diff --git a/autotests/integration/shell_client_test.cpp b/autotests/integration/shell_client_test.cpp
--- a/autotests/integration/shell_client_test.cpp
+++ b/autotests/integration/shell_client_test.cpp
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 *********************************************************************/
 #include "kwin_wayland_test.h"
 #include "cursor.h"
+#include "effects.h"
 #include "platform.h"
 #include "shell_client.h"
 #include "screens.h"
@@ -46,6 +47,7 @@
     void cleanup();
 
     void testMapUnmapMap();
+    void testDesktopPresenceChanged();
 };
 
 void TestShellClient::initTestCase()
@@ -131,5 +133,41 @@
     QCOMPARE(windowClosedSpy.count(), 1);
 }
 
+void TestShellClient::testDesktopPresenceChanged()
+{
+    // this test verifies that the desktop presence changed signals are properly emitted
+    QScopedPointer<Surface> surface(Test::createSurface());
+    QScopedPointer<ShellSurface> shellSurface(Test::createShellSurface(surface.data()));
+    auto c = Test::renderAndWaitForShown(surface.data(), QSize(100, 50), Qt::blue);
+    QVERIFY(c);
+    QCOMPARE(c->desktop(), 1);
+    effects->setNumberOfDesktops(4);
+    QSignalSpy desktopPresenceChangedClientSpy(c, &ShellClient::desktopPresenceChanged);
+    QVERIFY(desktopPresenceChangedClientSpy.isValid());
+    QSignalSpy desktopPresenceChangedWorkspaceSpy(workspace(), &Workspace::desktopPresenceChanged);
+    QVERIFY(desktopPresenceChangedWorkspaceSpy.isValid());
+    QSignalSpy desktopPresenceChangedEffectsSpy(effects, &EffectsHandler::desktopPresenceChanged);
+    QVERIFY(desktopPresenceChangedEffectsSpy.isValid());
+
+    // let's change the desktop
+    workspace()->sendClientToDesktop(c, 2, false);
+    QCOMPARE(c->desktop(), 2);
+    QCOMPARE(desktopPresenceChangedClientSpy.count(), 1);
+    QCOMPARE(desktopPresenceChangedWorkspaceSpy.count(), 1);
+    // effects is delayed by one cycle
+    QCOMPARE(desktopPresenceChangedEffectsSpy.count(), 0);
+    QVERIFY(desktopPresenceChangedEffectsSpy.wait());
+    QCOMPARE(desktopPresenceChangedEffectsSpy.count(), 1);
+
+    // verify the arguments
+    QCOMPARE(desktopPresenceChangedClientSpy.first().at(0).value<AbstractClient*>(), c);
+    QCOMPARE(desktopPresenceChangedClientSpy.first().at(1).toInt(), 1);
+    QCOMPARE(desktopPresenceChangedWorkspaceSpy.first().at(0).value<AbstractClient*>(), c);
+    QCOMPARE(desktopPresenceChangedWorkspaceSpy.first().at(1).toInt(), 1);
+    QCOMPARE(desktopPresenceChangedEffectsSpy.first().at(0).value<EffectWindow*>(), c->effectWindow());
+    QCOMPARE(desktopPresenceChangedEffectsSpy.first().at(1).toInt(), 1);
+    QCOMPARE(desktopPresenceChangedEffectsSpy.first().at(2).toInt(), 2);
+}
+
 WAYLANDTEST_MAIN(TestShellClient)
 #include "shell_client_test.moc"
diff --git a/wayland_server.cpp b/wayland_server.cpp
--- a/wayland_server.cpp
+++ b/wayland_server.cpp
@@ -162,9 +162,6 @@
                 ScreenLocker::KSldApp::self()->lockScreenShown();
             }
             auto client = new ShellClient(surface);
-            if (auto c = Compositor::self()) {
-                connect(client, &Toplevel::needsRepaint, c, &Compositor::scheduleRepaint);
-            }
             if (client->isInternal()) {
                 m_internalClients << client;
             } else {
diff --git a/workspace.h b/workspace.h
--- a/workspace.h
+++ b/workspace.h
@@ -512,6 +512,7 @@
 
     /// This is the right way to create a new client
     Client* createClient(xcb_window_t w, bool is_mapped);
+    void setupClientConnections(AbstractClient *client);
     void addClient(Client* c);
     Unmanaged* createUnmanaged(xcb_window_t w);
     void addUnmanaged(Unmanaged* c);
diff --git a/workspace.cpp b/workspace.cpp
--- a/workspace.cpp
+++ b/workspace.cpp
@@ -368,6 +368,7 @@
     if (auto w = waylandServer()) {
         connect(w, &WaylandServer::shellClientAdded, this,
             [this] (ShellClient *c) {
+                setupClientConnections(c);
                 c->updateDecoration(false);
                 updateClientLayer(c);
                 if (!c->isInternal()) {
@@ -483,18 +484,23 @@
     _self = 0;
 }
 
+void Workspace::setupClientConnections(AbstractClient *c)
+{
+    connect(c, &Toplevel::needsRepaint, m_compositor, &Compositor::scheduleRepaint);
+    connect(c, &AbstractClient::desktopPresenceChanged, this, &Workspace::desktopPresenceChanged);
+}
+
 Client* Workspace::createClient(xcb_window_t w, bool is_mapped)
 {
     StackingUpdatesBlocker blocker(this);
     Client* c = new Client();
-    connect(c, SIGNAL(needsRepaint()), m_compositor, SLOT(scheduleRepaint()));
+    setupClientConnections(c);
     connect(c, &Client::activeChanged, m_compositor, static_cast<void (Compositor::*)()>(&Compositor::checkUnredirect));
     connect(c, SIGNAL(fullScreenChanged()), m_compositor, SLOT(checkUnredirect()));
     connect(c, SIGNAL(geometryChanged()), m_compositor, SLOT(checkUnredirect()));
     connect(c, SIGNAL(geometryShapeChanged(KWin::Toplevel*,QRect)), m_compositor, SLOT(checkUnredirect()));
     connect(c, SIGNAL(blockingCompositingChanged(KWin::Client*)), m_compositor, SLOT(updateCompositeBlocking(KWin::Client*)));
     connect(c, SIGNAL(clientFullScreenSet(KWin::Client*,bool,bool)), ScreenEdges::self(), SIGNAL(checkBlocking()));
-    connect(c, &Client::desktopPresenceChanged, this, &Workspace::desktopPresenceChanged);
     if (!c->manage(w, is_mapped)) {
         Client::deleteClient(c);
         return NULL;