diff --git a/src/libkirigami/platformtheme.cpp b/src/libkirigami/platformtheme.cpp
--- a/src/libkirigami/platformtheme.cpp
+++ b/src/libkirigami/platformtheme.cpp
@@ -898,6 +898,16 @@
         return PlatformThemePrivate::s_pluginFactory->createPlatformTheme(object);
     } else if (!s_factoryChecked) {
         s_factoryChecked = true;
+
+        // static plugins take preference
+        for (QObject* staticPlugin : QPluginLoader::staticInstances()) {
+            KirigamiPluginFactory *factory = qobject_cast<KirigamiPluginFactory *>(staticPlugin);
+            if (factory) {
+                PlatformThemePrivate::s_pluginFactory = factory;
+                return factory->createPlatformTheme(object);
+            }
+        }
+
 #if QT_CONFIG(library)
         const auto libraryPaths = QCoreApplication::libraryPaths();
         for (const QString &path : libraryPaths) {