diff --git a/applets/taskmanager/package/contents/ui/Badge.qml b/applets/taskmanager/package/contents/ui/Badge.qml
--- a/applets/taskmanager/package/contents/ui/Badge.qml
+++ b/applets/taskmanager/package/contents/ui/Badge.qml
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
     implicitWidth: Math.max(height, Math.round(label.contentWidth + radius / 2)) // Add some padding around.
     color: theme.highlightColor
     radius: height / 2
+    visible: label.text.length !== 0
 
     PlasmaComponents.Label {
         id: label
@@ -47,7 +48,7 @@
             if (badgeRect.number < 0) {
                 return i18nc("Invalid number of new messages, overlay, keep short", "—");
             } else if (badgeRect.number > 9999) {
-                return i18nc("Over 9999 new messages, overlay, keep short", "9,999+");
+                return "";
             } else {
                 return badgeRect.number.toLocaleString(Qt.locale(), 'f', 0);
             }
diff --git a/applets/taskmanager/package/contents/ui/TaskBadgeOverlay.qml b/applets/taskmanager/package/contents/ui/TaskBadgeOverlay.qml
--- a/applets/taskmanager/package/contents/ui/TaskBadgeOverlay.qml
+++ b/applets/taskmanager/package/contents/ui/TaskBadgeOverlay.qml
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
             width: badgeRect.width + offset * 2
             height: badgeRect.height + offset * 2
             radius: badgeRect.radius + offset * 2
+            visible: badgeRect.visible
 
             // Badge changes width based on number.
             onWidthChanged: maskShaderSource.scheduleUpdate()