diff --git a/autotests/extractorcollectiontest.cpp b/autotests/extractorcollectiontest.cpp
--- a/autotests/extractorcollectiontest.cpp
+++ b/autotests/extractorcollectiontest.cpp
@@ -68,6 +68,22 @@
             QVERIFY(!xmlExtractors.contains(extractor));
         }
     }
+
+    void testBestMatching()
+    {
+        QCoreApplication::setLibraryPaths({QCoreApplication::applicationDirPath()});
+        ExtractorCollection collection;
+
+        auto textExtractors = collection.fetchExtractors("text/plain");
+        auto xmlSubtypeExtractors = collection.fetchExtractors("application/x-kvtml");
+        QVERIFY(!xmlSubtypeExtractors.isEmpty());
+
+        // Verify the generic "text/plain" extractor is also not used for
+        // types inherited from "application/xml"
+        for (auto extractor : textExtractors) {
+            QVERIFY(!xmlSubtypeExtractors.contains(extractor));
+        }
+    }
 };
 
 QTEST_GUILESS_MAIN(ExtractorCollectionTest)
diff --git a/src/extractorcollection.h b/src/extractorcollection.h
--- a/src/extractorcollection.h
+++ b/src/extractorcollection.h
@@ -48,8 +48,10 @@
      * Fetch the extractors which can be used to extract
      * data for the respective file with the given mimetype.
      *
-     * If no match is found then all the plugins whose mimetype list
-     * starts with \p mimetype are returned.
+     * If no match is found then the best matching plugins
+     * are returned, determined by mimetype inheritance.
+     *
+     * \sa QMimeType::allAncestors
      */
     QList<Extractor*> fetchExtractors(const QString& mimetype) const;
 
diff --git a/src/extractorcollection.cpp b/src/extractorcollection.cpp
--- a/src/extractorcollection.cpp
+++ b/src/extractorcollection.cpp
@@ -148,17 +148,20 @@
 QList<Extractor*> ExtractorCollection::fetchExtractors(const QString& mimetype) const
 {
     QList<Extractor*> plugins = d->m_extractors.values(mimetype);
-    if (plugins.isEmpty()) {
-        QMimeDatabase db;
-        auto type = db.mimeTypeForName(mimetype);
-        auto it = d->m_extractors.constBegin();
-        for (; it != d->m_extractors.constEnd(); ++it) {
-            if (plugins.contains(it.value())) {
-                continue;
-            }
-            if (type.inherits(it.key())) {
-                plugins << it.value();
-            }
+    if (!plugins.isEmpty()) {
+        return plugins;
+    }
+
+    // try to find the best matching more generic extractor by mimetype inheritance
+    QMimeDatabase db;
+    auto type = db.mimeTypeForName(mimetype);
+    const QStringList ancestors = type.allAncestors();
+
+    for (auto ancestor : ancestors) {
+        QList<Extractor*> plugins = d->m_extractors.values(ancestor);
+        if (!plugins.isEmpty()) {
+            qCDebug(KFILEMETADATA_LOG) << "Using inherited mimetype" << ancestor <<  "for" << mimetype;
+            return plugins;
         }
     }