diff --git a/kong/db/dao/plugins/go.lua b/kong/db/dao/plugins/go.lua
index 7e3dbe69a03..9d4d6c3fd44 100644
--- a/kong/db/dao/plugins/go.lua
+++ b/kong/db/dao/plugins/go.lua
@@ -518,7 +518,7 @@ local get_plugin do
 
             local instance_id = get_instance(plugin_name, conf)
             local _, err = bridge_loop(instance_id, phase)
-            if err and string.match(err, "No plugin instance") then
+            if err and string.match(err:lower(), "no plugin instance") then
               instance_id = reset_and_get_instance(plugin_name, conf)
               bridge_loop(instance_id, phase)
             end
@@ -531,7 +531,7 @@ local get_plugin do
         plugin[phase] = function(self, conf)
           local instance_id = get_instance(plugin_name, conf)
           local _, err = bridge_loop(instance_id, phase)
-          if err and string.match(err, "No plugin instance") then
+          if err and string.match(err:lower(), "no plugin instance") then
             instance_id = reset_and_get_instance(plugin_name, conf)
             bridge_loop(instance_id, phase)
           end
diff --git a/kong/runloop/plugin_servers/mp_rpc.lua b/kong/runloop/plugin_servers/mp_rpc.lua
index 382b30bdb23..2a4a16962cd 100644
--- a/kong/runloop/plugin_servers/mp_rpc.lua
+++ b/kong/runloop/plugin_servers/mp_rpc.lua
@@ -307,7 +307,7 @@ function Rpc:handle_event(plugin_name, conf, phase)
   if err then
     kong.log.err(err)
 
-    if string.match(err, "No plugin instance") then
+    if string.match(err:lower(), "no plugin instance") then
       self.reset_instance(plugin_name, conf)
       return self:handle_event(plugin_name, conf, phase)
     end
diff --git a/kong/runloop/plugin_servers/pb_rpc.lua b/kong/runloop/plugin_servers/pb_rpc.lua
index 8eee9090689..b85cd047fa2 100644
--- a/kong/runloop/plugin_servers/pb_rpc.lua
+++ b/kong/runloop/plugin_servers/pb_rpc.lua
@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ function Rpc:handle_event(plugin_name, conf, phase)
   if not res then
     kong.log.err(err)
 
-    if string.match(err, "No plugin instance") then
+    if string.match(err:lower(), "no plugin instance") then
       self.reset_instance(plugin_name, conf)
       return self:handle_event(plugin_name, conf, phase)
     end