diff --git a/abstract_client.h b/abstract_client.h
--- a/abstract_client.h
+++ b/abstract_client.h
@@ -805,6 +805,11 @@
      **/
     virtual Group *group();
 
+    /**
+     * Whether window rules can be applied to this client.
+     **/
+    virtual bool supportsWindowRules() const;
+
 public Q_SLOTS:
     virtual void closeWindow() = 0;
 
diff --git a/abstract_client.cpp b/abstract_client.cpp
--- a/abstract_client.cpp
+++ b/abstract_client.cpp
@@ -2030,4 +2030,9 @@
     return nullptr;
 }
 
+bool AbstractClient::supportsWindowRules() const
+{
+    return true;
+}
+
 }
diff --git a/internal_client.h b/internal_client.h
--- a/internal_client.h
+++ b/internal_client.h
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@
     using AbstractClient::resizeWithChecks;
     void resizeWithChecks(int w, int h, ForceGeometry_t force = NormalGeometrySet) override;
     QWindow *internalWindow() const override;
+    bool supportsWindowRules() const override;
 
 protected:
     bool acceptsFocus() const override;
diff --git a/internal_client.cpp b/internal_client.cpp
--- a/internal_client.cpp
+++ b/internal_client.cpp
@@ -318,4 +318,9 @@
     return m_internalWindow;
 }
 
+bool InternalClient::supportsWindowRules() const
+{
+    return false;
+}
+
 }
diff --git a/shell_client.h b/shell_client.h
--- a/shell_client.h
+++ b/shell_client.h
@@ -163,6 +163,8 @@
         return true;
     }
 
+    bool supportsWindowRules() const override;
+
 protected:
     void addDamage(const QRegion &damage) override;
     bool belongsToSameApplication(const AbstractClient *other, SameApplicationChecks checks) const override;
@@ -291,6 +293,7 @@
     QHash<qint32, PingReason> m_pingSerials;
 
     bool m_compositingSetup = false;
+    bool m_initialized = false;
 };
 
 }
diff --git a/shell_client.cpp b/shell_client.cpp
--- a/shell_client.cpp
+++ b/shell_client.cpp
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@
 {
     setSurface(surface->surface());
     init();
+    m_initialized = true;
 }
 
 ShellClient::ShellClient(XdgShellSurfaceInterface *surface)
@@ -142,10 +143,11 @@
         resourceName = info.fileName().toUtf8();
     }
     setResourceClass(resourceName, shellSurface->windowClass());
+    setDesktopFileName(shellSurface->windowClass());
     connect(shellSurface, &T::windowClassChanged, this,
         [this, resourceName] (const QByteArray &windowClass) {
             setResourceClass(resourceName, windowClass);
-            if (!m_internal) {
+            if (m_initialized && supportsWindowRules()) {
                 setupWindowRules(true);
                 applyWindowRules();
             }
@@ -203,11 +205,6 @@
 
     connect(this, &ShellClient::geometryChanged, this, &ShellClient::updateClientOutputs);
     connect(screens(), &Screens::changed, this, &ShellClient::updateClientOutputs);
-
-    if (!m_internal) {
-        setupWindowRules(false);
-    }
-    setDesktopFileName(rules()->checkDesktopFile(shellSurface->windowClass(), true).toUtf8());
 }
 
 void ShellClient::init()
@@ -337,17 +334,7 @@
     }
 
     // set initial desktop
-    setDesktop(rules()->checkDesktop(m_internal ? int(NET::OnAllDesktops) : VirtualDesktopManager::self()->current(), true));
-    // TODO: merge in checks from Client::manage?
-    if (rules()->checkMinimize(false, true)) {
-        minimize(true);   // No animation
-    }
-    setSkipTaskbar(rules()->checkSkipTaskbar(m_plasmaShellSurface ? m_plasmaShellSurface->skipTaskbar() : false, true));
-    setSkipPager(rules()->checkSkipPager(false, true));
-    setSkipSwitcher(rules()->checkSkipSwitcher(false, true));
-    setKeepAbove(rules()->checkKeepAbove(false, true));
-    setKeepBelow(rules()->checkKeepBelow(false, true));
-    setShortcut(rules()->checkShortcut(QString(), true));
+    setDesktop(m_internal ? int(NET::OnAllDesktops) : VirtualDesktopManager::self()->current());
 
     // setup shadow integration
     getShadow();
@@ -361,19 +348,33 @@
     setTransient();
 
     AbstractClient::updateColorScheme(QString());
-
-    if (!m_internal) {
-        discardTemporaryRules();
-        applyWindowRules(); // Just in case
-        RuleBook::self()->discardUsed(this, false);   // Remove ApplyNow rules
-        updateWindowRules(Rules::All); // Was blocked while !isManaged()
-    }
 }
 
 void ShellClient::finishInit() {
     SurfaceInterface *s = surface();
     disconnect(s, &SurfaceInterface::committed, this, &ShellClient::finishInit);
 
+    if (supportsWindowRules()) {
+        setupWindowRules(false);
+
+        setDesktop(rules()->checkDesktop(desktop(), true));
+        setDesktopFileName(rules()->checkDesktopFile(desktopFileName(), true).toUtf8());
+        if (rules()->checkMinimize(isMinimized(), true)) {
+            minimize(true); // No animation.
+        }
+        setSkipTaskbar(rules()->checkSkipTaskbar(skipTaskbar(), true));
+        setSkipPager(rules()->checkSkipPager(skipPager(), true));
+        setSkipSwitcher(rules()->checkSkipSwitcher(skipSwitcher(), true));
+        setKeepAbove(rules()->checkKeepAbove(keepAbove(), true));
+        setKeepBelow(rules()->checkKeepBelow(keepBelow(), true));
+        setShortcut(rules()->checkShortcut(shortcut().toString(), true));
+        updateColorScheme();
+
+        discardTemporaryRules();
+        RuleBook::self()->discardUsed(this, false); // Remove Apply Now rules.
+        updateWindowRules(Rules::All);
+    }
+
     if (m_xdgShellPopup) {
         QRect area = workspace()->clientArea(PlacementArea, Screens::self()->current(), desktop());
         placeIn(area);
@@ -383,6 +384,8 @@
     if (m_requestGeometryBlockCounter == 0) {
         requestGeometry(m_blockedRequestGeometry);
     }
+
+    m_initialized = true;
 }
 
 void ShellClient::destroyClient()
@@ -1872,4 +1875,9 @@
     return nullptr;
 }
 
+bool ShellClient::supportsWindowRules() const
+{
+    return m_xdgShellSurface;
+}
+
 }
diff --git a/useractions.cpp b/useractions.cpp
--- a/useractions.cpp
+++ b/useractions.cpp
@@ -471,8 +471,8 @@
         action->setText(i18n("&Extensions"));
     }
 
-    m_rulesOperation->setEnabled(true);
-    m_applicationRulesOperation->setEnabled(true);
+    m_rulesOperation->setEnabled(m_client.data()->supportsWindowRules());
+    m_applicationRulesOperation->setEnabled(m_client.data()->supportsWindowRules());
 
     showHideActivityMenu();
 }