diff --git a/autotests/openurljobtest.h b/autotests/openurljobtest.h
--- a/autotests/openurljobtest.h
+++ b/autotests/openurljobtest.h
@@ -55,12 +55,14 @@
     void ftpUrlWithKIO();
 
     void takeOverAfterMimeTypeFound();
+    void runDeskopFileDirectly();
 
 private:
     void writeApplicationDesktopFile(const QString &filePath);
 
     QStringList m_filesToRemove;
     QTemporaryDir m_tempDir;
+    QString m_fakeService;
 };
 
 #endif /* OPENURLJOBTEST_H */
diff --git a/autotests/openurljobtest.cpp b/autotests/openurljobtest.cpp
--- a/autotests/openurljobtest.cpp
+++ b/autotests/openurljobtest.cpp
@@ -79,10 +79,10 @@
     QFile::remove(mimeApps);
 
     ksycoca_ms_between_checks = 0; // need it to check the ksycoca mtime
-    QString fakeService = QStandardPaths::writableLocation(QStandardPaths::ApplicationsLocation) + QLatin1Char('/') + s_tempServiceName;
-    writeApplicationDesktopFile(fakeService);
-    fakeService = QFileInfo(fakeService).canonicalFilePath();
-    m_filesToRemove.append(fakeService);
+    m_fakeService = QStandardPaths::writableLocation(QStandardPaths::ApplicationsLocation) + QLatin1Char('/') + s_tempServiceName;
+    writeApplicationDesktopFile(m_fakeService);
+    m_fakeService = QFileInfo(m_fakeService).canonicalFilePath();
+    m_filesToRemove.append(m_fakeService);
 
     // Ensure our service is the preferred one
     KConfig mimeAppsCfg(mimeApps);
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@
     for (const char *mimeType : {"text/plain", "application/x-shellscript"}) {
         KService::Ptr preferredTextEditor = KApplicationTrader::preferredService(QString::fromLatin1(mimeType));
         QVERIFY(preferredTextEditor);
-        QCOMPARE(preferredTextEditor->entryPath(), fakeService);
+        QCOMPARE(preferredTextEditor->entryPath(), m_fakeService);
     }
 
     // As used for preferredService
@@ -442,6 +442,17 @@
     QCOMPARE(foundMime, "image/jpeg");
 }
 
+void OpenUrlJobTest::runDeskopFileDirectly()
+{
+    KIO::OpenUrlJob *job = new KIO::OpenUrlJob(QUrl::fromLocalFile(m_fakeService), this);
+    job->setRunExecutables(true);
+    QVERIFY(job->exec());
+
+    const QString dest = m_tempDir.path() + "/dest";
+    QTRY_VERIFY2(QFile::exists(dest), qPrintable(dest));
+    QCOMPARE(readFile(dest), QString{});
+}
+
 void OpenUrlJobTest::writeApplicationDesktopFile(const QString &filePath)
 {
     KDesktopFile file(filePath);
diff --git a/src/gui/openurljob.cpp b/src/gui/openurljob.cpp
--- a/src/gui/openurljob.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/openurljob.cpp
@@ -86,7 +86,11 @@
     bool handleExecutables(const QMimeType &mimeType);
     void runLink(const QString &filePath, const QString &urlStr, const QString &optionalServiceName);
     void showOpenWithDialog();
-    void startService(const KService::Ptr &service);
+    void startService(const KService::Ptr &service, const QList<QUrl> &urls);
+    void startService(const KService::Ptr &service)
+    {
+        startService(service, {m_url});
+    }
 };
 
 KIO::OpenUrlJob::OpenUrlJob(const QUrl &url, QObject *parent)
@@ -308,10 +312,10 @@
     });
 }
 
-void KIO::OpenUrlJobPrivate::startService(const KService::Ptr &service)
+void KIO::OpenUrlJobPrivate::startService(const KService::Ptr &service, const QList<QUrl> &urls)
 {
     KIO::ApplicationLauncherJob *job = new KIO::ApplicationLauncherJob(service, q);
-    job->setUrls({m_url});
+    job->setUrls(urls);
     job->setRunFlags(m_deleteTemporaryFile ? KIO::ApplicationLauncherJob::DeleteTemporaryFiles : KIO::ApplicationLauncherJob::RunFlags{});
     job->setSuggestedFileName(m_suggestedFileName);
     job->setStartupId(m_startupId);
@@ -575,7 +579,7 @@
                 && !cfgGroup.readEntry("Exec").isEmpty()
                 && m_runExecutables) {
                 KService::Ptr service(new KService(filePath));
-                startService(service);
+                startService(service, {});
                 return;
             } else if (cfg.hasLinkType()) {
                 runLink(filePath, cfg.readUrl(), cfg.desktopGroup().readEntry("X-KDE-LastOpenedWith"));