diff --git a/src/kpagewidgetmodel.h b/src/kpagewidgetmodel.h
--- a/src/kpagewidgetmodel.h
+++ b/src/kpagewidgetmodel.h
@@ -108,8 +108,11 @@
      *
      * If setHeader(QString()) is used, what is the default if the header
      * does not got set explicit, then the defined name() will also be used
-     * for the header. If setHeader("") is used, the header will be hidden
+     * for the header.
+     *
+     * For backward-compatibility, if setHeader("") is used, the header will be hidden
      * even if the @a KPageView::FaceType is something else then Tabbed.
+     * This feature is deprecated since 5.52. use @c setHeaderVisible(false) instead.
      *
      * @param header Header of the page widget item.
      */
diff --git a/src/kpagewidgetmodel.cpp b/src/kpagewidgetmodel.cpp
--- a/src/kpagewidgetmodel.cpp
+++ b/src/kpagewidgetmodel.cpp
@@ -134,6 +134,11 @@
 
 void KPageWidgetItem::setHeader(const QString &header)
 {
+    const bool autoHeaderInvisibilityTriggered = header.isEmpty() & !header.isNull();
+    if (autoHeaderInvisibilityTriggered) {
+        qCWarning(KWidgetsAddonsLog) << "KPageWidgetItem::setHeader() called with empty non-null string, which is deprecated. Use KPageWidgetItem::setHeaderVisible(false) instead.";
+    }
+
     d->header = header;
 
     emit changed();