diff --git a/src/declarativeimports/core/framesvgitem.h b/src/declarativeimports/core/framesvgitem.h
--- a/src/declarativeimports/core/framesvgitem.h
+++ b/src/declarativeimports/core/framesvgitem.h
@@ -203,8 +203,8 @@
     void setEnabledBorders(const Plasma::FrameSvg::EnabledBorders borders);
     Plasma::FrameSvg::EnabledBorders enabledBorders() const;
 
-    FrameSvgItemMargins *margins() const;
-    FrameSvgItemMargins *fixedMargins() const;
+    FrameSvgItemMargins *margins();
+    FrameSvgItemMargins *fixedMargins();
 
     void setColorGroup(Plasma::Theme::ColorGroup group);
     Plasma::Theme::ColorGroup colorGroup() const;
diff --git a/src/declarativeimports/core/framesvgitem.cpp b/src/declarativeimports/core/framesvgitem.cpp
--- a/src/declarativeimports/core/framesvgitem.cpp
+++ b/src/declarativeimports/core/framesvgitem.cpp
@@ -254,14 +254,13 @@
 
 FrameSvgItem::FrameSvgItem(QQuickItem *parent)
     : QQuickItem(parent),
+      m_margins(nullptr),
+      m_fixedMargins(nullptr),
       m_textureChanged(false),
       m_sizeChanged(false),
       m_fastPath(true)
 {
     m_frameSvg = new Plasma::FrameSvg(this);
-    m_margins = new FrameSvgItemMargins(m_frameSvg, this);
-    m_fixedMargins = new FrameSvgItemMargins(m_frameSvg, this);
-    m_fixedMargins->setFixed(true);
     setFlag(ItemHasContents, true);
     connect(m_frameSvg, &FrameSvg::repaintNeeded, this, &FrameSvgItem::doUpdate);
     connect(&Units::instance(), &Units::devicePixelRatioChanged, this, &FrameSvgItem::updateDevicePixelRatio);
@@ -291,8 +290,12 @@
     }
 
     emit imagePathChanged();
-    m_margins->update();
-    m_fixedMargins->update();
+    if (m_margins) {
+        m_margins->update();
+    }
+    if (m_fixedMargins) {
+        m_fixedMargins->update();
+    }
 
     if (isComponentComplete()) {
         applyPrefixes();
@@ -334,8 +337,12 @@
     }
 
     emit prefixChanged();
-    m_margins->update();
-    m_fixedMargins->update();
+    if (m_margins) {
+        m_margins->update();
+    }
+    if (m_fixedMargins) {
+        m_fixedMargins->update();
+    }
 
     if (isComponentComplete()) {
         m_frameSvg->resizeFrame(QSizeF(width(), height()));
@@ -354,13 +361,20 @@
     return m_frameSvg->prefix();
 }
 
-FrameSvgItemMargins *FrameSvgItem::margins() const
+FrameSvgItemMargins *FrameSvgItem::margins()
 {
+    if (!m_margins) {
+        m_margins = new FrameSvgItemMargins(m_frameSvg, this);
+    }
     return m_margins;
 }
 
-FrameSvgItemMargins *FrameSvgItem::fixedMargins() const
+FrameSvgItemMargins *FrameSvgItem::fixedMargins()
 {
+    if (!m_fixedMargins) {
+        m_fixedMargins = new FrameSvgItemMargins(m_frameSvg, this);
+        m_fixedMargins->setFixed(true);
+    }
     return m_fixedMargins;
 }
 
@@ -404,7 +418,9 @@
     m_frameSvg->setEnabledBorders(borders);
     emit enabledBordersChanged();
     m_textureChanged = true;
-    m_margins->update();
+    if (m_margins) {
+        m_margins->update();
+    }
     update();
 }
 
@@ -449,8 +465,12 @@
     m_textureChanged = true;
 
     update();
-    m_margins->update();
-    m_fixedMargins->update();
+    if (m_margins) {
+        m_margins->update();
+    }
+    if (m_fixedMargins) {
+        m_fixedMargins->update();
+    }
     emit repaintNeeded();
 }