diff --git a/applets/kicker/plugin/appsmodel.cpp b/applets/kicker/plugin/appsmodel.cpp
--- a/applets/kicker/plugin/appsmodel.cpp
+++ b/applets/kicker/plugin/appsmodel.cpp
@@ -387,6 +387,9 @@
 
     if (m_entryPath.isEmpty()) {
         KServiceGroup::Ptr group = KServiceGroup::root();
+        if (!group) {
+            return;
+        }
 
         bool sortByGenericName = (appNameFormat() == AppEntry::GenericNameOnly || appNameFormat() == AppEntry::GenericNameAndName);