diff --git a/src/qtquick/quickitemsmodel.cpp b/src/qtquick/quickitemsmodel.cpp
--- a/src/qtquick/quickitemsmodel.cpp
+++ b/src/qtquick/quickitemsmodel.cpp
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@
     }
     ItemsModel *q;
     KNSCore::ItemsModel *model;
-    Engine *engine;
+    QObject *engine;
     KNSCore::Engine *coreEngine;
 
     QHash<QString, KNSCore::CommentsModel*> commentsModels;
@@ -373,20 +373,25 @@
 {
     if (d->engine != newEngine) {
         beginResetModel();
-        d->engine = qobject_cast<Engine*>(newEngine);
+        d->engine = newEngine;
         d->model->deleteLater();
         d->model = nullptr;
         d->coreEngine = nullptr;
-        if (d->engine) {
-            d->coreEngine = qobject_cast<KNSCore::Engine*>(d->engine->engine());
+        Engine *test = qobject_cast<Engine*>(newEngine);
+        if (test) {
+            d->coreEngine = qobject_cast<KNSCore::Engine*>(test->engine());
+            connect(test, &Engine::engineChanged, this, [this, test](){
+                beginResetModel();
+                d->model->deleteLater();
+                d->model = nullptr;
+                d->coreEngine = qobject_cast<KNSCore::Engine*>(test->engine());
+                endResetModel();
+            });
+        } else {
+            // Don't really need any testing here, if it's not a KNSCore
+            // engine, then it'll become the null we expected anyway
+            d->coreEngine = qobject_cast<KNSCore::Engine*>(newEngine);
         }
-        connect(d->engine, &Engine::engineChanged, this, [this](){
-            beginResetModel();
-            d->model->deleteLater();
-            d->model = nullptr;
-            d->coreEngine = qobject_cast<KNSCore::Engine*>(d->engine->engine());
-            endResetModel();
-        });
         emit engineChanged();
         endResetModel();
     }
@@ -425,7 +430,9 @@
             QStringList args = KShell::splitArgs(d->coreEngine->adoptionCommand(entry));
             qCDebug(KNEWSTUFFQUICK) << "executing AdoptionCommand" << args;
             QProcess::startDetached(args.takeFirst(), args);
-            d->engine->idleMessage(i18n("Using %1", entry.name()));
+            if (Engine *test = qobject_cast<Engine*>(d->engine)) {
+                test->idleMessage(i18n("Using %1", entry.name()));
+            }
         }
     }
 }