diff --git a/startkde/startkde.cmake b/startkde/startkde.cmake
--- a/startkde/startkde.cmake
+++ b/startkde/startkde.cmake
@@ -359,7 +359,7 @@
   exit 1
 fi
 
-qdbus org.kde.KSplash /KSplash org.kde.KSplash.setStage kinit
+qdbus org.kde.KSplash /KSplash org.kde.KSplash.setStage kinit &
 
 # finally, give the session control to the session manager
 # see kdebase/ksmserver for the description of the rest of the startup sequence