diff --git a/src/scriptengines/qml/plasmoid/appletinterface.h b/src/scriptengines/qml/plasmoid/appletinterface.h
--- a/src/scriptengines/qml/plasmoid/appletinterface.h
+++ b/src/scriptengines/qml/plasmoid/appletinterface.h
@@ -324,6 +324,18 @@
 
     QRect availableScreenRect() const;
 
+    /**
+     * By default a QtQuick applet is marked as ready when the source is loaded
+     * and the root component is initialised.
+     *
+     * Calling this method during initial component creation allows a user
+     * to defer this.
+     *
+     * @returns an opaque cookie that inhibits signalling that the UI is ready.
+     * When all inhibitors are released the UiReady constraint is set.
+     */
+    Q_INVOKABLE QVariant createUiReadyInhibitor();
+
     static AppletInterface *qmlAttachedProperties(QObject *object)
     {
         return qobject_cast<AppletInterface *>(AppletQuickItem::qmlAttachedProperties(object));
@@ -474,6 +486,7 @@
     QVariantList m_args;
     Plasma::Types::BackgroundHints m_backgroundHints;
     bool m_hideOnDeactivate : 1;
+    int m_loadingRef = 0;
     //this is used to build an emacs style shortcut
     int m_oldKeyboardShortcut;
     QObject *m_dummyNativeInterface;
diff --git a/src/scriptengines/qml/plasmoid/appletinterface.cpp b/src/scriptengines/qml/plasmoid/appletinterface.cpp
--- a/src/scriptengines/qml/plasmoid/appletinterface.cpp
+++ b/src/scriptengines/qml/plasmoid/appletinterface.cpp
@@ -169,7 +169,9 @@
     geometryChanged(QRectF(), QRectF(x(), y(), width(), height()));
     emit busyChanged();
 
-    applet()->updateConstraints(Plasma::Types::UiReadyConstraint);
+    if (m_loadingRef == 0) {
+        applet()->updateConstraints(Plasma::Types::UiReadyConstraint);
+    }
 
     connect(applet(), &Plasma::Applet::activated, this,
     [ = ]() {
@@ -851,5 +853,18 @@
     return AppletQuickItem::eventFilter(watched, event);
 }
 
+QVariant AppletInterface::createUiReadyInhibitor()
+{
+    m_loadingRef++;
+    auto cookie = QSharedPointer<QObject>::create(this);
+    connect(cookie.data(), &QObject::destroyed, this, [this]() {
+        m_loadingRef--;
+        if (m_loadingRef == 0) {
+            applet()->updateConstraints(Plasma::Types::UiReadyConstraint);
+        }
+    });
+    return QVariant::fromValue(cookie);
+}
+
 
 #include "moc_appletinterface.cpp"
diff --git a/src/scriptengines/qml/plasmoid/wallpaperinterface.h b/src/scriptengines/qml/plasmoid/wallpaperinterface.h
--- a/src/scriptengines/qml/plasmoid/wallpaperinterface.h
+++ b/src/scriptengines/qml/plasmoid/wallpaperinterface.h
@@ -84,6 +84,11 @@
 
     Q_INVOKABLE QAction *action(QString name) const;
 
+    /**
+     * @see AppletInterface::createUiReadyInhibitor
+     */
+    Q_INVOKABLE QVariant createUiReadyInhibitor();
+
     static WallpaperInterface *qmlAttachedProperties(QObject *object);
 
 Q_SIGNALS:
diff --git a/src/scriptengines/qml/plasmoid/wallpaperinterface.cpp b/src/scriptengines/qml/plasmoid/wallpaperinterface.cpp
--- a/src/scriptengines/qml/plasmoid/wallpaperinterface.cpp
+++ b/src/scriptengines/qml/plasmoid/wallpaperinterface.cpp
@@ -259,6 +259,11 @@
     }
 }
 
+QVariant WallpaperInterface::createUiReadyInhibitor()
+{
+    return m_containmentInterface->createUiReadyInhibitor();
+}
+
 WallpaperInterface * WallpaperInterface::qmlAttachedProperties(QObject* object)
 {
     //at the moment of the attached object creation, the root item is the only one that hasn't a parent