diff --git a/applets/appmenu/lib/appmenuapplet.cpp b/applets/appmenu/lib/appmenuapplet.cpp
--- a/applets/appmenu/lib/appmenuapplet.cpp
+++ b/applets/appmenu/lib/appmenuapplet.cpp
@@ -207,16 +207,11 @@
             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
diff --git a/applets/appmenu/package/contents/ui/main.qml b/applets/appmenu/package/contents/ui/main.qml
--- a/applets/appmenu/package/contents/ui/main.qml
+++ b/applets/appmenu/package/contents/ui/main.qml
@@ -56,9 +56,18 @@
 
     Plasmoid.fullRepresentation: GridLayout {
         id: buttonGrid
-        //when we're not enabled set to active to show the configure button
-        Plasmoid.status: buttonRepeater.count > 0 ?
-                         PlasmaCore.Types.ActiveStatus : PlasmaCore.Types.HiddenStatus
+
+        Plasmoid.status: {
+            if (menuAvailable && plasmoid.nativeInterface.currentIndex > -1 && buttonRepeater.count > 0) {
+                return PlasmaCore.Types.NeedsAttentionStatus;
+            } else if (menuAvailable){
+                //when we're not enabled set to active to show the configure button
+                return buttonRepeater.count > 0 ? PlasmaCore.Types.ActiveStatus : PlasmaCore.Types.HiddenStatus;
+            } else {
+                return PlasmaCore.Types.PassiveStatus;
+            }
+        }
+
         Layout.minimumWidth: implicitWidth
         Layout.minimumHeight: implicitHeight