diff --git a/applets/kimpanel/backend/ibus/emojier/emojier.cpp b/applets/kimpanel/backend/ibus/emojier/emojier.cpp
--- a/applets/kimpanel/backend/ibus/emojier/emojier.cpp
+++ b/applets/kimpanel/backend/ibus/emojier/emojier.cpp
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@
 
     EmojiModel() {
         QLocale locale;
-        const QString dictName = "ibus/dicts/emoji-" + locale.bcp47Name() + ".dict";
+        const QString dictName = "ibus/dicts/emoji-" + locale.bcp47Name().replace(QLatin1Char('-'), QLatin1Char('_')) + ".dict";
         const QString path = QStandardPaths::locate(QStandardPaths::GenericDataLocation, dictName);
         if (path.isEmpty()) {
             qWarning() << "could not find" << dictName;