diff --git a/autotests/kdirwatch_unittest.cpp b/autotests/kdirwatch_unittest.cpp
--- a/autotests/kdirwatch_unittest.cpp
+++ b/autotests/kdirwatch_unittest.cpp
@@ -112,6 +112,7 @@
     void nestedEventLoop();
     void testHardlinkChange();
     void stopAndRestart();
+    void shouldIgnoreQrcPaths();
 
 protected Q_SLOTS: // internal slots
     void nestedEventLoopSlot();
@@ -749,4 +750,27 @@
     QFile::remove(file3);
 }
 
+void KDirWatch_UnitTest::shouldIgnoreQrcPaths()
+{
+    const auto oldCwd = QDir::currentPath();
+    QVERIFY(QDir::setCurrent(QDir::homePath()));
+
+    KDirWatch watch;
+    watch.addDir(QDir::homePath());
+    // This triggers bug #374075.
+    watch.addDir(QStringLiteral(":/kio5/newfile-templates"));
+
+    QSignalSpy dirtySpy(&watch, &KDirWatch::dirty);
+
+    QFile file(QStringLiteral("bug374075.txt"));
+    QVERIFY(file.open(QIODevice::WriteOnly));
+    QVERIFY(file.write(QByteArrayLiteral("test")));
+    file.close();
+    QVERIFY(file.exists());
+    QVERIFY(dirtySpy.wait());
+    QVERIFY(dirtySpy.count() > 0);
+    QVERIFY(file.remove());
+    QVERIFY(QDir::setCurrent(oldCwd));
+}
+
 #include "kdirwatch_unittest.moc"
diff --git a/src/lib/io/kdirwatch.cpp b/src/lib/io/kdirwatch.cpp
--- a/src/lib/io/kdirwatch.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/io/kdirwatch.cpp
@@ -791,6 +791,10 @@
                                 Entry *sub_entry, bool isDir, KDirWatch::WatchModes watchModes)
 {
     QString path(_path);
+    if (path.startsWith(QLatin1String(":/"))) {
+        qCWarning(KDIRWATCH) << "Cannot watch QRC-like path" << path;
+        return;
+    }
     if (path.isEmpty()
 #ifndef Q_OS_WIN
             || path == QLatin1String("/dev")