diff --git a/stream.php b/stream.php
index 004538521..97dd78f53 100755
--- a/stream.php
+++ b/stream.php
@@ -71,9 +71,12 @@ private function __construct() {
 		require_once WP_STREAM_INC_DIR . 'db.php';
 		$this->db = new WP_Stream_DB;
 
-		// Check DB and add message if not present
+		// Check DB and display an admin notice if there are tables missing
 		add_action( 'init', array( $this, 'verify_database_present' ) );
 
+		// Install the plugin
+		add_action( 'wp_stream_install', array( __CLASS__, 'install' ) );
+
 		// Load languages
 		add_action( 'plugins_loaded', array( __CLASS__, 'i18n' ) );
 
@@ -172,12 +175,8 @@ public static function install() {
 	 * @return void
 	 */
 	public function verify_database_present() {
-		if ( ! function_exists( 'is_plugin_active_for_network' ) ) {
-			require_once( ABSPATH . '/wp-admin/includes/plugin.php' );
-		}
-
 		/**
-		 * Filter will halt verify_database_present() and install() if set to true
+		 * Filter will halt install() if set to true
 		 *
 		 * @param  bool
 		 * @return bool
@@ -186,6 +185,10 @@ public function verify_database_present() {
 			return;
 		}
 
+		if ( ! function_exists( 'is_plugin_active_for_network' ) ) {
+			require_once( ABSPATH . '/wp-admin/includes/plugin.php' );
+		}
+
 		global $wpdb;
 
 		$database_message  = '';
@@ -218,8 +221,8 @@ public function verify_database_present() {
 			$uninstall_message = sprintf( __( 'Please <a href="%s">uninstall</a> the Stream plugin and activate it again.', 'stream' ), admin_url( 'plugins.php#stream' ) );
 		}
 
-		// Check upgrade routine
-		self::install();
+		// Install the plugin
+		do_action( 'wp_stream_install' );
 
 		if ( ! empty( $database_message ) ) {
 			self::notice( $database_message );