--- render.module 
+++ render.module (unsaved) 
@@ -613,12 +613,9 @@
  *   An array of rules.
  */
 function render_get_rules($plugin = NULL) {
-  static $rules = array();
-  
-  if (!empty($rules)) {
-    return $rules;
-  }
-  
+  static $active_plugins = array();
+  $rules = array();
+
   if (isset($plugin)) {
     $result = db_query("SELECT * FROM {render} WHERE plugin = '%s' ORDER BY weight", check_plain($plugin));
   }
@@ -633,8 +630,6 @@
     $rules[$rule['rid']] = $rule;
   }
 
-  // Store active plugins in a variable.
-  $active_plugins = array();
   foreach ($rules as $rule) {
     $active_plugins[$rule['plugin']] = $rule['plugin'];
   }