diff --git a/kcm/kcm.h b/kcm/kcm.h
--- a/kcm/kcm.h
+++ b/kcm/kcm.h
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@
 
 Q_SIGNALS:
     void backendReadyChanged();
-    void backendError();
+    void backendError(QString errorMessage);
     void outputModelChanged();
     void changed();
     void screenNormalizedChanged();
diff --git a/kcm/kcm.cpp b/kcm/kcm.cpp
--- a/kcm/kcm.cpp
+++ b/kcm/kcm.cpp
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@
 
     if (op->hasError()) {
         m_config.reset();
-        Q_EMIT backendError();
+        Q_EMIT backendError(op->errorString());
         return;
     }
     m_config->setConfig(qobject_cast<GetConfigOperation*>(op)->config());
diff --git a/kcm/package/contents/ui/main.qml b/kcm/package/contents/ui/main.qml
--- a/kcm/package/contents/ui/main.qml
+++ b/kcm/package/contents/ui/main.qml
@@ -59,7 +59,6 @@
             id: errBackendMsg
             Layout.fillWidth: true
             type: Kirigami.MessageType.Error
-            text: i18n("No KScreen backend found. Please check your KScreen installation.")
             visible: false
             showCloseButton: false
         }
@@ -100,7 +99,10 @@
                 }
                 connectMsg.visible = true;
             }
-            onBackendError: errBackendMsg.visible = true;
+            onBackendError: {
+                errBackendMsg.text = errorMessage;
+                errBackendMsg.visible = true;
+            }
 
             onChanged: {
                 dangerousSaveMsg.visible = false;