diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 1f0543fd2f..908fac1631 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -1145,6 +1145,30 @@ then
     [AC_MSG_RESULT([no])])
 fi
 
+if test "x${have_freerdp}" = "xyes"
+then
+    AC_MSG_CHECKING([whether freerdp instance supports LoadChannels])
+    AC_COMPILE_IFELSE([AC_LANG_SOURCE([[
+        #include <freerdp/freerdp.h>
+
+        /* Mock LoadChannels function with the expected signature */
+        BOOL load_channels(freerdp* instance) {
+            return TRUE;
+        }
+
+        int main() {
+            freerdp* instance = freerdp_new();
+            instance->LoadChannels = load_channels;
+            freerdp_free(instance);
+            return 0;
+        }
+    ]])],
+    [AC_MSG_RESULT([yes])]
+    [AC_DEFINE([RDP_INST_HAS_LOAD_CHANNELS],,
+               [Defined if freerdp instance supports LoadChannels])],
+    [AC_MSG_RESULT([no])])
+fi
+
 # Restore CPPFLAGS, removing FreeRDP-specific options needed for testing
 CPPFLAGS="$OLDCPPFLAGS"
 
diff --git a/src/protocols/rdp/rdp.c b/src/protocols/rdp/rdp.c
index 4cf8e5f4fb..668b7f9979 100644
--- a/src/protocols/rdp/rdp.c
+++ b/src/protocols/rdp/rdp.c
@@ -79,21 +79,28 @@
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <time.h>
 
-BOOL rdp_freerdp_pre_connect(freerdp* instance) {
-
+/**
+ * Initializes and loads the necessary FreeRDP plugins based on the current
+ * RDP session settings. This function is designed to be used as the LoadChannels
+ * callback within FreeRDP3, but is also called directly from our pre_connect
+ * function in FreeRDP2 environments. It configures various features such as
+ * display resizing, multi-touch support, audio input, clipboard synchronization,
+ * device redirection, and graphics pipeline, by loading their corresponding
+ * plugins if they are enabled in the session settings.
+ *
+ * @param instance
+ *     The FreeRDP instance to be prepared, containing all context and 
+ *     settings for the session.
+ *
+ * @return
+ *     Always TRUE.
+ */
+BOOL rdp_freerdp_load_channels(freerdp* instance) {
     rdpContext* context = GUAC_RDP_CONTEXT(instance);
-    rdpGraphics* graphics = context->graphics;
-
     guac_client* client = ((rdp_freerdp_context*) context)->client;
     guac_rdp_client* rdp_client = (guac_rdp_client*) client->data;
     guac_rdp_settings* settings = rdp_client->settings;
 
-    /* Push desired settings to FreeRDP */
-    guac_rdp_push_settings(client, settings, instance);
-
-    /* Init FreeRDP add-in provider */
-    freerdp_register_addin_provider(freerdp_channels_load_static_addin_entry, 0);
-
     /* Load "disp" plugin for display update */
     if (settings->resize_method == GUAC_RESIZE_DISPLAY_UPDATE)
         guac_rdp_disp_load_plugin(context);
@@ -125,6 +132,52 @@ BOOL rdp_freerdp_pre_connect(freerdp* instance) {
         guac_rdpsnd_load_plugin(context);
     }
 
+    /* Load "rdpgfx" plugin for Graphics Pipeline Extension */
+    if (settings->enable_gfx)
+        guac_rdp_rdpgfx_load_plugin(context);
+
+    /* Load plugin providing Dynamic Virtual Channel support, if required */
+    if (freerdp_settings_get_bool(GUAC_RDP_CONTEXT(instance)->settings, FreeRDP_SupportDynamicChannels) &&
+            guac_freerdp_channels_load_plugin(context, "drdynvc",
+                GUAC_RDP_CONTEXT(instance)->settings)) {
+        guac_client_log(client, GUAC_LOG_WARNING,
+                "Failed to load drdynvc plugin. Display update and audio "
+                "input support will be disabled.");
+    }
+
+    return TRUE;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Prepares the FreeRDP instance for connection by setting up session-specific
+ * configurations like graphics, plugins, and RDP settings. This involves 
+ * integrating Guacamole's custom rendering handlers (for bitmaps, glyphs, 
+ * and pointers). If using FreeRDP2 it manually loads RDP channels.
+ * 
+ * @param instance
+ *     The FreeRDP instance to be prepared, containing all context and 
+ *     settings for the session.
+ *
+ * @return
+ *     Returns TRUE if the pre-connection process completes successfully. 
+ *     Returns FALSE if an error occurs during the initialization of the 
+ *     FreeRDP GDI system.
+ */
+BOOL rdp_freerdp_pre_connect(freerdp* instance) {
+
+    rdpContext* context = GUAC_RDP_CONTEXT(instance);
+    rdpGraphics* graphics = context->graphics;
+
+    guac_client* client = ((rdp_freerdp_context*) context)->client;
+    guac_rdp_client* rdp_client = (guac_rdp_client*) client->data;
+    guac_rdp_settings* settings = rdp_client->settings;
+
+    /* Push desired settings to FreeRDP */
+    guac_rdp_push_settings(client, settings, instance);
+
+    /* Init FreeRDP add-in provider */
+    freerdp_register_addin_provider(freerdp_channels_load_static_addin_entry, 0);
+
     /* Load RAIL plugin if RemoteApp in use */
     if (settings->remote_app != NULL)
         guac_rdp_rail_load_plugin(context);
@@ -194,21 +247,11 @@ BOOL rdp_freerdp_pre_connect(freerdp* instance) {
     primary->MemBlt = guac_rdp_gdi_memblt;
     primary->OpaqueRect = guac_rdp_gdi_opaquerect;
 
-    /* Load "rdpgfx" plugin for Graphics Pipeline Extension */
-    if (settings->enable_gfx)
-        guac_rdp_rdpgfx_load_plugin(context);
-
-    /* Load plugin providing Dynamic Virtual Channel support, if required */
-    if (freerdp_settings_get_bool(GUAC_RDP_CONTEXT(instance)->settings, FreeRDP_SupportDynamicChannels) &&
-            guac_freerdp_channels_load_plugin(context, "drdynvc",
-                GUAC_RDP_CONTEXT(instance)->settings)) {
-        guac_client_log(client, GUAC_LOG_WARNING,
-                "Failed to load drdynvc plugin. Display update and audio "
-                "input support will be disabled.");
-    }
+    #ifndef RDP_INST_HAS_LOAD_CHANNELS
+        rdp_freerdp_load_channels(instance);
+    #endif
 
     return TRUE;
-
 }
 
 /**
@@ -489,6 +532,9 @@ static int guac_rdp_handle_connection(guac_client* client) {
 
     /* Init client */
     freerdp* rdp_inst = freerdp_new();
+    #ifdef RDP_INST_HAS_LOAD_CHANNELS
+        rdp_inst->LoadChannels = rdp_freerdp_load_channels;
+    #endif
     rdp_inst->PreConnect = rdp_freerdp_pre_connect;
     rdp_inst->Authenticate = rdp_freerdp_authenticate;