diff --git a/lib/appmenuapplet.cpp b/lib/appmenuapplet.cpp
--- a/lib/appmenuapplet.cpp
+++ b/lib/appmenuapplet.cpp
@@ -305,22 +305,20 @@
             actionMenu->installEventFilter(this);
         }
 
-        setStatus(Plasma::Types::AcceptingInputStatus);
         actionMenu->winId();//create window handle
         actionMenu->windowHandle()->setTransientParent(ctx->window());
 
         actionMenu->popup(pos);
 
-        //we can return to passive immediately, an autohide panel will stay open whilst
-        //any transient window is showing
-        setStatus(Plasma::Types::PassiveStatus);
-
         if (view() == FullView) {
             // hide the old menu only after showing the new one to avoid brief flickering
             // in other windows as they briefly re-gain focus
             QMenu *oldMenu = m_currentMenu;
             m_currentMenu = actionMenu;
             if (oldMenu && oldMenu != actionMenu) {
+                //! dont trigger initialization of index because there is a new menu created
+                disconnect(oldMenu, &QMenu::aboutToHide, this, &AppMenuApplet::onMenuAboutToHide);
+                
                 oldMenu->hide();
             }
         }
diff --git a/package/contents/ui/main.qml b/package/contents/ui/main.qml
--- a/package/contents/ui/main.qml
+++ b/package/contents/ui/main.qml
@@ -102,7 +102,15 @@
 
     Plasmoid.preferredRepresentation: Plasmoid.fullRepresentation
 
-
+    Plasmoid.status: {
+        if (appmenu.appmenuOpened) {
+            return PlasmaCore.Types.NeedsAttentionStatus;
+        } else if (!appmenu.appmenuOpened && appmenu.appmenuEnabledAndNonEmpty){
+            return PlasmaCore.Types.ActiveStatus;
+        } else {
+            return PlasmaCore.Types.PassiveStatus;
+        }
+    }
 
     //
     // MODEL