diff --git a/applet/contents/ui/PopupDialog.qml b/applet/contents/ui/PopupDialog.qml
--- a/applet/contents/ui/PopupDialog.qml
+++ b/applet/contents/ui/PopupDialog.qml
@@ -26,20 +26,24 @@
 import org.kde.plasma.networkmanagement 0.2 as PlasmaNM
 
 FocusScope {
+    id: full
     property var notificationInhibitorLock: undefined
 
     PlasmaNM.AvailableDevices {
         id: availableDevices
     }
 
-    PlasmaNM.NetworkModel {
-        id: connectionModel
+    Component {
+        id: networkModelComponent
+        PlasmaNM.NetworkModel {}
     }
 
+    property PlasmaNM.NetworkModel connectionModel: null
+
     PlasmaNM.AppletProxyModel {
         id: appletProxyModel
 
-        sourceModel: connectionModel
+        sourceModel: full.connectionModel
     }
 
     ColumnLayout {
@@ -93,6 +97,12 @@
                 notificationInhibitorLock = undefined;
                 toolbar.closeSearch()
             }
+
+            if (expanded) {
+                full.connectionModel = networkModelComponent.createObject(full)
+            } else {
+                full.connectionModel.destroy()
+            }
         }
     }