diff --git a/cursor.cpp b/cursor.cpp
--- a/cursor.cpp
+++ b/cursor.cpp
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@
 {
     KConfigGroup mousecfg(kwinApp()->inputConfig(), "Mouse");
     const QString themeName = mousecfg.readEntry("cursorTheme", "default");
-    const uint themeSize = mousecfg.readEntry("cursorSize", 0);
+    const uint themeSize = mousecfg.readEntry("cursorSize", 24);
     updateTheme(themeName, themeSize);
 }
 
diff --git a/effects/startupfeedback/startupfeedback.cpp b/effects/startupfeedback/startupfeedback.cpp
--- a/effects/startupfeedback/startupfeedback.cpp
+++ b/effects/startupfeedback/startupfeedback.cpp
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@
     , m_texture(nullptr)
     , m_type(BouncingFeedback)
     , m_blinkingShader(nullptr)
-    , m_cursorSize(0)
+    , m_cursorSize(24)
     , m_configWatcher(KConfigWatcher::create(KSharedConfig::openConfig("klaunchrc", KConfig::NoGlobals)))
 {
     for (int i = 0; i < 5; ++i) {
@@ -278,13 +278,7 @@
     auto readCursorSize = []() -> int {
         // read details about the mouse-cursor theme define per default
         KConfigGroup mousecfg(effects->inputConfig(), "Mouse");
-        QString size  = mousecfg.readEntry("cursorSize", QString());
-
-        // fetch a reasonable size for the cursor-theme image
-        bool ok;
-        int cursorSize = size.toInt(&ok);
-        if (!ok)
-            cursorSize = QApplication::style()->pixelMetric(QStyle::PM_LargeIconSize);
+        int cursorSize  = mousecfg.readEntry("cursorSize", 24);
         return cursorSize;
     };
     m_cursorSize = readCursorSize();