diff --git a/runners/katesessions/katesessions.h b/runners/katesessions/katesessions.h
--- a/runners/katesessions/katesessions.h
+++ b/runners/katesessions/katesessions.h
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
         KDirWatch* m_sessionWatch = nullptr;
         QString m_sessionsFolderPath;
         QStringList m_sessions;
-        const QLatin1String m_triggerWord = QLatin1String("kate");
+        const QLatin1String m_triggerWord = QLatin1String("kate ");
 };
 
 #endif
diff --git a/runners/katesessions/katesessions.cpp b/runners/katesessions/katesessions.cpp
--- a/runners/katesessions/katesessions.cpp
+++ b/runners/katesessions/katesessions.cpp
@@ -41,8 +41,6 @@
 
     Plasma::RunnerSyntax s(QStringLiteral("kate :q:"), i18n("Finds Kate sessions matching :q:."));
     addSyntax(s);
-    setDefaultSyntax(Plasma::RunnerSyntax(QStringLiteral("kate"),
-                                          i18n("Lists all the Kate editor sessions in your account.")));
 
     m_sessionsFolderPath = QStandardPaths::writableLocation(QStandardPaths::GenericDataLocation)
                             + QStringLiteral("/kate/sessions");
@@ -56,9 +54,7 @@
     loadSessions();
 }
 
-KateSessions::~KateSessions()
-{
-}
+KateSessions::~KateSessions() = default;
 
 void KateSessions::loadSessions()
 {
@@ -71,37 +67,28 @@
     }
 
     m_sessions = sessions;
+    suspendMatching(m_sessions.isEmpty());
 }
 
 void KateSessions::match(Plasma::RunnerContext &context)
 {
     QString term = context.query();
-    if (term.length() < 3 || m_sessions.isEmpty() || !context.isValid()) {
-        return;
-    }
+
     // Kate writes sessions as desktop actions in the local .desktop file =>
     // they are already available from the "Applications" Runner and in the normal launcher
-    if (!term.startsWith(m_triggerWord, Qt::CaseInsensitive)) {
+    // this plugin only handles syntaxes like: kate <session name>
+    if (!term.startsWith(m_triggerWord, Qt::CaseInsensitive) || !context.isValid()) {
         return;
     }
 
-    bool listAll = false;
-    if (term.trimmed().compare(m_triggerWord, Qt::CaseInsensitive) == 0) {
-        listAll = true;
-        term.clear();
-    } else if (term.at(4) == QLatin1Char(' ')) {
-        term = term.remove(m_triggerWord, Qt::CaseInsensitive).trimmed();
-    } else {
-        // Prevent results for queries like "katee"
-        return;
-    }
+    term = term.remove(m_triggerWord, Qt::CaseInsensitive).trimmed();
 
     for (const QString &session: qAsConst(m_sessions)) {
-        if (listAll || session.contains(term, Qt::CaseInsensitive)) {
+        if (session.contains(term, Qt::CaseInsensitive)) {
             Plasma::QueryMatch match(this);
             match.setType(Plasma::QueryMatch::ExactMatch);
-            match.setRelevance(session.compare(term, Qt::CaseInsensitive) == 0 ? 1 : 0.8);
-            match.setIconName(m_triggerWord);
+            match.setRelevance((float) term.length() / (float) session.length());
+            match.setIconName(QStringLiteral("kate"));
             match.setData(session);
             match.setText(session);
             match.setSubtext(i18n("Open Kate Session"));