diff --git a/applets/kicker/plugin/favoritesmodel.cpp b/applets/kicker/plugin/favoritesmodel.cpp
--- a/applets/kicker/plugin/favoritesmodel.cpp
+++ b/applets/kicker/plugin/favoritesmodel.cpp
@@ -277,6 +277,17 @@
 
 void FavoritesModel::refresh()
 {
+    // Bug 374156: When RootModel completes, it calls this method, we would
+    // happily update ourselves and announce "favoritesChanged", at which point
+    // the QML part would store the "new" favorites to settings.
+    // Unfortunately, by the time this happens, Component.onCompleted of
+    // the RootModel has not yet fired, so we haven't yet set m_favorites to
+    // the ones in the config, having us nuke the config every time.
+    // To avoid this, avoid doing anything if both entryList and m_favorites is empty.
+    if (m_entryList.isEmpty() && m_favorites.isEmpty()) {
+        return;
+    }
+
     beginResetModel();
 
     setDropPlaceholderIndex(-1);