diff --git a/autotests/integration/kwin_wayland_test.h b/autotests/integration/kwin_wayland_test.h
--- a/autotests/integration/kwin_wayland_test.h
+++ b/autotests/integration/kwin_wayland_test.h
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@
     void createBackend();
     void continueStartupWithScreens();
     void continueStartupWithScene();
-    void continueStartupWithXwayland();
+    void finalizeStartup();
 
     Xwl::Xwayland *m_xwayland = nullptr;
 };
diff --git a/autotests/integration/kwin_wayland_test.cpp b/autotests/integration/kwin_wayland_test.cpp
--- a/autotests/integration/kwin_wayland_test.cpp
+++ b/autotests/integration/kwin_wayland_test.cpp
@@ -126,33 +126,35 @@
 {
     disconnect(kwinApp()->platform(), &Platform::screensQueried, this, &WaylandTestApplication::continueStartupWithScreens);
     createScreens();
-
-    if (operationMode() == OperationModeWaylandOnly) {
-        createCompositor();
-        connect(Compositor::self(), &Compositor::sceneCreated, this, &WaylandTestApplication::continueStartupWithScene);
-        return;
-    }
     createCompositor();
-    connect(Compositor::self(), &Compositor::sceneCreated, this, &WaylandTestApplication::continueStartupWithXwayland);
+    connect(Compositor::self(), &Compositor::sceneCreated, this, &WaylandTestApplication::continueStartupWithScene);
 }
 
-void WaylandTestApplication::continueStartupWithScene()
+void WaylandTestApplication::finalizeStartup()
 {
-    disconnect(Compositor::self(), &Compositor::sceneCreated, this, &WaylandTestApplication::continueStartupWithScene);
+    if (m_xwayland) {
+        disconnect(m_xwayland, &Xwl::Xwayland::initialized, this, &WaylandTestApplication::finalizeStartup);
+    }
     createWorkspace();
 }
 
-void WaylandTestApplication::continueStartupWithXwayland()
+void WaylandTestApplication::continueStartupWithScene()
 {
-    disconnect(Compositor::self(), &Compositor::sceneCreated, this, &WaylandTestApplication::continueStartupWithXwayland);
+    disconnect(Compositor::self(), &Compositor::sceneCreated, this, &WaylandTestApplication::continueStartupWithScene);
+
+    if (operationMode() == OperationModeWaylandOnly) {
+        finalizeStartup();
+        return;
+    }
 
     m_xwayland = new Xwl::Xwayland(this);
     connect(m_xwayland, &Xwl::Xwayland::criticalError, this, [](int code) {
         // we currently exit on Xwayland errors always directly
         // TODO: restart Xwayland
         std::cerr << "Xwayland had a critical error. Going to exit now." << std::endl;
         exit(code);
     });
+    connect(m_xwayland, &Xwl::Xwayland::initialized, this, &WaylandTestApplication::finalizeStartup);
     m_xwayland->init();
 }
 
diff --git a/main_wayland.h b/main_wayland.h
--- a/main_wayland.h
+++ b/main_wayland.h
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@
     void createBackend();
     void continueStartupWithScreens();
     void continueStartupWithScene();
-    void continueStartupWithXwayland();
+    void finalizeStartup();
     void startSession() override;
 
     bool m_startXWayland = false;
diff --git a/main_wayland.cpp b/main_wayland.cpp
--- a/main_wayland.cpp
+++ b/main_wayland.cpp
@@ -180,35 +180,37 @@
 {
     disconnect(kwinApp()->platform(), &Platform::screensQueried, this, &ApplicationWayland::continueStartupWithScreens);
     createScreens();
-
-    if (operationMode() == OperationModeWaylandOnly) {
-        createCompositor();
-        connect(Compositor::self(), &Compositor::sceneCreated, this, &ApplicationWayland::continueStartupWithScene);
-        return;
-    }
     createCompositor();
-    connect(Compositor::self(), &Compositor::sceneCreated, this, &ApplicationWayland::continueStartupWithXwayland);
+    connect(Compositor::self(), &Compositor::sceneCreated, this, &ApplicationWayland::continueStartupWithScene);
 }
 
-void ApplicationWayland::continueStartupWithScene()
+void ApplicationWayland::finalizeStartup()
 {
-    disconnect(Compositor::self(), &Compositor::sceneCreated, this, &ApplicationWayland::continueStartupWithScene);
+    if (m_xwayland) {
+        disconnect(m_xwayland, &Xwl::Xwayland::initialized, this, &ApplicationWayland::finalizeStartup);
+    }
     startSession();
     createWorkspace();
     notifyKSplash();
 }
 
-void ApplicationWayland::continueStartupWithXwayland()
+void ApplicationWayland::continueStartupWithScene()
 {
-    disconnect(Compositor::self(), &Compositor::sceneCreated, this, &ApplicationWayland::continueStartupWithXwayland);
+    disconnect(Compositor::self(), &Compositor::sceneCreated, this, &ApplicationWayland::continueStartupWithScene);
+
+    if (operationMode() == OperationModeWaylandOnly) {
+        finalizeStartup();
+        return;
+    }
 
     m_xwayland = new Xwl::Xwayland(this);
     connect(m_xwayland, &Xwl::Xwayland::criticalError, this, [](int code) {
         // we currently exit on Xwayland errors always directly
         // TODO: restart Xwayland
         std::cerr << "Xwayland had a critical error. Going to exit now." << std::endl;
         exit(code);
     });
+    connect(m_xwayland, &Xwl::Xwayland::initialized, this, &ApplicationWayland::finalizeStartup);
     m_xwayland->init();
 }
 
diff --git a/xwl/xwayland.h b/xwl/xwayland.h
--- a/xwl/xwayland.h
+++ b/xwl/xwayland.h
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@
     }
 
 Q_SIGNALS:
+    void initialized();
     void criticalError(int code);
 
 private:
diff --git a/xwl/xwayland.cpp b/xwl/xwayland.cpp
--- a/xwl/xwayland.cpp
+++ b/xwl/xwayland.cpp
@@ -262,12 +262,9 @@
     env.insert(QStringLiteral("DISPLAY"), QString::fromUtf8(qgetenv("DISPLAY")));
     m_app->setProcessStartupEnvironment(env);
 
-    m_app->startSession();
-    m_app->createWorkspace();
+    emit initialized();
 
     Xcb::sync(); // Trigger possible errors, there's still a chance to abort
-
-    m_app->notifyKSplash();
 }
 
 DragEventReply Xwayland::dragMoveFilter(Toplevel *target, QPoint pos)