diff --git a/kstyle/breezeshadowhelper.cpp b/kstyle/breezeshadowhelper.cpp
--- a/kstyle/breezeshadowhelper.cpp
+++ b/kstyle/breezeshadowhelper.cpp
@@ -204,6 +204,7 @@
 
         _pixmaps.clear();
         _shadowTiles = TileSet();
+        shadowTiles();
 
     }
 
@@ -442,10 +443,8 @@
         if( !_atom && Helper::isX11() ) _atom = _helper.createAtom( QLatin1String( netWMShadowAtomName ) );
         #endif
 
-        shadowTiles();
-
         // make sure size is valid
-        if( _pixmaps.empty() && _shadowTiles.isValid() )
+        if( _pixmaps.empty() )
         {
 
             _pixmaps.append( createPixmap( _shadowTiles.pixmap( 1 ) ) );
@@ -509,7 +508,7 @@
     //_______________________________________________________
     bool ShadowHelper::installShadows( QWidget* widget )
     {
-        if( !widget ) return false;
+        if( !widget || !_shadowTiles.isValid() ) return false;
 
         /*
         From bespin code. Supposibly prevent playing with some 'pseudo-widgets'
@@ -567,8 +566,6 @@
         if( widget->windowHandle()->parent() ) return false;
         if( !_shadowManager || !_shmPool ) return false;
 
-        if( !_shadowTiles.isValid() ) return false;
-
         // create shadow
         using namespace KWayland::Client;
         auto s = Surface::fromWindow( widget->windowHandle() );