diff --git a/containments/desktop/package/contents/ui/FolderView.qml b/containments/desktop/package/contents/ui/FolderView.qml
--- a/containments/desktop/package/contents/ui/FolderView.qml
+++ b/containments/desktop/package/contents/ui/FolderView.qml
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@
     property var history: []
     property Item backButton: null
     property var dialog: null
+    property bool listingCompleted: false
 
     function rename()
     {
@@ -148,6 +149,15 @@
         }
     }
 
+    Connections {
+        target: plasmoid
+        onExpandedChanged: {
+            if (plasmoid.expanded && main.listingCompleted && !gridView.model) {
+                gridView.model = positioner;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     // Lower the toolBox when an item is hovered, so it doesn't interfere with
     // its interaction (e.g. the selection button in the top left, cf. Bug 337060)
     Binding {
@@ -1056,14 +1066,19 @@
 
             onListingStarted: {
                 if (!gridView.model) {
+                    main.listingCompleted = false;
                     plasmoid.busy = true;
                 }
             }
 
             onListingCompleted: {
                 if (!gridView.model) {
                     plasmoid.busy = false;
-                    gridView.model = positioner;
+                    main.listingCompleted = true;
+                    // Delay delegate creation until applet is opened for the first time.
+                    if (plasmoid.expanded) {
+                        gridView.model = positioner;
+                    }
                 }
             }