diff --git a/autotests/kservicetest.cpp b/autotests/kservicetest.cpp
--- a/autotests/kservicetest.cpp
+++ b/autotests/kservicetest.cpp
@@ -29,8 +29,7 @@
 #include <kdesktopfile.h>
 #include <ksycoca.h>
 #include <kbuildsycoca_p.h>
-#include <../src/services/kserviceutil_p.h>
-#include <../src/services/ktraderparsetree_p.h>
+#include <../src/services/kserviceutil_p.h> // for KServiceUtilPrivate
 
 #include <kservicegroup.h>
 #include <kservicetypetrader.h>
@@ -601,7 +600,7 @@
 void KServiceTest::testSubseqConstraints()
 {
   auto test = [](const char* pattern, const char* text, bool sensitive) {
-    return KTraderParse::ParseTreeSubsequenceMATCH::isSubseq(
+    return KService::isSubseq(
         QString(pattern),
         QString(text),
         sensitive? Qt::CaseSensitive : Qt::CaseInsensitive
diff --git a/src/services/kservice.h b/src/services/kservice.h
--- a/src/services/kservice.h
+++ b/src/services/kservice.h
@@ -568,6 +568,13 @@
      */
     operator KPluginName() const;
 
+    /**
+     * Returns true if @p pattern matches a subsequence of the string @p text.
+     * For instance the pattern "libremath" matches the text "LibreOffice Math", assuming
+     * @p cs is Qt::CaseInsensitive.
+     */
+    static bool isSubseq(const QString& pattern, const QString& text, Qt::CaseSensitivity cs = Qt::CaseSensitive);
+
 private:
     friend class KBuildServiceFactory;
 
diff --git a/src/services/kservice.cpp b/src/services/kservice.cpp
--- a/src/services/kservice.cpp
+++ b/src/services/kservice.cpp
@@ -857,6 +857,22 @@
     return QStandardPaths::writableLocation(QStandardPaths::GenericDataLocation) + QLatin1String("/applications/") + result;
 }
 
+bool KService::isSubseq(const QString &pattern, const QString &text, Qt::CaseSensitivity cs)
+{
+    if (pattern.isEmpty()) {
+        return false;
+    }
+    const bool chk_case = cs == Qt::CaseSensitive;
+
+    QString::const_iterator i = text.constBegin(), j = pattern.constBegin();
+    for (; i != text.constEnd() && j != pattern.constEnd(); ++i) {
+        if ((chk_case && *i == *j) || (!chk_case && i->toLower() == j->toLower())) {
+            ++j;
+        }
+    }
+    return j == pattern.constEnd();
+}
+
 bool KService::isApplication() const
 {
     Q_D(const KService);
diff --git a/src/services/ktraderparsetree.cpp b/src/services/ktraderparsetree.cpp
--- a/src/services/ktraderparsetree.cpp
+++ b/src/services/ktraderparsetree.cpp
@@ -438,27 +438,10 @@
   if (c1.type != ParseContext::T_STRING || c2.type != ParseContext::T_STRING) {
     return false;
   }
-  _context->b = ParseTreeSubsequenceMATCH::isSubseq(c1.str, c2.str, m_cs);
+  _context->b = KService::isSubseq(c1.str, c2.str, m_cs);
   return true;
 }
 
-bool ParseTreeSubsequenceMATCH::
-isSubseq(const QString& pattern, const QString& text, Qt::CaseSensitivity cs)
-{
-  if (pattern.isEmpty()) {
-    return false;
-  }
-  bool chk_case = cs == Qt::CaseSensitive;
-
-  QString::const_iterator i = text.constBegin(), j = pattern.constBegin();
-  for (; i != text.constEnd() && j != pattern.constEnd(); ++i) {
-    if ((chk_case && *i == *j) || (!chk_case && i->toLower() == j->toLower())) {
-      ++j;
-    }
-  }
-  return j == pattern.constEnd();
-}
-
 bool ParseTreeIN::eval(ParseContext *_context) const
 {
     _context->type = ParseContext::T_BOOL;
diff --git a/src/services/ktraderparsetree_p.h b/src/services/ktraderparsetree_p.h
--- a/src/services/ktraderparsetree_p.h
+++ b/src/services/ktraderparsetree_p.h
@@ -248,8 +248,6 @@
 
   bool eval(ParseContext *_context) const override;
 
-  static bool isSubseq(const QString& pattern, const QString& text, Qt::CaseSensitivity cs);
-
 protected:
   ParseTreeBase::Ptr m_pLeft;
   ParseTreeBase::Ptr m_pRight;