diff --git a/sleekxmpp/xmlstream/stanzabase.py b/sleekxmpp/xmlstream/stanzabase.py
index 2f86430..8678ca1 100644
--- a/sleekxmpp/xmlstream/stanzabase.py
+++ b/sleekxmpp/xmlstream/stanzabase.py
@@ -345,7 +345,8 @@ class ElementBase(object):
         """
         if attrib not in self.plugins:
             plugin_class = self.plugin_attrib_map[attrib]
-            plugin = plugin_class(parent=self)
+            existing_xml = self.xml.find(plugin_class.tag_name())
+            plugin = plugin_class(parent=self, xml=existing_xml)
             self.plugins[attrib] = plugin
             if plugin_class in self.plugin_iterables:
                 self.iterables.append(plugin)