diff --git a/patacrep/build.py b/patacrep/build.py
index 3998244d..a1ece8a5 100644
--- a/patacrep/build.py
+++ b/patacrep/build.py
@@ -80,15 +80,11 @@ class Songbook:
             )
 
         # Loading custom plugins
-        self._config['_content_plugins'] = files.load_plugins(
+        self._config['_content_plugins'] = files.load_plugins_content(
             datadirs=self._config['_datadir'],
-            root_modules=['content'],
-            keyword='CONTENT_PLUGINS',
             )
-        self._config['_song_plugins'] = files.load_plugins(
+        self._config['_song_plugins'] = files.load_plugins_songs(
             datadirs=self._config['_datadir'],
-            root_modules=['songs'],
-            keyword='SONG_RENDERERS',
             )['tsg']
 
         # Configuration set
diff --git a/patacrep/files.py b/patacrep/files.py
index bc51557d..8a3963ec 100644
--- a/patacrep/files.py
+++ b/patacrep/files.py
@@ -93,6 +93,22 @@ def iter_modules(path, prefix):
                 LOGGER.debug("[plugins] Could not load module {}: {}".format(name, str(error)))
                 continue
 
+def load_plugins_content(datadirs=()):
+    """Load the content plugins, and return a dictionary of those plugins."""
+    return load_plugins(
+        datadirs=datadirs,
+        root_modules=('content',),
+        keyword='CONTENT_PLUGINS',
+        )
+
+def load_plugins_songs(datadirs=()):
+    """Load the song renderer plugins, and return a dictionary of those plugins."""
+    return load_plugins(
+        datadirs=datadirs,
+        root_modules=('songs',),
+        keyword='SONG_RENDERERS',
+        )
+
 def load_plugins(datadirs, root_modules, keyword):
     """Load all plugins, and return a dictionary of those plugins.
 
@@ -102,6 +118,7 @@ def load_plugins(datadirs, root_modules, keyword):
 
     Arguments:
     - datadirs: List of directories in which plugins are to be searched.
+      The plugins will also be searched in the patacrep modules.
     - root_modules: the submodule in which plugins are to be searched, as a
       list of modules (e.g. ["some", "deep", "module"] for
       "some.deep.module").
diff --git a/patacrep/tools/convert/__main__.py b/patacrep/tools/convert/__main__.py
index 65b82d8b..ac6c0843 100644
--- a/patacrep/tools/convert/__main__.py
+++ b/patacrep/tools/convert/__main__.py
@@ -35,12 +35,7 @@ def main(args=None):
     dest = args[2]
     song_files = args[3:]
 
-    # todo : what is the datadir argument used for?
-    renderers = files.load_plugins(
-        datadirs=[],
-        root_modules=['songs'],
-        keyword='SONG_RENDERERS',
-        )
+    renderers = files.load_plugins_songs()
 
     if dest not in renderers:
         LOGGER.error(
diff --git a/test/test_content/test_content.py b/test/test_content/test_content.py
index dbf6926a..3c675889 100644
--- a/test/test_content/test_content.py
+++ b/test/test_content/test_content.py
@@ -108,15 +108,11 @@ class FileTest(unittest.TestCase, metaclass=dynamic.DynamicTest):
             )
 
         # Load the plugins
-        config['_content_plugins'] = files.load_plugins(
+        config['_content_plugins'] = files.load_plugins_content(
             datadirs=config['_datadir'],
-            root_modules=['content'],
-            keyword='CONTENT_PLUGINS',
             )
-        config['_song_plugins'] = files.load_plugins(
+        config['_song_plugins'] = files.load_plugins_songs(
             datadirs=config['_datadir'],
-            root_modules=['songs'],
-            keyword='SONG_RENDERERS',
             )['tsg']
 
         return config
diff --git a/test/test_song/test_parser.py b/test/test_song/test_parser.py
index 39f4a05c..e4c0da35 100644
--- a/test/test_song/test_parser.py
+++ b/test/test_song/test_parser.py
@@ -81,10 +81,8 @@ class FileTest(unittest.TestCase, metaclass=dynamic.DynamicTest):
             cls.config['_datadir'] = []
         cls.config['_datadir'].append('datadir')
 
-        cls.song_plugins = files.load_plugins(
+        cls.song_plugins = files.load_plugins_songs(
             datadirs=cls.config['_datadir'],
-            root_modules=['songs'],
-            keyword='SONG_RENDERERS',
             )
         with cls.chdir():
             for source in sorted(glob.glob('*.*.source')):