diff --git a/src/kstatusnotifieritem.h b/src/kstatusnotifieritem.h
--- a/src/kstatusnotifieritem.h
+++ b/src/kstatusnotifieritem.h
@@ -359,10 +359,13 @@
      * usually you don't need to call this unless you want to use
      * a custom QMenu subclass as context menu.
      *
-     * The KStatusNotifierItem instance takes ownership of the menu,
-     * and will delete it upon its destruction.
+     * By default, the KStatusNotifierItem instance takes ownership
+     * of the menu, and will delete it upon its destruction.
+     * @param menu new context menu for this StatusNotifierItem
+     * @param takeOwnership if it's true, KStatusNotifierItem will take
+     *                      the ownership
      */
-    void setContextMenu(QMenu *menu);
+    void setContextMenu(QMenu *menu, bool takeOwnership = true);
 
     /**
      * Access the context menu associated to this status notifier item
diff --git a/src/kstatusnotifieritem.cpp b/src/kstatusnotifieritem.cpp
--- a/src/kstatusnotifieritem.cpp
+++ b/src/kstatusnotifieritem.cpp
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@
     delete d->statusNotifierWatcher;
     delete d->notificationsClient;
     delete d->systemTrayIcon;
-    if (!qApp->closingDown()) {
+    if (!qApp->closingDown() && d->menuOwnership) {
         delete d->menu;
     }
     if (d->associatedWidget) {
@@ -416,7 +416,7 @@
     return d->toolTipSubTitle;
 }
 
-void KStatusNotifierItem::setContextMenu(QMenu *menu)
+void KStatusNotifierItem::setContextMenu(QMenu *menu, bool takeOwnership)
 {
     if (d->menu && d->menu != menu) {
         d->menu->removeEventFilter(this);
@@ -449,6 +449,7 @@
     }
 
     d->menu = menu;
+    d->menuOwnership = takeOwnership;
     Qt::WindowFlags oldFlags = d->menu->windowFlags();
     d->menu->setParent(nullptr);
     d->menu->setWindowFlags(oldFlags);
@@ -764,7 +765,8 @@
       systemTrayIcon(nullptr),
       hasQuit(false),
       onAllDesktops(false),
-      standardActionsEnabled(true)
+      standardActionsEnabled(true),
+      menuOwnership(true)
 {
 }
 
diff --git a/src/kstatusnotifieritemprivate_p.h b/src/kstatusnotifieritemprivate_p.h
--- a/src/kstatusnotifieritemprivate_p.h
+++ b/src/kstatusnotifieritemprivate_p.h
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@
     QString iconThemePath;
     QString menuObjectPath;
 
-    QMenu *menu;
+    QPointer<QMenu> menu;
     QHash<QString, QAction *> actionCollection;
     QWidget *associatedWidget;
     QPoint associatedWidgetPos;
@@ -173,6 +173,7 @@
     bool hasQuit : 1;
     bool onAllDesktops : 1;
     bool standardActionsEnabled : 1;
+    bool menuOwnership : 1;
 };
 
 #endif