diff --git a/openjpa-kernel/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/kernel/AbstractBrokerFactory.java b/openjpa-kernel/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/kernel/AbstractBrokerFactory.java
index 84b2477c5..2c142feb6 100644
--- a/openjpa-kernel/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/kernel/AbstractBrokerFactory.java
+++ b/openjpa-kernel/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/kernel/AbstractBrokerFactory.java
@@ -473,8 +473,14 @@ public abstract class AbstractBrokerFactory
         // reset these transient fields to empty values
         _transactional = new ConcurrentHashMap<Object,Collection<Broker>>();
         _brokers = newBrokerSet();
-
+        
+        // turn off logging while de-serializing BrokerFactory
+        String saveLogConfig = _conf.getLog();
+        _conf.setLog("none");
         makeReadOnly();
+        // re-enable any logging which was in effect
+        _conf.setLog(saveLogConfig);  
+        
         return this;
     }
 
diff --git a/openjpa-lib/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/lib/conf/PluginValue.java b/openjpa-lib/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/lib/conf/PluginValue.java
index 10d68d4f7..904ced7aa 100644
--- a/openjpa-lib/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/lib/conf/PluginValue.java
+++ b/openjpa-lib/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/lib/conf/PluginValue.java
@@ -19,7 +19,9 @@
 package org.apache.openjpa.lib.conf;
 
 import org.apache.commons.lang.StringUtils;
+import org.apache.openjpa.lib.log.Log;
 import org.apache.openjpa.lib.util.Localizer;
+import org.apache.openjpa.lib.util.ParseException;
 
 /**
  * A plugin {@link Value} consisting of plugin name and properties.
@@ -101,6 +103,20 @@ public class PluginValue extends ObjectValue {
     public Object instantiate(Class<?> type, Configuration conf, boolean fatal)
     {
         Object obj = newInstance(_name, type, conf, fatal);
+        
+        // ensure plugin value is compatible with plugin type
+        if (obj != null && !type.isAssignableFrom(obj.getClass())) {
+            Log log = (conf == null) ? null : conf.getConfigurationLog();
+            String msg = getIncompatiblePluginMessage(obj, type);
+            if (log != null && log.isErrorEnabled()) {
+            	log.error(msg);
+            }
+            if (fatal) {
+            	throw new ParseException(msg);
+            }
+            return null;
+        }
+        
         Configurations.configureInstance(obj, conf, _props,
             (fatal) ? getProperty() : null);
         if (_singleton)
@@ -108,7 +124,15 @@ public class PluginValue extends ObjectValue {
         return obj;
     }
 
-    /**
+    private String getIncompatiblePluginMessage(Object obj, Class<?> type) {
+		return _loc.get("incompatible-plugin", 
+            new Object[]{ _name, 
+                          obj == null ? null : obj.getClass().getName(),
+                          type == null ? null : type.getName()
+                          }).toString();
+	}
+
+	/**
      * Configure the given object.
      */
     public Object configure(Object obj, Configuration conf, boolean fatal) {
diff --git a/openjpa-lib/src/main/resources/org/apache/openjpa/lib/conf/localizer.properties b/openjpa-lib/src/main/resources/org/apache/openjpa/lib/conf/localizer.properties
index 9549598fe..fbe7130f5 100644
--- a/openjpa-lib/src/main/resources/org/apache/openjpa/lib/conf/localizer.properties
+++ b/openjpa-lib/src/main/resources/org/apache/openjpa/lib/conf/localizer.properties
@@ -117,3 +117,7 @@ veto-change: Can not modify "{0}" because the property is not dynamic and the \
 jndi-lookup-failed: JNDI lookup for "{0}" with key "{1}" returned null.
 multiple-load-key: Equivalent property keys "{0}" and "{1}" are specified in \
 	configuration.
+incompatible-plugin: The plugin "{0}" of value type "{1}" is not compatible with \
+	the expected plugin type "{2}". Update the configuration property with a value that \
+	is compatible with the plugin.
+	
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/openjpa-slice/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/slice/jdbc/DistributedJDBCConfigurationImpl.java b/openjpa-slice/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/slice/jdbc/DistributedJDBCConfigurationImpl.java
index ad9124a6c..a08b32de8 100644
--- a/openjpa-slice/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/slice/jdbc/DistributedJDBCConfigurationImpl.java
+++ b/openjpa-slice/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/slice/jdbc/DistributedJDBCConfigurationImpl.java
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ public class DistributedJDBCConfigurationImpl extends JDBCConfigurationImpl
 
     public QueryTargetPolicy getQueryTargetPolicyInstance() {
         if (queryTargetPolicyPlugin.get() == null) {
-            queryTargetPolicyPlugin.instantiate(ReplicationPolicy.class,
+            queryTargetPolicyPlugin.instantiate(QueryTargetPolicy.class,
                     this, true);
         }
         return (QueryTargetPolicy) queryTargetPolicyPlugin.get();