diff --git a/src/kitemviews/kfileitemmodelrolesupdater.cpp b/src/kitemviews/kfileitemmodelrolesupdater.cpp
--- a/src/kitemviews/kfileitemmodelrolesupdater.cpp
+++ b/src/kitemviews/kfileitemmodelrolesupdater.cpp
@@ -502,7 +502,10 @@
     const bool isWindowsExePreview = mimeType == QLatin1String("application/x-ms-dos-executable") ||
                                      mimeType == QLatin1String("application/x-msdownload");
 
-    if (!isFolderPreview && !isFontPreview && !isWindowsExePreview) {
+    if (!isFontPreview &&
+        !isFolderPreview &&
+        !isWindowsExePreview &&
+        !pixmap.hasAlpha()) {
         if (m_enlargeSmallPreviews) {
             KPixmapModifier::applyFrame(scaledPixmap, m_iconSize);
         } else {