diff --git a/containments/desktop/package/contents/config/main.xml b/containments/desktop/package/contents/config/main.xml
--- a/containments/desktop/package/contents/config/main.xml
+++ b/containments/desktop/package/contents/config/main.xml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
     </entry>
     <entry name="ToolBoxButtonState" type="String">
       <label>Position state of the toolbox button.</label>
-      <default>topleft</default>
+      <default></default>
     </entry>
     <entry name="ToolBoxButtonX" type="int">
       <label>X coordinate of the toolbox.</label>
diff --git a/toolboxes/desktoptoolbox/contents/ui/ToolBoxRoot.qml b/toolboxes/desktoptoolbox/contents/ui/ToolBoxRoot.qml
--- a/toolboxes/desktoptoolbox/contents/ui/ToolBoxRoot.qml
+++ b/toolboxes/desktoptoolbox/contents/ui/ToolBoxRoot.qml
@@ -140,6 +140,16 @@
     }
 
     function placeToolBox(ts) {
+        // if nothing has been setup yet, determin default position based on layout direction
+        if (!ts) {
+            if (Qt.application.layoutDirection === Qt.RightToLeft) {
+                placeToolBox("topleft");
+            } else {
+                placeToolBox("topright");
+            }
+            return;
+        }
+
         var tx = Plasmoid.configuration.ToolBoxButtonX
         var ty = Plasmoid.configuration.ToolBoxButtonY
         var pos;