diff --git a/kcms/touchpad/src/backends/x11/xlibbackend.cpp b/kcms/touchpad/src/backends/x11/xlibbackend.cpp
--- a/kcms/touchpad/src/backends/x11/xlibbackend.cpp
+++ b/kcms/touchpad/src/backends/x11/xlibbackend.cpp
@@ -164,6 +164,12 @@
     }
 
     m_device->setEnabled(enable);
+
+    // FIXME This should not be needed, m_notifications should trigger
+    // a propertyChanged signal and from there all would work
+    // but it isn't working correctly so emitting the signal
+    // from here workarounds the problem
+    Q_EMIT touchpadStateChanged();
 }
 
 void XlibBackend::setTouchpadOff(TouchpadBackend::TouchpadOffState state)