diff --git a/libkworkspace/updatelaunchenvjob.cpp b/libkworkspace/updatelaunchenvjob.cpp
--- a/libkworkspace/updatelaunchenvjob.cpp
+++ b/libkworkspace/updatelaunchenvjob.cpp
@@ -98,5 +98,16 @@
 
     auto dbusActivationReply = QDBusConnection::sessionBus().asyncCall(dbusActivationMsg);
     d->monitorReply(dbusActivationReply);
+
+    // _user_ systemd env
+    QDBusMessage systemdActivationMsg = QDBusMessage::createMethodCall(QStringLiteral("org.freedesktop.systemd1"),
+                                                                       QStringLiteral("/org/freedesktop/systemd1"),
+                                                                       QStringLiteral("org.freedesktop.systemd1.Manager"),
+                                                                       QStringLiteral("SetEnvironment"));
+    const QString updateString = d->varName + QStringLiteral("=") + d->value;
+    systemdActivationMsg.setArguments({QVariant(QStringList{updateString})});
+
+    auto systemdActivationReply = QDBusConnection::sessionBus().asyncCall(systemdActivationMsg);
+    d->monitorReply(systemdActivationReply);
 }