diff --git a/kcms/componentchooser/componentchooserbrowser.cpp b/kcms/componentchooser/componentchooserbrowser.cpp
--- a/kcms/componentchooser/componentchooserbrowser.cpp
+++ b/kcms/componentchooser/componentchooserbrowser.cpp
@@ -104,6 +104,11 @@
 
 void CfgBrowser::save(KConfig *)
 {
+    if (currentIndex() == count() -1) {
+        // no browser installed, nor selected
+        return;
+    }
+
     const QString browserStorageId = currentData().toString();
 
     BrowserSettings settings;
diff --git a/kcms/componentchooser/componentchooseremail.cpp b/kcms/componentchooser/componentchooseremail.cpp
--- a/kcms/componentchooser/componentchooseremail.cpp
+++ b/kcms/componentchooser/componentchooseremail.cpp
@@ -140,6 +140,10 @@
 {
     const QString &storageId = currentData().toString();
     const KService::Ptr emailClientService = KService::serviceByStorageId(storageId);
+    if (!emailClientService) {
+        // no email client installed or selected
+        return;
+    }
 
     const bool kmailSelected = m_defaultIndex != -1 && currentIndex() == m_defaultIndex;
     if (kmailSelected) {
diff --git a/kcms/componentchooser/componentchooserterminal.cpp b/kcms/componentchooser/componentchooserterminal.cpp
--- a/kcms/componentchooser/componentchooserterminal.cpp
+++ b/kcms/componentchooser/componentchooserterminal.cpp
@@ -90,7 +90,9 @@
 void CfgTerminalEmulator::save(KConfig *)
 {
     const QString terminal = currentData().toString();
-    m_currentIndex = currentIndex();
+    if (terminal.isEmpty()) {
+        return;
+    }
 
 	TerminalSettings settings;
     settings.setTerminalApplication(terminal);