diff --git a/kcmkwin/kwinrules/kcmrules.h b/kcmkwin/kwinrules/kcmrules.h
--- a/kcmkwin/kwinrules/kcmrules.h
+++ b/kcmkwin/kwinrules/kcmrules.h
@@ -35,12 +35,14 @@
     Q_OBJECT
 
     Q_PROPERTY(RuleBookModel *ruleBookModel MEMBER m_ruleBookModel CONSTANT)
-    Q_PROPERTY(RulesModel *rulesModel MEMBER m_rulesModel CONSTANT)
+    Q_PROPERTY(RulesModel *rulesModel READ rulesModel CONSTANT)
     Q_PROPERTY(int editIndex READ editIndex NOTIFY editIndexChanged)
 
 public:
     explicit KCMKWinRules(QObject *parent, const QVariantList &arguments);
 
+    RulesModel *rulesModel();
+
     Q_INVOKABLE void setRuleDescription(int index, const QString &description);
     Q_INVOKABLE void editRule(int index);
 
@@ -67,7 +69,7 @@
 
 private:
     RuleBookModel *m_ruleBookModel;
-    RulesModel* m_rulesModel;
+    RulesModel* m_rulesModel = nullptr;
 
     QPersistentModelIndex m_editIndex;
 };
diff --git a/kcmkwin/kwinrules/kcmrules.cpp b/kcmkwin/kwinrules/kcmrules.cpp
--- a/kcmkwin/kwinrules/kcmrules.cpp
+++ b/kcmkwin/kwinrules/kcmrules.cpp
@@ -29,14 +29,14 @@
 #include <KLocalizedString>
 #include <KPluginFactory>
 
+#include "ruleitem.h"
 
 namespace KWin
 {
 
 KCMKWinRules::KCMKWinRules(QObject *parent, const QVariantList &arguments)
     : KQuickAddons::ConfigModule(parent, arguments)
     , m_ruleBookModel(new RuleBookModel(this))
-    , m_rulesModel(new RulesModel(this))
 {
     auto about = new KAboutData(QStringLiteral("kcm_kwinrules"),
                                 i18n("Window Rules"),
@@ -54,15 +54,29 @@
                       " KWin as your window manager. If you do use a different window manager, please refer to its documentation"
                       " for how to customize window behavior.</p>"));
 
-    connect(m_rulesModel, &RulesModel::descriptionChanged, this, [this]{
-        if (m_editIndex.isValid()) {
-            m_ruleBookModel->setDescriptionAt(m_editIndex.row(), m_rulesModel->description());
-        }
-    } );
-    connect(m_rulesModel, &RulesModel::dataChanged, this, &KCMKWinRules::updateNeedsSave);
+    qmlRegisterUncreatableType<RuleItem>("org.kde.kcms.kwinrules", 1, 0, "RuleItem",
+                                         QStringLiteral("Do not create objects of type RuleItem"));
+    qmlRegisterUncreatableType<RulesModel>("org.kde.kcms.kwinrules", 1, 0, "RulesModel",
+                                                 QStringLiteral("Do not create objects of type RulesModel"));
+
     connect(m_ruleBookModel, &RulesModel::dataChanged, this, &KCMKWinRules::updateNeedsSave);
 }
 
+RulesModel *KCMKWinRules::rulesModel()
+{
+    if (!m_rulesModel) {
+        m_rulesModel = new RulesModel(this);
+        connect(m_rulesModel, &RulesModel::descriptionChanged, this, [this]{
+            if (m_editIndex.isValid()) {
+                m_ruleBookModel->setDescriptionAt(m_editIndex.row(), m_rulesModel->description());
+            }
+        } );
+        connect(m_rulesModel, &RulesModel::dataChanged, this, &KCMKWinRules::updateNeedsSave);
+    }
+
+    return m_rulesModel;
+}
+
 void KCMKWinRules::load()
 {
     m_ruleBookModel->load();
@@ -93,7 +107,7 @@
 void KCMKWinRules::saveCurrentRule()
 {
     if (m_editIndex.isValid() && needsSave()) {
-        m_ruleBookModel->setRuleAt(m_editIndex.row(), m_rulesModel->exportToRules());
+        m_ruleBookModel->setRuleAt(m_editIndex.row(), rulesModel()->exportToRules());
     }
 }
 
@@ -113,7 +127,7 @@
     }
 
     if (m_editIndex.row() == index) {
-        m_rulesModel->setDescription(description);
+        rulesModel()->setDescription(description);
         return;
     }
     m_ruleBookModel->setDescriptionAt(index, description);
@@ -132,7 +146,7 @@
     m_editIndex = m_ruleBookModel->index(index);
     emit editIndexChanged();
 
-    m_rulesModel->importFromRules(m_ruleBookModel->ruleAt(m_editIndex.row()));
+    rulesModel()->importFromRules(m_ruleBookModel->ruleAt(m_editIndex.row()));
 
     // Set the active page to rules editor (0:RulesList, 1:RulesEditor)
     setCurrentIndex(1);
@@ -240,7 +254,7 @@
 
         // Reset rule editor if the current rule changed when importing
         if (m_editIndex.row() == newIndex) {
-            m_rulesModel->importFromRules(m_ruleBookModel->ruleAt(m_editIndex.row()));
+            rulesModel()->importFromRules(m_ruleBookModel->ruleAt(m_editIndex.row()));
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/kcmkwin/kwinrules/rulesmodel.cpp b/kcmkwin/kwinrules/rulesmodel.cpp
--- a/kcmkwin/kwinrules/rulesmodel.cpp
+++ b/kcmkwin/kwinrules/rulesmodel.cpp
@@ -40,11 +40,6 @@
 RulesModel::RulesModel(QObject *parent)
     : QAbstractListModel(parent)
 {
-    qmlRegisterUncreatableType<RuleItem>("org.kde.kcms.kwinrules", 1, 0, "RuleItem",
-                                         QStringLiteral("Do not create objects of type RuleItem"));
-    qmlRegisterUncreatableType<RulesModel>("org.kde.kcms.kwinrules", 1, 0, "RulesModel",
-                                                 QStringLiteral("Do not create objects of type RulesModel"));
-
     populateRuleList();
 }