diff --git a/kcms/notifications/CMakeLists.txt b/kcms/notifications/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/kcms/notifications/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/kcms/notifications/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 
 add_library(kcm_notifications MODULE ${kcm_notifications_SRCS})
 target_link_libraries(kcm_notifications
+    Qt5::DBus
     KF5::KCMUtils
     KF5::CoreAddons
     KF5::Declarative
diff --git a/kcms/notifications/kcm.h b/kcms/notifications/kcm.h
--- a/kcms/notifications/kcm.h
+++ b/kcms/notifications/kcm.h
@@ -38,6 +38,12 @@
 
     Q_PROPERTY(NotificationManager::Settings *settings READ settings CONSTANT)
 
+    Q_PROPERTY(ServerStatus serverStatus READ serverStatus NOTIFY serverStatusChanged)
+    Q_PROPERTY(QString serverVendor READ serverVendor NOTIFY serverVendorChanged)
+    // Name of the notification server, as provided by the service, e.g. "Plasma"
+    // This is *not* the binary name
+    Q_PROPERTY(QString serverName READ serverName NOTIFY serverNameChanged)
+
     // So it can show the respective settings module right away
     Q_PROPERTY(QString initialDesktopEntry READ initialDesktopEntry WRITE setInitialDesktopEntry NOTIFY initialDesktopEntryChanged)
     Q_PROPERTY(QString initialNotifyRcName READ initialNotifyRcName WRITE setInitialNotifyRcName NOTIFY initialNotifyRcNameChanged)
@@ -47,11 +53,25 @@
     KCMNotifications(QObject *parent, const QVariantList &args);
     ~KCMNotifications() override;
 
+    enum class ServerStatus {
+        Unknown = -1,
+        NotRunning,
+        Running
+    };
+    Q_ENUM(ServerStatus)
+
     SourcesModel *sourcesModel() const;
     FilterProxyModel *filteredModel() const;
 
     NotificationManager::Settings *settings() const;
 
+    ServerStatus serverStatus() const;
+    Q_SIGNAL void serverStatusChanged();
+    QString serverVendor() const;
+    Q_SIGNAL void serverVendorChanged();
+    QString serverName() const;
+    Q_SIGNAL void serverNameChanged();
+
     QString initialDesktopEntry() const;
     void setInitialDesktopEntry(const QString &desktopEntry);
 
@@ -76,11 +96,19 @@
 private:
     void processPendingDeletions();
 
+    void setServerStatus(ServerStatus status);
+    void setServerInformation(const QString &vendor, const QString &name);
+    void updateServerName();
+
     SourcesModel *m_sourcesModel;
     FilterProxyModel *m_filteredModel;
 
     NotificationManager::Settings *m_settings;
 
+    ServerStatus m_serverStatus = ServerStatus::Unknown;
+    QString m_serverVendor;
+    QString m_serverName;
+
     QString m_initialDesktopEntry;
     QString m_initialNotifyRcName;
     QString m_initialEventId;
diff --git a/kcms/notifications/kcm.cpp b/kcms/notifications/kcm.cpp
--- a/kcms/notifications/kcm.cpp
+++ b/kcms/notifications/kcm.cpp
@@ -21,6 +21,12 @@
 #include "kcm.h"
 
 #include <QCommandLineParser>
+#include <QDBusConnection>
+#include <QDBusConnectionInterface>
+#include <QDBusMessage>
+#include <QDBusPendingCallWatcher>
+#include <QDBusPendingReply>
+#include <QDBusServiceWatcher>
 #include <QDialog>
 #include <QDialogButtonBox>
 #include <QPushButton>
@@ -44,6 +50,8 @@
 
 #include <notificationmanager/settings.h>
 
+static QString s_notificationServiceName = QStringLiteral("org.freedesktop.Notifications");
+
 K_PLUGIN_FACTORY_WITH_JSON(KCMNotificationsFactory, "kcm_notifications.json", registerPlugin<KCMNotifications>();)
 
 KCMNotifications::KCMNotifications(QObject *parent, const QVariantList &args)
@@ -54,6 +62,8 @@
 {
 
     const char uri[] = "org.kde.private.kcms.notifications";
+    qmlRegisterUncreatableType<KCMNotifications>(uri, 1, 0, "KCM",
+                                                 QStringLiteral("Cannot create instances of KCMNotifications"));
     qmlRegisterUncreatableType<SourcesModel>(uri, 1, 0, "SourcesModel",
                                              QStringLiteral("Cannot create instances of SourcesModel"));
     qmlRegisterType<FilterProxyModel>();
@@ -88,6 +98,14 @@
     setInitialDesktopEntry(parser.value(desktopEntryOption));
     setInitialNotifyRcName(parser.value(notifyRcNameOption));
     setInitialEventId(parser.value(eventIdOption));
+
+    auto *watcher = new QDBusServiceWatcher(s_notificationServiceName, QDBusConnection::sessionBus(),
+                                            QDBusServiceWatcher::WatchForOwnerChange, this);
+    connect(watcher, &QDBusServiceWatcher::serviceOwnerChanged, this, [this]() {
+        updateServerName();
+    });
+
+    updateServerName();
 }
 
 KCMNotifications::~KCMNotifications()
@@ -110,6 +128,77 @@
     return m_settings;
 }
 
+KCMNotifications::ServerStatus KCMNotifications::serverStatus() const
+{
+    return m_serverStatus;
+}
+
+void KCMNotifications::setServerStatus(KCMNotifications::ServerStatus status)
+{
+    if (m_serverStatus != status) {
+        m_serverStatus = status;
+        emit serverStatusChanged();
+    }
+}
+
+QString KCMNotifications::serverVendor() const
+{
+    return m_serverVendor;
+}
+
+QString KCMNotifications::serverName() const
+{
+    return m_serverName;
+}
+
+void KCMNotifications::setServerInformation(const QString &vendor, const QString &name)
+{
+    if (m_serverVendor != vendor) {
+        m_serverVendor = vendor;
+        emit serverVendorChanged();
+    }
+    if (m_serverName != name) {
+        m_serverName = name;
+        emit serverNameChanged();
+    }
+}
+
+void KCMNotifications::updateServerName()
+{
+    // This explicit check is so we don't end up launching the notification service
+    // and more importantly not get stuck on our own waitforname process.
+    if (!QDBusConnection::sessionBus().interface()->isServiceRegistered(s_notificationServiceName)) {
+        setServerStatus(ServerStatus::NotRunning);
+        setServerInformation(QString(), QString());
+        return;
+    }
+
+    QDBusMessage msg = QDBusMessage::createMethodCall(s_notificationServiceName,
+                                                      QStringLiteral("/org/freedesktop/Notifications"),
+                                                      QStringLiteral("org.freedesktop.Notifications"),
+                                                      QStringLiteral("GetServerInformation"));
+    auto call = QDBusConnection::sessionBus().asyncCall(msg);
+
+    auto *watcher = new QDBusPendingCallWatcher(call, this);
+    connect(watcher, &QDBusPendingCallWatcher::finished, this, [this](QDBusPendingCallWatcher *watcher) {
+        QDBusPendingReply<QString, QString, QString, QString> reply = *watcher;
+        watcher->deleteLater();
+
+        if (reply.isError()) {
+            qWarning() << "Failed to determine notification server information" << reply.error().message();
+            setServerStatus(ServerStatus::Unknown);
+            setServerInformation(QString(), QString());
+            return;
+        }
+
+        const QString name = reply.argumentAt(0).toString();
+        const QString vendor = reply.argumentAt(1).toString();
+
+        setServerInformation(vendor, name);
+        setServerStatus(ServerStatus::Running);
+    });
+}
+
 QString KCMNotifications::initialDesktopEntry() const
 {
     return m_initialDesktopEntry;
diff --git a/kcms/notifications/package/contents/ui/main.qml b/kcms/notifications/package/contents/ui/main.qml
--- a/kcms/notifications/package/contents/ui/main.qml
+++ b/kcms/notifications/package/contents/ui/main.qml
@@ -26,8 +26,11 @@
 
 import org.kde.notificationmanager 1.0 as NotificationManager
 
+import org.kde.private.kcms.notifications 1.0 as Private
+
 KCM.SimpleKCM {
     id: root
+
     KCM.ConfigModule.quickHelp: i18n("This module lets you manage application and system notifications.")
     KCM.ConfigModule.buttons: KCM.ConfigModule.Help | KCM.ConfigModule.Apply
     // Sidebar on SourcesPage is 1/3 of the width at a minimum of 12, so assume 3 * 12 = 36 as preferred
@@ -46,6 +49,22 @@
     }
 
     Kirigami.FormLayout {
+        Kirigami.InlineMessage {
+            Kirigami.FormData.isSection: true
+            Layout.fillWidth: true
+            type: Kirigami.MessageType.Error
+            text: i18n("Could not find a 'Notifications' widget.");
+            visible: kcm.serverStatus === Private.KCM.NotRunning
+        }
+
+        Kirigami.InlineMessage {
+            Kirigami.FormData.isSection: true
+            Layout.fillWidth: true
+            type: Kirigami.MessageType.Information
+            text: i18n("Notifications are currently provided by '%1' instead of Plasma.", kcm.serverName)
+            visible: kcm.serverStatus === Private.KCM.Running && (kcm.serverVendor !== "KDE" || kcm.serverName !== "Plasma")
+        }
+
         QtControls.CheckBox {
             Kirigami.FormData.label: i18n("Do not disturb:")
             text: i18nc("Do not disturb when screens are mirrored", "When screens are mirrored")