diff --git a/autotests/client/test_plasmashell.cpp b/autotests/client/test_plasmashell.cpp
--- a/autotests/client/test_plasmashell.cpp
+++ b/autotests/client/test_plasmashell.cpp
@@ -438,23 +438,30 @@
 {
     // this test verifies that whether a panel wants to take focus is passed through correctly
     QSignalSpy plasmaSurfaceCreatedSpy(m_plasmaShellInterface, &PlasmaShellInterface::surfaceCreated);
+
     QVERIFY(plasmaSurfaceCreatedSpy.isValid());
     QScopedPointer<Surface> s(m_compositor->createSurface());
     QScopedPointer<PlasmaShellSurface> ps(m_plasmaShell->createSurface(s.data()));
     ps->setRole(PlasmaShellSurface::Role::Panel);
     QVERIFY(plasmaSurfaceCreatedSpy.wait());
     QCOMPARE(plasmaSurfaceCreatedSpy.count(), 1);
     auto sps = plasmaSurfaceCreatedSpy.first().first().value<PlasmaShellSurfaceInterface*>();
+    QSignalSpy plasmaSurfaceTakesFocusSpy(sps, &PlasmaShellSurfaceInterface::panelTakesFocusChanged);
+
     QVERIFY(sps);
     QCOMPARE(sps->role(), PlasmaShellSurfaceInterface::Role::Panel);
     QCOMPARE(sps->panelTakesFocus(), false);
 
     ps->setPanelTakesFocus(true);
     m_connection->flush();
-    QTRY_COMPARE(sps->panelTakesFocus(), true);
+    QVERIFY(plasmaSurfaceTakesFocusSpy.wait());
+    QCOMPARE(plasmaSurfaceTakesFocusSpy.count(), 1);
+    QCOMPARE(sps->panelTakesFocus(), true);
     ps->setPanelTakesFocus(false);
     m_connection->flush();
-    QTRY_COMPARE(sps->panelTakesFocus(), false);
+    QVERIFY(plasmaSurfaceTakesFocusSpy.wait());
+    QCOMPARE(plasmaSurfaceTakesFocusSpy.count(), 2);
+    QCOMPARE(sps->panelTakesFocus(), false);
 }
 
 void TestPlasmaShell::testDisconnect()
diff --git a/src/server/plasmashell_interface.h b/src/server/plasmashell_interface.h
--- a/src/server/plasmashell_interface.h
+++ b/src/server/plasmashell_interface.h
@@ -234,6 +234,13 @@
      **/
     void panelAutoHideShowRequested();
 
+    /*
+     * Emitted when panelTakesFocus changes
+     * @see panelTakesFocus
+     * @since 5.66
+     */
+    void panelTakesFocusChanged();
+
 private:
     friend class PlasmaShellInterface;
     explicit PlasmaShellSurfaceInterface(PlasmaShellInterface *shell, SurfaceInterface *parent, wl_resource *parentResource);
diff --git a/src/server/plasmashell_interface.cpp b/src/server/plasmashell_interface.cpp
--- a/src/server/plasmashell_interface.cpp
+++ b/src/server/plasmashell_interface.cpp
@@ -317,7 +317,11 @@
 {
     auto s = cast<Private>(resource);
     Q_ASSERT(client == *s->client);
+    if (s->panelTakesFocus == takesFocus) {
+        return;
+    }
     s->panelTakesFocus = takesFocus;
+    emit s->q_func()->panelTakesFocusChanged();
 }
 
 void PlasmaShellSurfaceInterface::Private::setPanelBehavior(org_kde_plasma_surface_panel_behavior behavior)