diff --git a/CHANGES.md b/CHANGES.md
index 3a59291..2fc63a2 100644
--- a/CHANGES.md
+++ b/CHANGES.md
@@ -1,5 +1,13 @@
 # Changes
 
+## v2.1.0 (in progress)
+
+### Bug fixes
+- When loading an MkDocs config, mike now runs the `startup` and `shutdown`
+  events
+
+---
+
 ## v2.0.0 (2023-11-02)
 
 ### New features
diff --git a/mike/mkdocs_utils.py b/mike/mkdocs_utils.py
index f1b3d95..459846c 100644
--- a/mike/mkdocs_utils.py
+++ b/mike/mkdocs_utils.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import mkdocs.config
+import mkdocs.plugins
 import mkdocs.utils
 import os
 import re
@@ -30,7 +31,14 @@ def _open_config(config_file=None):
 def load_config(config_file=None, **kwargs):
     with _open_config(config_file) as f:
         cfg = mkdocs.config.load_config(f, **kwargs)
-        return cfg['plugins'].run_event('config', cfg)
+
+        if 'startup' in mkdocs.plugins.EVENTS:
+            cfg['plugins'].run_event('startup', command='mike', dirty=False)
+        cfg = cfg['plugins'].run_event('config', cfg)
+        if 'shutdown' in mkdocs.plugins.EVENTS:
+            cfg['plugins'].run_event('shutdown')
+
+        return cfg
 
 
 @contextmanager