diff --git a/src/core/slavebase.h b/src/core/slavebase.h
--- a/src/core/slavebase.h
+++ b/src/core/slavebase.h
@@ -333,14 +333,26 @@
      */
     MetaData allMetaData() const;
 
+    /**
+     * Returns a map to query config/meta-data information
+     * from.
+     *
+     * The application provides the slave with all configuration information
+     * relevant for the current protocol and host.
+     */
+    QMap<QString, QString> *mapConfig();
+
     /**
      * Returns a configuration object to query config/meta-data information
      * from.
      *
      * The application provides the slave with all configuration information
      * relevant for the current protocol and host.
+     *
+     * TODO KF6: remove
+     * @deprecated use mapConfig(StatSide side)
      */
-    KConfigGroup *config();
+    KIOCORE_DEPRECATED KConfigGroup *config();
 
     /**
      * Returns an object that can translate remote filenames into proper
diff --git a/src/core/slavebase.cpp b/src/core/slavebase.cpp
--- a/src/core/slavebase.cpp
+++ b/src/core/slavebase.cpp
@@ -35,12 +35,14 @@
 #include <process.h>
 #endif
 
+#include <QtGlobal>
 #include <QFile>
 #include <QList>
 #include <QDateTime>
 #include <QElapsedTimer>
 #include <QCoreApplication>
 #include <QDataStream>
+#include <QMap>
 
 #include <kconfig.h>
 #include <kconfiggroup.h>
@@ -113,8 +115,7 @@
     bool inOpenLoop: 1;
     bool exit_loop: 1;
     MetaData configData;
-    KConfig *config;
-    KConfigGroup *configGroup;
+    QMap<QString, QString> mapConfig;
     QUrl onHoldUrl;
 
     QElapsedTimer lastTimeout;
@@ -170,18 +171,18 @@
     // Reconstructs configGroup from configData and mIncomingMetaData
     void rebuildConfig()
     {
-        configGroup->deleteGroup(KConfigGroup::WriteConfigFlags());
+        mapConfig.clear();
 
         // mIncomingMetaData cascades over config, so we write config first,
         // to let it be overwritten
         MetaData::ConstIterator end = configData.constEnd();
         for (MetaData::ConstIterator it = configData.constBegin(); it != end; ++it) {
-            configGroup->writeEntry(it.key(), it->toUtf8(), KConfigGroup::WriteConfigFlags());
+            mapConfig.insert(it.key(), it->toUtf8());
         }
 
         end = q->mIncomingMetaData.constEnd();
         for (MetaData::ConstIterator it = q->mIncomingMetaData.constBegin(); it != end; ++it) {
-            configGroup->writeEntry(it.key(), it->toUtf8(), KConfigGroup::WriteConfigFlags());
+            mapConfig.insert(it.key(), it->toUtf8());
         }
     }
 
@@ -271,9 +272,7 @@
     d->slaveid = QString::fromUtf8(protocol) + QString::number(getpid());
     d->resume = false;
     d->needSendCanResume = false;
-    d->config = new KConfig(QString(), KConfig::SimpleConfig);
-    // The KConfigGroup needs the KConfig to exist during its whole lifetime.
-    d->configGroup = new KConfigGroup(d->config, QString());
+    d->mapConfig = QMap<QString, QString>();
     d->onHold = false;
     d->wasKilled = false;
 //    d->processed_size = 0;
@@ -287,8 +286,6 @@
 
 SlaveBase::~SlaveBase()
 {
-    delete d->configGroup;
-    delete d->config;
     delete d->remotefile;
     delete d;
     s_protocol = "";
@@ -404,9 +401,24 @@
     return false;
 }
 
+QMap<QString, QString> *SlaveBase::mapConfig()
+{
+    return &d->mapConfig;
+}
+
 KConfigGroup *SlaveBase::config()
 {
-    return d->configGroup;
+    KConfig* config = new KConfig(QString(), KConfig::SimpleConfig);
+
+    KConfigGroup *configGroup = new KConfigGroup(config, QString());
+
+    auto end = d->mapConfig.cend();
+    for (auto it = d->mapConfig.cbegin(); it != end; ++it)
+    {
+        configGroup->writeEntry(it.key(), it->toUtf8(), KConfigGroup::WriteConfigFlags());
+    }
+
+    return configGroup;
 }
 
 void SlaveBase::sendMetaData()