diff --git a/assets/build/build.mk b/assets/build/build.mk
index 4833938..19b83ec 100644
--- a/assets/build/build.mk
+++ b/assets/build/build.mk
@@ -80,4 +80,4 @@ endif
 
 ## Builds and bundles the plugin.
 .PHONY: dist
-dist: server webapp bundle
+dist: apply server webapp bundle
diff --git a/assets/build/deploy.mk b/assets/build/deploy.mk
index 9b37e21..a9c0fe0 100644
--- a/assets/build/deploy.mk
+++ b/assets/build/deploy.mk
@@ -2,6 +2,11 @@
 # Deployment and Plugin Management
 # ====================================================================================
 
+## Applies the plugin manifest to the server and webapp codebase
+.PHONY: apply
+apply:
+	pluginctl manifest apply
+
 ## Builds and installs the plugin to a server.
 .PHONY: deploy
 deploy: dist
@@ -9,7 +14,7 @@ deploy: dist
 
 ## Builds and installs the plugin to a server, updating the webapp automatically when changed.
 .PHONY: watch
-watch: server bundle
+watch: apply server bundle
 ifeq ($(MM_DEBUG),)
 	cd webapp && $(NPM) run build:watch
 else
diff --git a/assets/build/test.mk b/assets/build/test.mk
index f084664..e7691a2 100644
--- a/assets/build/test.mk
+++ b/assets/build/test.mk
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ install-go-tools:
 
 ## Runs eslint and golangci-lint
 .PHONY: check-style
-check-style: manifest-check webapp/node_modules install-go-tools
+check-style: manifest-check apply webapp/node_modules install-go-tools
 	@echo Checking for style guide compliance
 
 ifneq ($(HAS_WEBAPP),)
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ endif
 
 ## Runs any lints and unit tests defined for the server and webapp, if they exist.
 .PHONY: test
-test: webapp/node_modules install-go-tools
+test: apply webapp/node_modules install-go-tools
 ifneq ($(HAS_SERVER),)
 	$(GOBIN)/gotestsum -- -v ./...
 endif
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ endif
 ## Runs any lints and unit tests defined for the server and webapp, if they exist, optimized
 ## for a CI environment.
 .PHONY: test-ci
-test-ci: webapp/node_modules install-go-tools
+test-ci: apply webapp/node_modules install-go-tools
 ifneq ($(HAS_SERVER),)
 	$(GOBIN)/gotestsum --format standard-verbose --junitfile report.xml -- ./...
 endif
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ endif
 
 ## Creates a coverage report for the server code.
 .PHONY: coverage
-coverage: webapp/node_modules
+coverage: apply webapp/node_modules
 ifneq ($(HAS_SERVER),)
 	$(GO) test $(GO_TEST_FLAGS) -coverprofile=server/coverage.txt ./server/...
 	$(GO) tool cover -html=server/coverage.txt