diff --git a/applets/kicker/package/contents/ui/main.qml b/applets/kicker/package/contents/ui/main.qml
--- a/applets/kicker/package/contents/ui/main.qml
+++ b/applets/kicker/package/contents/ui/main.qml
@@ -76,6 +76,8 @@
     Kicker.RootModel {
         id: rootModel
 
+        autoPopulate: false
+
         appNameFormat: plasmoid.configuration.appNameFormat
         flat: isDash ? true : plasmoid.configuration.limitDepth
         sorted: plasmoid.configuration.alphaSort
@@ -101,6 +103,7 @@
 
         Component.onCompleted: {
             favoritesModel.favorites = plasmoid.configuration.favoriteApps;
+            rootModel.refresh();
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/applets/kicker/plugin/rootmodel.h b/applets/kicker/plugin/rootmodel.h
--- a/applets/kicker/plugin/rootmodel.h
+++ b/applets/kicker/plugin/rootmodel.h
@@ -54,6 +54,8 @@
     Q_OBJECT
     Q_INTERFACES(QQmlParserStatus)
 
+    Q_PROPERTY(bool autoPopulate READ autoPopulate WRITE setAutoPopulate NOTIFY autoPopulateChanged)
+
     Q_PROPERTY(QObject* systemFavoritesModel READ systemFavoritesModel NOTIFY systemFavoritesModelChanged)
     Q_PROPERTY(bool showAllApps READ showAllApps WRITE setShowAllApps NOTIFY showAllAppsChanged)
     Q_PROPERTY(bool showRecentApps READ showRecentApps WRITE setShowRecentApps NOTIFY showRecentAppsChanged)
@@ -69,6 +71,9 @@
 
         Q_INVOKABLE virtual bool trigger(int row, const QString &actionId, const QVariant &argument);
 
+        bool autoPopulate() const;
+        void setAutoPopulate(bool populate);
+
         bool showAllApps() const;
         void setShowAllApps(bool show);
 
@@ -93,6 +98,7 @@
     Q_SIGNALS:
         void refreshed() const;
         void systemFavoritesModelChanged() const;
+        void autoPopulateChanged() const;
         void showAllAppsChanged() const;
         void showRecentAppsChanged() const;
         void showRecentDocsChanged() const;
@@ -109,6 +115,8 @@
         FavoritesModel *m_favorites;
         SystemModel *m_systemModel;
 
+        bool m_autoPopulate;
+
         bool m_showAllApps;
         bool m_showRecentApps;
         bool m_showRecentDocs;
diff --git a/applets/kicker/plugin/rootmodel.cpp b/applets/kicker/plugin/rootmodel.cpp
--- a/applets/kicker/plugin/rootmodel.cpp
+++ b/applets/kicker/plugin/rootmodel.cpp
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@
 , m_complete(false)
 , m_favorites(new FavoritesModel(this))
 , m_systemModel(nullptr)
+, m_autoPopulate(true)
 , m_showAllApps(false)
 , m_showRecentApps(true)
 , m_showRecentDocs(true)
@@ -143,6 +144,19 @@
     return AppsModel::trigger(row, actionId, argument);
 }
 
+bool RootModel::autoPopulate() const
+{
+    return m_autoPopulate;
+}
+
+void RootModel::setAutoPopulate(bool populate)
+{
+    if (m_autoPopulate != populate) {
+        m_autoPopulate = populate;
+
+        emit autoPopulateChanged();
+    }
+}
 
 bool RootModel::showAllApps() const
 {
@@ -246,7 +260,9 @@
 {
     m_complete = true;
 
-    refresh();
+    if (m_autoPopulate) {
+        refresh();
+    }
 }
 
 void RootModel::refresh()