diff --git a/shell/dbus/org.kde.PlasmaShell.xml b/shell/dbus/org.kde.PlasmaShell.xml
--- a/shell/dbus/org.kde.PlasmaShell.xml
+++ b/shell/dbus/org.kde.PlasmaShell.xml
@@ -21,5 +21,7 @@
     <method name="evaluateScript">
       <arg name="script" type="s" direction="in"/>
     </method>
+    <method name="activateLauncherMenu">
+    </method>
   </interface>
 </node>
diff --git a/shell/shellcorona.h b/shell/shellcorona.h
--- a/shell/shellcorona.h
+++ b/shell/shellcorona.h
@@ -143,6 +143,7 @@
     void loadKWinScriptInInteractiveConsole(const QString &script);
     void toggleActivityManager();
     void evaluateScript(const QString &string);
+    void activateLauncherMenu();
 
     Plasma::Containment *addPanel(const QString &plugin);
 
diff --git a/shell/shellcorona.cpp b/shell/shellcorona.cpp
--- a/shell/shellcorona.cpp
+++ b/shell/shellcorona.cpp
@@ -1635,6 +1635,22 @@
     }
 }
 
+
+void ShellCorona::activateLauncherMenu()
+{
+    for (auto it = m_panelViews.constBegin(), end = m_panelViews.constEnd(); it != end; ++it) {
+        const auto applets = it.key()->applets();
+        for (auto applet : applets) {
+            if (applet->pluginInfo().property("X-Plasma-Provides").toStringList().contains(QStringLiteral("org.kde.plasma.launchermenu"))) {
+                if (!applet->globalShortcut().isEmpty()) {
+                    emit applet->activated();
+                    return;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 // Desktop corona handler