diff --git a/kcmkwin/kwindecoration/kcm.h b/kcmkwin/kwindecoration/kcm.h
--- a/kcmkwin/kwindecoration/kcm.h
+++ b/kcmkwin/kwindecoration/kcm.h
@@ -57,6 +57,8 @@
     void defaults() override;
     void load() override;
     void save() override;
+    //what index is in the model the theme saved as current? needed to move the view at the proper index right at startup
+    int savedIndex() const;
 
 protected:
     void showEvent(QShowEvent *ev) override;
diff --git a/kcmkwin/kwindecoration/kcm.cpp b/kcmkwin/kwindecoration/kcm.cpp
--- a/kcmkwin/kwindecoration/kcm.cpp
+++ b/kcmkwin/kwindecoration/kcm.cpp
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@
 
     m_quickView->rootContext()->setContextProperty(QStringLiteral("decorationsModel"), m_proxyModel);
     updateColors();
+    m_quickView->rootContext()->setContextProperty("savedIndex", savedIndex());
     m_quickView->rootContext()->setContextProperty("_borderSizesIndex", 3); // 3 is normal
     m_quickView->rootContext()->setContextProperty("leftButtons", m_leftButtons);
     m_quickView->rootContext()->setContextProperty("rightButtons", m_rightButtons);
@@ -299,16 +300,20 @@
     return buttonsFromString(config.readEntry(key, buttonsToString(defaultValue)));
 }
 
+int ConfigurationModule::savedIndex() const
+{
+    const KConfigGroup config = KSharedConfig::openConfig("kwinrc")->group(s_pluginName);
+    const QString plugin = config.readEntry("library", s_defaultPlugin);
+    const QString theme = config.readEntry("theme", s_defaultTheme);
+    return m_proxyModel->mapFromSource(m_model->findDecoration(plugin, theme)).row();
+}
+
 void ConfigurationModule::load()
 {
     s_loading = true;
     const KConfigGroup config = KSharedConfig::openConfig("kwinrc")->group(s_pluginName);
     const QString plugin = config.readEntry("library", s_defaultPlugin);
     const QString theme = config.readEntry("theme", s_defaultTheme);
-    const QModelIndex index = m_proxyModel->mapFromSource(m_model->findDecoration(plugin, theme));
-    if (auto listView = m_quickView->rootObject()->findChild<QQuickItem*>("listView")) {
-        listView->setProperty("currentIndex", index.isValid() ? index.row() : -1);
-    }
     m_ui->closeWindowsDoubleClick->setChecked(config.readEntry("CloseOnDoubleClickOnMenu", false));
     const QVariant border = QVariant::fromValue(stringToSize(config.readEntry("BorderSize", s_borderSizeNormal)));
     m_ui->borderSizesCombo->setCurrentIndex(m_ui->borderSizesCombo->findData(border));
diff --git a/kcmkwin/kwindecoration/qml/Previews.qml b/kcmkwin/kwindecoration/qml/Previews.qml
--- a/kcmkwin/kwindecoration/qml/Previews.qml
+++ b/kcmkwin/kwindecoration/qml/Previews.qml
@@ -32,6 +32,11 @@
         model: decorationsModel
         cellWidth: 20 * units.gridUnit
         cellHeight: cellWidth / 1.6
+        onContentHeightChanged: {
+            gridView.currentIndex = savedIndex;
+            gridView.positionViewAtIndex(gridView.currentIndex, GridView.Visible);
+        }
+
         Rectangle {
             z: -1
             anchors.fill: parent