diff --git a/placement.cpp b/placement.cpp
--- a/placement.cpp
+++ b/placement.cpp
@@ -74,6 +74,8 @@
         placeOnScreenDisplay(c, area);
     else if (c->isTransient() && c->hasTransientPlacementHint())
         placeTransient(c);
+    else if (c->isTransient() && c->surface())
+        placeDialog(c, area, options->placement());
     else
         place(c, area, options->placement());
 }
diff --git a/shell_client.cpp b/shell_client.cpp
--- a/shell_client.cpp
+++ b/shell_client.cpp
@@ -1574,7 +1574,8 @@
 
 bool ShellClient::hasTransientPlacementHint() const
 {
-    return isTransient() && transientFor() != nullptr;
+    return isTransient() && transientFor() != nullptr &&
+        (m_shellSurface || m_xdgShellPopup);
 }
 
 QPoint ShellClient::transientPlacementHint() const