diff --git a/charts/headlamp/templates/deployment.yaml b/charts/headlamp/templates/deployment.yaml
index 94042e1ee33..4ac500edf6e 100644
--- a/charts/headlamp/templates/deployment.yaml
+++ b/charts/headlamp/templates/deployment.yaml
@@ -327,13 +327,15 @@ spec:
           {{- end }}
           args:
             - |
-              echo "Installing headlamp-plugin globally..."
-              npm install -g @headlamp-k8s/pluginctl@{{ .Values.pluginsManager.version }}
-              echo "Installed headlamp-plugin successfully."
               if [ -f "/config/plugin.yml" ]; then
                 echo "Installing plugins from config..."
                 cat /config/plugin.yml
-                pluginctl install --config /config/plugin.yml --folderName {{ .Values.config.pluginsDir }} --watch
+                # Use a writable cache directory
+                export NPM_CONFIG_CACHE=/tmp/npm-cache
+                # Use a writable config directory
+                export NPM_CONFIG_USERCONFIG=/tmp/npm-userconfig
+                mkdir -p /tmp/npm-cache /tmp/npm-userconfig
+                npx --yes @headlamp-k8s/pluginctl@{{ .Values.pluginsManager.version }} install --config /config/plugin.yml --folderName {{ .Values.config.pluginsDir }} --watch
               fi
           volumeMounts:
             - name: plugins-dir
diff --git a/charts/headlamp/templates/plugin-configmap.yaml b/charts/headlamp/templates/plugin-configmap.yaml
index 5d5619fb4d1..43bf007bde7 100644
--- a/charts/headlamp/templates/plugin-configmap.yaml
+++ b/charts/headlamp/templates/plugin-configmap.yaml
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-{{- if .Values.pluginsManager.enabled }}
+{{- if .Values.pluginsManager.enabled -}}
 apiVersion: v1
 kind: ConfigMap
 metadata:
@@ -7,6 +7,5 @@ metadata:
   labels:
     {{- include "headlamp.labels" . | nindent 4 }}
 data:
-  plugin.yml: |
-    {{ .Values.pluginsManager.configContent | nindent 4 }}
+  plugin.yml: |{{ .Values.pluginsManager.configContent | nindent 4 }}
 {{- end }}
diff --git a/charts/headlamp/tests/expected_templates/security-context.yaml b/charts/headlamp/tests/expected_templates/security-context.yaml
index 18830ca82c0..b3dae60534d 100644
--- a/charts/headlamp/tests/expected_templates/security-context.yaml
+++ b/charts/headlamp/tests/expected_templates/security-context.yaml
@@ -159,13 +159,15 @@ spec:
           command: ["/bin/sh", "-c"]
           args:
             - |
-              echo "Installing headlamp-plugin globally..."
-              npm install -g @headlamp-k8s/pluginctl@1.0.0
-              echo "Installed headlamp-plugin successfully."
               if [ -f "/config/plugin.yml" ]; then
                 echo "Installing plugins from config..."
                 cat /config/plugin.yml
-                pluginctl install --config /config/plugin.yml --folderName /headlamp/plugins --watch
+                # Use a writable cache directory
+                export NPM_CONFIG_CACHE=/tmp/npm-cache
+                # Use a writable config directory
+                export NPM_CONFIG_USERCONFIG=/tmp/npm-userconfig
+                mkdir -p /tmp/npm-cache /tmp/npm-userconfig
+                npx --yes @headlamp-k8s/pluginctl@1.0.0 install --config /config/plugin.yml --folderName /headlamp/plugins --watch
               fi
           volumeMounts:
             - name: plugins-dir