diff --git a/src/declarativeimports/core/units.h b/src/declarativeimports/core/units.h
--- a/src/declarativeimports/core/units.h
+++ b/src/declarativeimports/core/units.h
@@ -73,7 +73,10 @@
      *
      * Not devicePixelRation-adjusted::
      * * desktop
+     *
      */
+    //note the iconSizeChanges signal indicates that one (or more) of these icons have changed
+    //but the property map itself remains constant
     Q_PROPERTY(QQmlPropertyMap *iconSizes READ iconSizes CONSTANT)
 
     // layout hints
@@ -176,6 +179,7 @@
 Q_SIGNALS:
     void devicePixelRatioChanged();
     void gridUnitChanged();
+    void iconSizesChanged();
     void spacingChanged();
     void durationChanged();
 
diff --git a/src/declarativeimports/core/units.cpp b/src/declarativeimports/core/units.cpp
--- a/src/declarativeimports/core/units.cpp
+++ b/src/declarativeimports/core/units.cpp
@@ -134,6 +134,8 @@
     m_iconSizes->insert(QStringLiteral("large"), devicePixelIconSize(KIconLoader::SizeLarge));
     m_iconSizes->insert(QStringLiteral("huge"), devicePixelIconSize(KIconLoader::SizeHuge));
     m_iconSizes->insert(QStringLiteral("enormous"), devicePixelIconSize(KIconLoader::SizeEnormous));
+
+    emit iconSizesChanged();
 }
 
 QQmlPropertyMap *Units::iconSizes() const