diff --git a/org.kde.desktop/private/FocusRect.qml b/org.kde.desktop/private/FocusRect.qml
--- a/org.kde.desktop/private/FocusRect.qml
+++ b/org.kde.desktop/private/FocusRect.qml
@@ -27,13 +27,14 @@
     elementType: "focusrect"
     // those random numbers come from QQC1 desktop style
     anchors {
-        left: parent.left
         top: parent.top
         bottom: parent.bottom
-        leftMargin: parent.leftPadding - 2
         topMargin: parent.topPadding - 1
         bottomMargin: parent.bottomPadding - 1
     }
+    // this is explicitly not using left anchor for auto mirroring
+    // since the control's leftPadding/rightPadding already accounts for that
+    x: parent.leftPadding - 2
     width: parent.implicitWidth - parent.leftPadding - parent.rightPadding + 3
     visible: control.activeFocus
 }