diff --git a/src/qtquick/qml/DialogContent.qml b/src/qtquick/qml/DialogContent.qml
--- a/src/qtquick/qml/DialogContent.qml
+++ b/src/qtquick/qml/DialogContent.qml
@@ -63,9 +63,16 @@
     pageStack.globalToolBar.style: Kirigami.ApplicationHeaderStyle.Auto
     pageStack.initialPage: NewStuff.Page {
         id: newStuffPage
-        onMessage: component.showPassiveNotification(message);
-        onIdleMessage: component.showPassiveNotification(message);
-        onBusyMessage: component.showPassiveNotification(message);
-        onErrorMessage: component.showPassiveNotification(message);
+        function showMessage(message) {
+            // As the Page shows something nice and friendly while loading,
+            // there's no reason to do the passive notification thing for those.
+            if (!engine.isLoading) {
+                component.showPassiveNotification(message);
+            }
+        }
+        onMessage: showMessage(message);
+        onIdleMessage: showMessage(message);
+        onBusyMessage: showMessage(message);
+        onErrorMessage: showMessage(message);
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/qtquick/qml/Page.qml b/src/qtquick/qml/Page.qml
--- a/src/qtquick/qml/Page.qml
+++ b/src/qtquick/qml/Page.qml
@@ -87,10 +87,23 @@
     title: newStuffEngine.name
     NewStuff.Engine {
         id: newStuffEngine;
-        onMessage: root.message(message);
-        onIdleMessage: root.idleMessage(message);
-        onBusyMessage: root.busyMessage(message);
-        onErrorMessage: root.errorMessage(message);
+        property string statusMessage;
+        onMessage: {
+            root.message(message);
+            statusMessage = message;
+        }
+        onIdleMessage: {
+            root.idleMessage(message);
+            statusMessage = message;
+        }
+        onBusyMessage: {
+            root.busyMessage(message);
+            statusMessage = message;
+        }
+        onErrorMessage: {
+            root.errorMessage(message);
+            statusMessage = message;
+        }
     }
     NewStuff.QuestionAsker {}
 
@@ -229,4 +242,34 @@
         id: detailsPage;
         NewStuff.EntryDetails { }
     }
+
+    Item {
+        anchors.fill: parent
+        opacity: newStuffEngine.isLoading ? 1 : 0
+        Behavior on opacity { NumberAnimation { duration: Kirigami.Units.longDuration; } }
+        visible: opacity > 0
+        Rectangle {
+            anchors.fill: parent
+            color: Kirigami.Theme.backgroundColor
+            opacity: 0.7
+        }
+        QtControls.BusyIndicator {
+            anchors {
+                horizontalCenter: parent.horizontalCenter
+                bottom: parent.verticalCenter
+                bottomMargin: Kirigami.Units.largeSpacing
+            }
+            running: newStuffEngine.isLoading
+        }
+        QtControls.Label {
+            anchors {
+                top: parent.verticalCenter
+                left: parent.left
+                right: parent.right
+                margins: Kirigami.Units.largeSpacing
+            }
+            horizontalAlignment: Text.AlignHCenter
+            text: newStuffEngine.statusMessage
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/qtquick/quickengine.h b/src/qtquick/quickengine.h
--- a/src/qtquick/quickengine.h
+++ b/src/qtquick/quickengine.h
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
     Q_PROPERTY(bool allowedByKiosk READ allowedByKiosk CONSTANT)
     Q_PROPERTY(QString configFile READ configFile WRITE setConfigFile NOTIFY configFileChanged)
     Q_PROPERTY(QObject* engine READ engine NOTIFY engineChanged)
+    Q_PROPERTY(bool isLoading READ isLoading NOTIFY isLoadingChanged)
     Q_PROPERTY(bool hasAdoptionCommand READ hasAdoptionCommand NOTIFY engineInitialized)
     Q_PROPERTY(QString name READ name NOTIFY engineInitialized)
     Q_PROPERTY(QObject* categories READ categories NOTIFY categoriesChanged)
@@ -61,6 +62,9 @@
     QObject *engine() const;
     Q_SIGNAL void engineChanged();
 
+    bool isLoading() const;
+    Q_SIGNAL void isLoadingChanged();
+
     bool hasAdoptionCommand() const;
     QString name() const;
     Q_SIGNAL void engineInitialized();
diff --git a/src/qtquick/quickengine.cpp b/src/qtquick/quickengine.cpp
--- a/src/qtquick/quickengine.cpp
+++ b/src/qtquick/quickengine.cpp
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
         , categoriesModel(nullptr)
     {}
     KNSCore::Engine *engine;
+    bool isLoading{false};
     CategoriesModel *categoriesModel;
     QString configFile;
     KNSCore::EntryInternal::List changedEntries;
@@ -66,17 +67,30 @@
 void Engine::setConfigFile(const QString &newFile)
 {
     if (d->configFile != newFile) {
+        d->isLoading = true;
+        emit isLoadingChanged();
         d->configFile = newFile;
         emit configFileChanged();
 
         if (allowedByKiosk()) {
             if (!d->engine) {
                 d->engine = new KNSCore::Engine(this);
+                connect(d->engine, &KNSCore::Engine::signalProvidersLoaded, this, [=](){
+                    d->isLoading = false;
+                    emit isLoadingChanged();
+                });
                 connect(d->engine, &KNSCore::Engine::signalMessage, this, &Engine::message);
                 connect(d->engine, &KNSCore::Engine::signalIdle, this, &Engine::idleMessage);
                 connect(d->engine, &KNSCore::Engine::signalBusy, this, &Engine::busyMessage);
                 connect(d->engine, &KNSCore::Engine::signalError, this, &Engine::errorMessage);
-                connect(d->engine, &KNSCore::Engine::signalErrorCode, this, [=](const KNSCore::ErrorCode &/*errorCode*/, const QString &message, const QVariant &/*metadata*/) {
+                connect(d->engine, &KNSCore::Engine::signalErrorCode, this, [=](const KNSCore::ErrorCode &errorCode, const QString &message, const QVariant &/*metadata*/) {
+                    if (errorCode == KNSCore::ProviderError) {
+                        // This means loading the providers file failed entirely and we cannot complete the
+                        // initialisation. It also means the engine is done loading, but that nothing will
+                        // work, and we need to inform the user of this.
+                        d->isLoading = false;
+                        emit isLoadingChanged();
+                    }
                     emit errorMessage(message);
                 });
                 connect(d->engine, &KNSCore::Engine::signalEntryChanged, this, [this](const KNSCore::EntryInternal &entry){
@@ -104,6 +118,11 @@
     return d->engine;
 }
 
+bool Engine::isLoading() const
+{
+    return d->isLoading;
+}
+
 bool Engine::hasAdoptionCommand() const
 {
     if (d->engine) {