diff --git a/shell/osd.h b/shell/osd.h
--- a/shell/osd.h
+++ b/shell/osd.h
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@
 #include <QObject>
 #include <QString>
 
+#include <KSharedConfig>
+
 namespace KDeclarative {
     class QmlObject;
 }
@@ -35,7 +37,7 @@
     Q_OBJECT
     Q_CLASSINFO("D-Bus Interface", "org.kde.osdService")
 public:
-    Osd(ShellCorona *corona);
+    Osd(KSharedConfig::Ptr config, ShellCorona *corona);
     ~Osd() override;
 
 public Q_SLOTS:
@@ -70,6 +72,8 @@
     KDeclarative::QmlObject *m_osdObject = nullptr;
     QTimer *m_osdTimer = nullptr;
     int m_timeout = 0;
+
+    KSharedConfig::Ptr m_config;
 };
 
 #endif // OSD_H
diff --git a/shell/osd.cpp b/shell/osd.cpp
--- a/shell/osd.cpp
+++ b/shell/osd.cpp
@@ -29,9 +29,10 @@
 #include <KDeclarative/QmlObject>
 #include <klocalizedstring.h>
 
-Osd::Osd(ShellCorona *corona)
+Osd::Osd(KSharedConfig::Ptr config, ShellCorona *corona)
     : QObject(corona)
     , m_osdPath(corona->lookAndFeelPackage().filePath("osdmainscript"))
+    , m_config(config)
 {
     QDBusConnection::sessionBus().registerObject(QStringLiteral("/org/kde/osdService"), this, QDBusConnection::ExportAllSlots | QDBusConnection::ExportAllSignals);
 }
@@ -153,6 +154,10 @@
 
 bool Osd::init()
 {
+    if (m_config && !KConfigGroup(m_config, QStringLiteral("OSD")).readEntry(QStringLiteral("Enabled"), true)) {
+        return false;
+    }
+
     if (m_osdObject && m_osdObject->rootObject()) {
         return true;
     }
diff --git a/shell/shellcorona.h b/shell/shellcorona.h
--- a/shell/shellcorona.h
+++ b/shell/shellcorona.h
@@ -210,6 +210,7 @@
 
 private:
     void updateStruts();
+    void configurationChanged(const QString &path);
     bool isOutputRedundant(QScreen* screen) const;
     void reconsiderOutputs();
     QList<PanelView *> panelsForScreen(QScreen *screen) const;
@@ -223,6 +224,9 @@
 
     void insertContainment(const QString &activity, int screenNum, Plasma::Containment *containment);
 
+    KSharedConfig::Ptr m_config;
+    QString m_configPath;
+
     ScreenPool *m_screenPool;
     QString m_shell;
     KActivities::Controller *m_activityController;
diff --git a/shell/shellcorona.cpp b/shell/shellcorona.cpp
--- a/shell/shellcorona.cpp
+++ b/shell/shellcorona.cpp
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@
 
 ShellCorona::ShellCorona(QObject *parent)
     : Plasma::Corona(parent),
+      m_config(KSharedConfig::openConfig(QStringLiteral("plasmarc"))),
       m_screenPool(new ScreenPool(KSharedConfig::openConfig(), this)),
       m_activityController(new KActivities::Controller(this)),
       m_addPanelAction(nullptr),
@@ -216,7 +217,13 @@
         });
     }
 
-    new Osd(this);
+    new Osd(m_config, this);
+
+    // catch when plasmarc changes, so we e.g. enable/disable the OSd
+    m_configPath = QStandardPaths::writableLocation(QStandardPaths::GenericConfigLocation) + QLatin1Char('/') + m_config->name();
+    KDirWatch::self()->addFile(m_configPath);
+    connect(KDirWatch::self(), &KDirWatch::dirty, this, &ShellCorona::configurationChanged);
+    connect(KDirWatch::self(), &KDirWatch::created, this, &ShellCorona::configurationChanged);
 }
 
 ShellCorona::~ShellCorona()
@@ -254,7 +261,7 @@
 
     QString themeName;
 
-    KConfigGroup plasmarc(KSharedConfig::openConfig(QStringLiteral("plasmarc")), themeGroupKey);
+    KConfigGroup plasmarc(m_config, themeGroupKey);
     themeName = plasmarc.readEntry(themeNameKey, themeName);
 
     if (themeName.isEmpty()) {
@@ -2013,6 +2020,12 @@
     }
 }
 
+void ShellCorona::configurationChanged(const QString &path)
+{
+    if (path == m_configPath) {
+        m_config->reparseConfiguration();
+    }
+}
 
 void ShellCorona::activateLauncherMenu()
 {