diff --git a/containments/desktop/package/contents/code/LayoutManager.js b/containments/desktop/package/contents/code/LayoutManager.js
--- a/containments/desktop/package/contents/code/LayoutManager.js
+++ b/containments/desktop/package/contents/code/LayoutManager.js
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 var resultsFlow
 var plasmoid;
 var itemsConfig
+var rotations = {}
 
 //bookkeeping for the item groups
 var itemGroups = {}
@@ -307,5 +308,16 @@
         //print("-- Saving rotation : " + rect.rotation);
         itemsConfig[item.category] = rect
     }
+}
+
+function saveRotation(item) {
+    if (item.category) {
+        rotations[item.category] = item.rotation;
+    }
+}
 
+function restoreRotation(item) {
+    if (item.category && rotations[item.category]) {
+        item.rotation = rotations[item.category];
+    }
 }
diff --git a/containments/desktop/package/contents/ui/AppletAppearance.qml b/containments/desktop/package/contents/ui/AppletAppearance.qml
--- a/containments/desktop/package/contents/ui/AppletAppearance.qml
+++ b/containments/desktop/package/contents/ui/AppletAppearance.qml
@@ -176,6 +176,7 @@
 //                     print("Applet removed Applet-" + applet.id)
                     if (applet.id == appletItem.applet.id) {
 //                         print("Destroying Applet-" + applet.id)
+                        root.layoutManager.saveRotation(appletItem);
                         root.layoutManager.setSpaceAvailable(appletItem.x, appletItem.y, appletItem.width, appletItem.height, true)
                         //applet.action("remove").trigger();
                         //appletItem.destroy()
@@ -444,6 +445,5 @@
         layoutTimer.running = true
         layoutTimer.restart()
         visible = false
-        // restore rotation
     }
 }
diff --git a/containments/desktop/package/contents/ui/main.qml b/containments/desktop/package/contents/ui/main.qml
--- a/containments/desktop/package/contents/ui/main.qml
+++ b/containments/desktop/package/contents/ui/main.qml
@@ -173,6 +173,8 @@
         if (config !== undefined && config.rotation !== undefined &&
             (config.rotation > 5 || config.rotation < -5)) {
             container.rotation = config.rotation;
+        } else {
+            LayoutManager.restoreRotation(container);
         }
 
         LayoutManager.itemGroups[container.category] = container;