diff --git a/src/filemetadataprovider.h b/src/filemetadataprovider.h
--- a/src/filemetadataprovider.h
+++ b/src/filemetadataprovider.h
@@ -105,12 +105,15 @@
 
 Q_SIGNALS:
     /**
-     * Is emitted after the loading triggered by KFileMetaDataProvider::setItems()
-     * has been finished.
-     *
-     * Can be emitted multiple times to indicate data changes
+     * Emitted once per KFileMetaDataProvider::setItems() 
+     * after data loading is finished.
      */
     void loadingFinished();
+     /**
+     * Indicates data changes.
+     * Can be emitted zero or more times
+     */
+    void dataAvailable();
 
 private Q_SLOTS:
     void slotLoadingFinished(KJob* job);
diff --git a/src/filemetadataprovider.cpp b/src/filemetadataprovider.cpp
--- a/src/filemetadataprovider.cpp
+++ b/src/filemetadataprovider.cpp
@@ -134,10 +134,7 @@
     FileFetchJob* fetchJob = static_cast<FileFetchJob*>(job);
     QList<QVariantMap> files = fetchJob->data();
     
-    if (files.size() == 0) {
-        emit loadingFinished();
-        return;
-    }
+    Q_ASSERT(!files.isEmpty());
     
     if (files.size() > 1) {
         insertCommonData(files);
diff --git a/src/filemetadatawidget.h b/src/filemetadatawidget.h
--- a/src/filemetadatawidget.h
+++ b/src/filemetadatawidget.h
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@
     Private* d;
 
     Q_PRIVATE_SLOT(d, void slotLoadingFinished())
+    Q_PRIVATE_SLOT(d, void slotDataAvailable())
     Q_PRIVATE_SLOT(d, void slotLinkActivated(QString))
     Q_PRIVATE_SLOT(d, void slotDataChangeStarted())
     Q_PRIVATE_SLOT(d, void slotDataChangeFinished())
diff --git a/src/filemetadatawidget.cpp b/src/filemetadatawidget.cpp
--- a/src/filemetadatawidget.cpp
+++ b/src/filemetadatawidget.cpp
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@
     void deleteRows();
 
     void slotLoadingFinished();
+    void slotDataAvailable();
     void slotLinkActivated(const QString& link);
     void slotDataChangeStarted();
     void slotDataChangeFinished();
@@ -94,6 +95,7 @@
     // TODO: If KFileMetaDataProvider might get a public class in future KDE releases,
     // the following code should be moved into KFileMetaDataWidget::setModel():
     m_provider = new FileMetaDataProvider(q);
+    connect(m_provider, SIGNAL(dataAvailable()), q, SLOT(slotDataAvailable()));
     connect(m_provider, SIGNAL(loadingFinished()), q, SLOT(slotLoadingFinished()));
 }
 
@@ -112,6 +114,12 @@
 }
 
 void FileMetaDataWidget::Private::slotLoadingFinished()
+{
+    slotDataAvailable(); 
+    emit q->metaDataRequestFinished(m_provider->items());
+}
+
+void FileMetaDataWidget::Private::slotDataAvailable()
 {
     deleteRows();
 
@@ -161,7 +169,7 @@
     }
 
     q->updateGeometry();
-    emit q->metaDataRequestFinished(m_provider->items());
+   
 }
 
 void FileMetaDataWidget::Private::slotLinkActivated(const QString& link)