diff --git a/plugins/tools/defaulttool/defaulttool/DefaultTool.h b/plugins/tools/defaulttool/defaulttool/DefaultTool.h
--- a/plugins/tools/defaulttool/defaulttool/DefaultTool.h
+++ b/plugins/tools/defaulttool/defaulttool/DefaultTool.h
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@
      * and handled by interaction strategies of type KoInteractionStrategy.
      * @param canvas the canvas this tool will be working for.
      */
-    explicit DefaultTool(KoCanvasBase *canvas);
+    explicit DefaultTool(KoCanvasBase *canvas, bool connectToSelectedShapesProxy = false);
     ~DefaultTool() override;
 
     enum CanvasResource {
diff --git a/plugins/tools/defaulttool/defaulttool/DefaultTool.cpp b/plugins/tools/defaulttool/defaulttool/DefaultTool.cpp
--- a/plugins/tools/defaulttool/defaulttool/DefaultTool.cpp
+++ b/plugins/tools/defaulttool/defaulttool/DefaultTool.cpp
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@
     QPointer<KoSelection> m_selection;
 };
 
-DefaultTool::DefaultTool(KoCanvasBase *canvas)
+DefaultTool::DefaultTool(KoCanvasBase *canvas, bool connectToSelectedShapesProxy)
     : KoInteractionTool(canvas)
     , m_lastHandle(KoFlake::NoHandle)
     , m_hotPosition(KoFlake::TopLeft)
@@ -340,7 +340,9 @@
     m_sizeCursors[6] = Qt::SizeHorCursor;
     m_sizeCursors[7] = Qt::SizeFDiagCursor;
 
-    connect(canvas->selectedShapesProxy(), SIGNAL(selectionChanged()), this, SLOT(updateActions()));
+    if (connectToSelectedShapesProxy) {
+        connect(canvas->selectedShapesProxy(), SIGNAL(selectionChanged()), this, SLOT(updateActions()));
+    }
 }
 
 DefaultTool::~DefaultTool()
diff --git a/plugins/tools/defaulttool/defaulttool/DefaultToolFactory.cpp b/plugins/tools/defaulttool/defaulttool/DefaultToolFactory.cpp
--- a/plugins/tools/defaulttool/defaulttool/DefaultToolFactory.cpp
+++ b/plugins/tools/defaulttool/defaulttool/DefaultToolFactory.cpp
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@
 
 KoToolBase *DefaultToolFactory::createTool(KoCanvasBase *canvas)
 {
-    return new DefaultTool(canvas);
+    return new DefaultTool(canvas, true);
 }
 
 QList<QAction *> DefaultToolFactory::createActionsImpl()
diff --git a/plugins/tools/defaulttool/referenceimagestool/ToolReferenceImages.cpp b/plugins/tools/defaulttool/referenceimagestool/ToolReferenceImages.cpp
--- a/plugins/tools/defaulttool/referenceimagestool/ToolReferenceImages.cpp
+++ b/plugins/tools/defaulttool/referenceimagestool/ToolReferenceImages.cpp
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
 #include "KisReferenceImageCollection.h"
 
 ToolReferenceImages::ToolReferenceImages(KoCanvasBase * canvas)
-    : DefaultTool(canvas)
+    : DefaultTool(canvas, false)
 {
     setObjectName("ToolReferenceImages");
 }