diff --git a/applets/pager/package/contents/ui/main.qml b/applets/pager/package/contents/ui/main.qml
--- a/applets/pager/package/contents/ui/main.qml
+++ b/applets/pager/package/contents/ui/main.qml
@@ -126,6 +126,8 @@
 
     Pager {
         id: pager
+        // don't bother updating the models when we're not visible
+        enabled: root.visible
         orientation: plasmoid.formFactor == PlasmaCore.Types.Vertical ? Qt.Vertical : Qt.Horizontal
         size: Qt.size(root.width, root.height)
         showWindowIcons: plasmoid.configuration.showWindowIcons
diff --git a/applets/pager/plugin/pager.h b/applets/pager/plugin/pager.h
--- a/applets/pager/plugin/pager.h
+++ b/applets/pager/plugin/pager.h
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@
 {
     Q_OBJECT
     Q_PROPERTY(QObject* model READ model CONSTANT)
+    Q_PROPERTY(bool enabled READ enabled WRITE setEnabled NOTIFY enabledChanged)
     Q_PROPERTY(int currentDesktop READ currentDesktop NOTIFY currentDesktopChanged)
     Q_PROPERTY(int desktopCount READ desktopCount NOTIFY desktopCountChanged)
     Q_PROPERTY(bool showWindowIcons READ showWindowIcons WRITE setShowWindowIcons NOTIFY showWindowIconsChanged)
@@ -72,6 +73,9 @@
 
         QObject *model() const { return m_pagerModel; }
 
+        bool enabled() const { return m_enabled; }
+        void setEnabled(bool enabled);
+
         int currentDesktop() const { return m_currentDesktop; }
         void setCurrentDesktop(int desktop);
 
@@ -99,6 +103,7 @@
         Q_INVOKABLE void dropMimeData(QMimeData *mimeData, int desktopId);
 
     Q_SIGNALS:
+        void enabledChanged();
         void currentDesktopChanged();
         void desktopCountChanged();
         void showWindowIconsChanged();
@@ -155,6 +160,7 @@
         bool m_showWindowIcons : 1;
         bool m_desktopDown : 1;
         bool m_validSizes : 1;
+        bool m_enabled : 1;
 
         QDesktopWidget *m_desktopWidget;
         bool m_isX11;
diff --git a/applets/pager/plugin/pager.cpp b/applets/pager/plugin/pager.cpp
--- a/applets/pager/plugin/pager.cpp
+++ b/applets/pager/plugin/pager.cpp
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@
       m_showWindowIcons(false),
       m_desktopDown(false),
       m_validSizes(false),
+      m_enabled(true),
       m_desktopWidget(QApplication::desktop())
 #if HAVE_X11
       , m_isX11(QX11Info::isPlatformX11())
@@ -121,6 +122,18 @@
 {
 }
 
+void Pager::setEnabled(bool enabled)
+{
+    if (m_enabled != enabled) {
+        m_enabled = enabled;
+        emit enabledChanged();
+
+        if (enabled) {
+            startTimerFast();
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 int Pager::desktopCount() const
 {
     return m_desktopCount;
@@ -355,6 +368,10 @@
 
 void Pager::recalculateWindowRects()
 {
+    if (!m_enabled) {
+        return;
+    }
+
     if (!m_isX11) {
         return;
     }