diff --git a/xembed-sni-proxy/fdoselectionmanager.cpp b/xembed-sni-proxy/fdoselectionmanager.cpp
--- a/xembed-sni-proxy/fdoselectionmanager.cpp
+++ b/xembed-sni-proxy/fdoselectionmanager.cpp
@@ -22,9 +22,10 @@
 #include "debug.h"
 
 #include <QCoreApplication>
+#include <QDBusConnection>
+#include <QDBusServiceWatcher>
 #include <QHash>
 #include <QTimer>
-
 #include <QTextDocument>
 #include <QX11Info>
 
@@ -187,6 +188,17 @@
     qCDebug(SNIPROXY) << "Manager selection claimed";
 
     setSystemTrayVisual();
+
+    // send all container windows to background on KWin restart
+    QDBusServiceWatcher *watcher = new QDBusServiceWatcher(QStringLiteral("org.kde.KWin"), QDBusConnection::sessionBus(), QDBusServiceWatcher::WatchForRegistration, this);
+    connect(watcher, &QDBusServiceWatcher::serviceRegistered, this, [=](const QString &) {
+        // some delay is necesary
+        QTimer::singleShot(100, this, [=]() {
+            for (auto sniproxy : m_proxies) {
+                sniproxy->stackContainerWindow(XCB_STACK_MODE_BELOW);
+            }
+        });
+    });
 }
 
 void FdoSelectionManager::onFailedToClaimOwnership()
diff --git a/xembed-sni-proxy/sniproxy.h b/xembed-sni-proxy/sniproxy.h
--- a/xembed-sni-proxy/sniproxy.h
+++ b/xembed-sni-proxy/sniproxy.h
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@
     ~SNIProxy() override;
 
     void update();
+    void stackContainerWindow(const uint32_t stackMode) const;
 
     /**
      * @return the category of the application associated to this item
diff --git a/xembed-sni-proxy/sniproxy.cpp b/xembed-sni-proxy/sniproxy.cpp
--- a/xembed-sni-proxy/sniproxy.cpp
+++ b/xembed-sni-proxy/sniproxy.cpp
@@ -122,8 +122,7 @@
     */
 
 #ifndef VISUAL_DEBUG
-    const uint32_t stackBelowData[] = {XCB_STACK_MODE_BELOW};
-    xcb_configure_window(c, m_containerWid, XCB_CONFIG_WINDOW_STACK_MODE, stackBelowData);
+    stackContainerWindow(XCB_STACK_MODE_BELOW);
 
     NETWinInfo wm(c, m_containerWid, screen->root, NET::Properties(), NET::Properties2());
     wm.setOpacity(0);
@@ -214,6 +213,13 @@
     emit NewToolTip();
 }
 
+void SNIProxy::stackContainerWindow(const uint32_t stackMode) const
+{
+    auto c = QX11Info::connection();
+    const uint32_t stackData[] = {stackMode};
+    xcb_configure_window(c, m_containerWid, XCB_CONFIG_WINDOW_STACK_MODE, stackData);
+}
+
 QSize SNIProxy::calculateClientWindowSize() const
 {
     auto c = QX11Info::connection();
@@ -538,8 +544,7 @@
     xcb_configure_window(c, m_containerWid, XCB_CONFIG_WINDOW_X | XCB_CONFIG_WINDOW_Y, configVals);
 
     //pull window up
-    const uint32_t stackAboveData[] = {XCB_STACK_MODE_ABOVE};
-    xcb_configure_window(c, m_containerWid, XCB_CONFIG_WINDOW_STACK_MODE, stackAboveData);
+    stackContainerWindow(XCB_STACK_MODE_ABOVE);
 
     //mouse down
     if (m_injectMode == Direct) {
@@ -589,7 +594,6 @@
     }
 
 #ifndef VISUAL_DEBUG
-    const uint32_t stackBelowData[] = {XCB_STACK_MODE_BELOW};
-    xcb_configure_window(c, m_containerWid, XCB_CONFIG_WINDOW_STACK_MODE, stackBelowData);
+    stackContainerWindow(XCB_STACK_MODE_BELOW);
 #endif
 }