock,
@@ -197,3 +201,146 @@ def read_from_config(cp, **kwargs):
     Relative,
     HierarchicalModel,
 )}
+
+
+class _ModelManager(dict):
+    """Sub-classes dictionary to manage the collection of available models.
+
+    The first time this is called, any plugin models that are available will be
+    added to the dictionary before returning.
+    """
+    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        self.retrieve_plugins = True
+        super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
+
+    def add_model(self, model):
+        """Adds a model to the dictionary.
+
+        If the given model has the same name as a model already in the
+        dictionary, the original model will be overridden. A warning will be
+        printed in that case.
+        """
+        if super().__contains__(model.name):
+            logging.warning("Custom model %s will override a model of the "
+                         "same name. If you don't want this, change the "
+                         "model's name attribute and restart.", model.name)
+        self[model.name] = model
+
+    def add_plugins(self):
+        """Adds any plugin models that are available.
+
+        This will only add the plugins if ``self.retrieve_plugins = True``.
+        After this runs, ``self.retrieve_plugins`` is set to ``False``, so that
+        subsequent calls to this will no re-add models.
+        """
+        if self.retrieve_plugins:
+            for plugin in _iter_entry_points('pycbc.inference.models'):
+                self.add_model(plugin.resolve())
+            self.retrieve_plugins = False
+
+    def __len__(self):
+        self.add_plugins()
+        super().__len__()
+
+    def __contains__(self, key):
+        self.add_plugins()
+        return super().__contains__(key)
+
+    def get(self, *args):
+        self.add_plugins()
+        return super().get(*args)
+
+    def popitem(self):
+        self.add_plugins()
+        return super().popitem()
+
+    def pop(self, *args):
+        try:
+            return super().pop(*args)
+        except KeyError:
+            self.add_plugins()
+            return super().pop(*args)
+
+    def keys(self):
+        self.add_plugins()
+        return super().keys()
+
+    def values(self):
+        self.add_plugins()
+        return super().values()
+
+    def items(self):
+        self.add_plugins()
+        return super().items()
+
+    def __iter__(self):
+        self.add_plugins()
+        return super().__iter__()
+
+    def __repr__(self):
+        self.add_plugins()
+        return super().__repr__()
+
+    def __getitem__(self, item):
+        try:
+            return super().__getitem__(item)
+        except KeyError:
+            self.add_plugins()
+            return super().__getitem__(item)
+
+    def __delitem__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        try:
+            super().__delitem__(*args, **kwargs)
+        except KeyError:
+            self.add_plugins()
+            super().__delitem__(*args, **kwargs)
+
+
+models = _ModelManager(_models)
+
+
+def get_models():
+    """Returns the dictionary of current models.
+
+    Ensures that plugins are added to the dictionary first.
+    """
+    models.add_plugins()
+    return models
+
+
+def get_model(model_name):
+    """Retrieve the given model.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    model_name : str
+        The name of the model to get.
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    model :
+        The requested model.
+    """
+    return get_models()[model_name]
+
+
+def available_models():
+    """List the currently available models."""
+    return list(get_models().keys())
+
+
+def register_model(model):
+    """Makes a custom model available to PyCBC.
+
+    The provided model will be added to the dictionary of models that PyCBC
+    knows about, using the model's ``name`` attribute. If the ``name`` is the
+    same as a model that already exists in PyCBC, a warning will be printed.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    model : pycbc.inference.models.base.BaseModel
+        The model to use. The model should be a sub-class of
+        :py:class:`BaseModel <pycbc.inference.models.base.BaseModel>` to ensure
+        it has the correct API for use within ``pycbc_inference``.
+    """
+    get_models().add_model(model)