diff --git a/orientation_sensor.h b/orientation_sensor.h
--- a/orientation_sensor.h
+++ b/orientation_sensor.h
@@ -76,10 +76,10 @@
     void userEnabledChanged(bool);
 
 private:
-    void setupStatusNotifier();
     void startStopSensor();
     void loadConfig();
     void refresh();
+    void activate();
 
     QOrientationSensor *m_sensor;
     bool m_enabled = false;
diff --git a/orientation_sensor.cpp b/orientation_sensor.cpp
--- a/orientation_sensor.cpp
+++ b/orientation_sensor.cpp
@@ -66,20 +66,44 @@
     connect(m_sensor, &QOrientationSensor::activeChanged, this, &OrientationSensor::refresh);
 }
 
+void OrientationSensor::activate()
+{
+    m_userEnabled = !m_userEnabled;
+    startStopSensor();
+    emit userEnabledChanged(m_userEnabled);
+}
+
 void OrientationSensor::refresh()
 {
-    if (!m_sni) {
+    if (m_orientation == Orientation::Undefined) {
+        delete m_sni;
+        m_sni = nullptr;
         return;
     }
+
+    if (!m_sni) {
+        m_sni = new KStatusNotifierItem(QStringLiteral("kwin-automatic-rotation"), this);
+        m_sni->setStandardActionsEnabled(false);
+        m_sni->setCategory(KStatusNotifierItem::Hardware);
+        m_sni->setStatus(KStatusNotifierItem::Passive);
+        // TODO: proper icon with state
+        m_sni->setIconByName(QStringLiteral("preferences-desktop-display"));
+        // we start disabled, it gets updated when the sensor becomes active
+
+        connect(m_sni, &KStatusNotifierItem::activateRequested, this, &OrientationSensor::activate);
+    }
+
     if (m_sensor->isActive()) {
         m_sni->setTitle(i18n("Allow Rotation"));
         m_sni->setToolTipTitle(i18n("Automatic screen rotation is enabled"));
     } else {
         QString text;
         switch(m_orientation) {
+            case Orientation::Undefined:
+                Q_UNREACHABLE(); //we don't want an sni if it's undefined
+                break;
             case Orientation::FaceUp:
             case Orientation::FaceDown:
-            case Orientation::Undefined:
                 text = i18n("Undefined");
                 break;
             case Orientation::TopUp:
@@ -106,7 +130,7 @@
     m_enabled = enabled;
     if (m_enabled) {
         loadConfig();
-        setupStatusNotifier();
+        refresh();
         m_adaptor = new OrientationSensorAdaptor(this);
     } else {
         delete m_sni;
@@ -125,29 +149,6 @@
     m_userEnabled = m_config->group("OrientationSensor").readEntry("Enabled", true);
 }
 
-void OrientationSensor::setupStatusNotifier()
-{
-    if (m_sni) {
-        return;
-    }
-    m_sni = new KStatusNotifierItem(QStringLiteral("kwin-automatic-rotation"), this);
-    m_sni->setStandardActionsEnabled(false);
-    m_sni->setCategory(KStatusNotifierItem::Hardware);
-    m_sni->setStatus(KStatusNotifierItem::Passive);
-    // TODO: proper icon with state
-    m_sni->setIconByName(QStringLiteral("preferences-desktop-display"));
-    // we start disabled, it gets updated when the sensor becomes active
-
-    refresh();
-    connect(m_sni, &KStatusNotifierItem::activateRequested, this,
-        [this] {
-            m_userEnabled = !m_userEnabled;
-            startStopSensor();
-            emit userEnabledChanged(m_userEnabled);
-        }
-    );
-}
-
 void OrientationSensor::startStopSensor()
 {
     if (m_enabled && m_userEnabled) {