diff --git a/libdbusmenuqt/dbusmenuimporter.cpp b/libdbusmenuqt/dbusmenuimporter.cpp
--- a/libdbusmenuqt/dbusmenuimporter.cpp
+++ b/libdbusmenuqt/dbusmenuimporter.cpp
@@ -401,22 +401,12 @@
         return;
     }
 
-    //remove outdated actions
-    QSet<int> newDBusMenuItemIds;
-    newDBusMenuItemIds.reserve(rootItem.children.count());
-    for (const DBusMenuLayoutItem &item: rootItem.children) {
-        newDBusMenuItemIds << item.id;
-    }
-    for (QAction *action: menu->actions()) {
-        int id = action->property(DBUSMENU_PROPERTY_ID).toInt();
-        if (! newDBusMenuItemIds.contains(id)) {
-            menu->removeAction(action);
-            action->deleteLater();
-            d->m_actionForId.remove(id);
-        }
-    }
-
     //insert or update new actions into our menu
+    // XXX: it's important to insert new actions before removing old ones
+    // Otherwise the following might happen for applications that generate menus on-the-fly (i.e. LyX)
+    //    user opens a menu -> menu is generated (updated) -> we arrive here
+    // -> we remove all the items before populating with new -> menu gets instantly closed, because it's empty
+    // -> menu gets updated, but nobody notices it, as it's already closed :(
     for (const DBusMenuLayoutItem &dbusMenuItem: rootItem.children) {
         DBusMenuImporterPrivate::ActionForId::Iterator it = d->m_actionForId.find(dbusMenuItem.id);
         QAction *action = nullptr;
@@ -451,6 +441,20 @@
             menu->addAction(action);
         }
     }
+    //remove outdated actions
+    QSet<int> newDBusMenuItemIds;
+    newDBusMenuItemIds.reserve(rootItem.children.count());
+    for (const DBusMenuLayoutItem &item: rootItem.children) {
+        newDBusMenuItemIds << item.id;
+    }
+    for (QAction *action: menu->actions()) {
+        int id = action->property(DBUSMENU_PROPERTY_ID).toInt();
+        if (! newDBusMenuItemIds.contains(id)) {
+            menu->removeAction(action);
+            action->deleteLater();
+            d->m_actionForId.remove(id);
+        }
+    }
 
     emit menuUpdated(menu);
 }