diff --git a/src/CMakeLists.txt b/src/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/src/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
 ecm_mark_nongui_executable(kded5)
 
 target_link_libraries(kdeinit_kded5
-    Qt5::Widgets # QApplication
     KF5::Service # Needed for ksycoca.h
     KF5::CoreAddons # Needed for KDirWatch
     KF5::DBusAddons # Needed for kdedmodule.h
diff --git a/src/kded.cpp b/src/kded.cpp
--- a/src/kded.cpp
+++ b/src/kded.cpp
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
 #include <QDir>
 #include <QTimer>
 #include <QCommandLineParser>
-#include <QApplication>
+#include <QCoreApplication>
 
 #include <QDBusConnection>
 #include <QDBusConnectionInterface>
@@ -317,8 +317,12 @@
 bool Kded::platformSupportsModule(const KPluginMetaData &module) const
 {
     const QStringList supportedPlatforms = KPluginMetaData::readStringList(module.rawData(), QStringLiteral("X-KDE-OnlyShowOnQtPlatforms"));
-
-    return supportedPlatforms.isEmpty() || supportedPlatforms.contains(qApp->platformName());
+    if (!supportedPlatforms.isEmpty())
+    {
+        const QByteArray platformName = qgetenv("QT_QPA_PLATFORM");
+        return supportedPlatforms.contains(QString::fromLocal8Bit(platformName));
+    }
+    return true;
 }
 
 bool Kded::isModuleLoadedOnDemand(const QString &obj) const
@@ -678,10 +682,9 @@
     QStandardPaths::setTestModeEnabled(true);
 }
 
-static void setupAppInfo(QApplication *app)
+static void setupAppInfo(QCoreApplication *app)
 {
     app->setApplicationName(QStringLiteral("kded5"));
-    app->setApplicationDisplayName(QStringLiteral("KDE Daemon"));
     app->setOrganizationDomain(QStringLiteral("kde.org"));
     app->setApplicationVersion(QStringLiteral(KDED_VERSION_STRING));
 }
@@ -740,12 +743,11 @@
     // testing for --check, in which case, only a QCoreApplication was created.
     // Since that option is no longer used at startup, we removed that speed
     // optimization for code clarity and easier support of standard parameters.
-    QApplication app(argc, argv);
+    QCoreApplication app(argc, argv);
     if (unsetQpa) {
         qunsetenv("QT_QPA_PLATFORM");
     }
     setupAppInfo(&app);
-    app.setQuitOnLastWindowClosed(false);
 
     QCommandLineParser parser;
     parser.addHelpOption();