diff --git a/aprsd/config.py b/aprsd/config.py
index ebcc5cb..9650604 100644
--- a/aprsd/config.py
+++ b/aprsd/config.py
@@ -327,12 +327,6 @@ def parse_config(config_file):
         "ham.callsign",
         default_fail=DEFAULT_CONFIG_DICT["ham"]["callsign"],
     )
-
-    check_option(
-        config,
-        ["services", "aprs.fi", "apiKey"],
-        default_fail=DEFAULT_CONFIG_DICT["services"]["aprs.fi"]["apiKey"],
-    )
     check_option(
         config,
         "aprs.login",
diff --git a/aprsd/plugin.py b/aprsd/plugin.py
index 2257c8b..cc3b85c 100644
--- a/aprsd/plugin.py
+++ b/aprsd/plugin.py
@@ -241,11 +241,24 @@ class APRSDRegexCommandPluginBase(APRSDPluginBase, metaclass=abc.ABCMeta):
                     if result:
                         self.tx_inc()
                 else:
-                    LOG.warning(f"{self.__class__} isn't enabled.")
+                    result = f"{self.__class__.__name__} isn't enabled"
+                    LOG.warning(result)
 
         return result
 
 
+class APRSFIKEYMixin:
+    """Mixin class to enable checking the existence of the aprs.fi apiKey."""
+
+    def ensure_aprs_fi_key(self):
+        try:
+            self.config.check_option(["services", "aprs.fi", "apiKey"])
+            self.enabled = True
+        except Exception as ex:
+            LOG.error(f"Failed to find config aprs.fi:apikey {ex}")
+            self.enabled = False
+
+
 class HelpPlugin(APRSDRegexCommandPluginBase):
     """Help Plugin that is always enabled.
 
diff --git a/aprsd/plugins/fortune.py b/aprsd/plugins/fortune.py
index e6ac01a..56c5013 100644
--- a/aprsd/plugins/fortune.py
+++ b/aprsd/plugins/fortune.py
@@ -15,6 +15,13 @@ class FortunePlugin(plugin.APRSDRegexCommandPluginBase):
     command_regex = "^[fF]"
     command_name = "fortune"
 
+    fortune_path = None
+
+    def setup(self):
+        self.fortune_path = shutil.which("fortune")
+        if not self.fortune_path:
+            self.enabled = False
+
     @trace.trace
     def process(self, packet):
         LOG.info("FortunePlugin")
@@ -25,13 +32,8 @@ class FortunePlugin(plugin.APRSDRegexCommandPluginBase):
 
         reply = None
 
-        fortune_path = shutil.which("fortune")
-        if not fortune_path:
-            reply = "Fortune command not installed"
-            return reply
-
         try:
-            cmnd = [fortune_path, "-s", "-n 60"]
+            cmnd = [self.fortune_path, "-s", "-n 60"]
             command = " ".join(cmnd)
             output = subprocess.check_output(
                 command,
diff --git a/aprsd/plugins/location.py b/aprsd/plugins/location.py
index 6b9835e..a0381d9 100644
--- a/aprsd/plugins/location.py
+++ b/aprsd/plugins/location.py
@@ -8,13 +8,16 @@ from aprsd import plugin, plugin_utils, trace
 LOG = logging.getLogger("APRSD")
 
 
-class LocationPlugin(plugin.APRSDRegexCommandPluginBase):
+class LocationPlugin(plugin.APRSDRegexCommandPluginBase, plugin.APRSFIKEYMixin):
     """Location!"""
 
     version = "1.0"
     command_regex = "^[lL]"
     command_name = "location"
 
+    def setup(self):
+        self.ensure_aprs_fi_key()
+
     @trace.trace
     def process(self, packet):
         LOG.info("Location Plugin")
@@ -22,13 +25,6 @@ class LocationPlugin(plugin.APRSDRegexCommandPluginBase):
         message = packet.get("message_text", None)
         # ack = packet.get("msgNo", "0")
 
-        # get last location of a callsign, get descriptive name from weather service
-        try:
-            self.config.check_option(["services", "aprs.fi", "apiKey"])
-        except Exception as ex:
-            LOG.error(f"Failed to find config aprs.fi:apikey {ex}")
-            return "No aprs.fi apikey found"
-
         api_key = self.config["services"]["aprs.fi"]["apiKey"]
 
         # optional second argument is a callsign to search
diff --git a/aprsd/plugins/time.py b/aprsd/plugins/time.py
index 61e9f4b..faf9a5a 100644
--- a/aprsd/plugins/time.py
+++ b/aprsd/plugins/time.py
@@ -49,26 +49,22 @@ class TimePlugin(plugin.APRSDRegexCommandPluginBase):
         return self.build_date_str(localzone)
 
 
-class TimeOpenCageDataPlugin(TimePlugin):
+class TimeOpenCageDataPlugin(TimePlugin, plugin.APRSFIKEYMixin):
     """geocage based timezone fetching."""
 
     version = "1.0"
     command_regex = "^[tT]"
     command_name = "time"
 
+    def setup(self):
+        self.ensure_aprs_fi_key()
+
     @trace.trace
     def process(self, packet):
         fromcall = packet.get("from")
         message = packet.get("message_text", None)
         # ack = packet.get("msgNo", "0")
 
-        # get last location of a callsign, get descriptive name from weather service
-        try:
-            self.config.exists(["services", "aprs.fi", "apiKey"])
-        except Exception as ex:
-            LOG.error(f"Failed to find config aprs.fi:apikey {ex}")
-            return "No aprs.fi apikey found"
-
         api_key = self.config["services"]["aprs.fi"]["apiKey"]
 
         # optional second argument is a callsign to search
@@ -115,26 +111,22 @@ class TimeOpenCageDataPlugin(TimePlugin):
         return self.build_date_str(localzone)
 
 
-class TimeOWMPlugin(TimePlugin):
+class TimeOWMPlugin(TimePlugin, plugin.APRSFIKEYMixin):
     """OpenWeatherMap based timezone fetching."""
 
     version = "1.0"
     command_regex = "^[tT]"
     command_name = "time"
 
+    def setup(self):
+        self.ensure_aprs_fi_key()
+
     @trace.trace
     def process(self, packet):
         fromcall = packet.get("from")
         message = packet.get("message_text", None)
         # ack = packet.get("msgNo", "0")
 
-        # get last location of a callsign, get descriptive name from weather service
-        try:
-            self.config.exists(["services", "aprs.fi", "apiKey"])
-        except Exception as ex:
-            LOG.error(f"Failed to find config aprs.fi:apikey {ex}")
-            return "No aprs.fi apikey found"
-
         # optional second argument is a callsign to search
         a = re.search(r"^.*\s+(.*)", message)
         if a is not None: