diff --git a/src/kmsystemtray.h b/src/kmsystemtray.h
--- a/src/kmsystemtray.h
+++ b/src/kmsystemtray.h
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@
 #define KMSYSTEMTRAY_H
 
 #include <AkonadiCore/collection.h>
-#include <qicon.h>
 #include <kstatusnotifieritem.h>
 
 #include <QAction>
@@ -68,7 +67,6 @@
     void unreadMail(const QAbstractItemModel *model, const QModelIndex &parentIndex = QModelIndex());
     bool excludeFolder(const Akonadi::Collection &collection) const;
     bool ignoreNewMailInFolder(const Akonadi::Collection &collection);
-    QIcon mIcon;
     int mDesktopOfMainWin = 0;
 
     int mCount = 0;
diff --git a/src/kmsystemtray.cpp b/src/kmsystemtray.cpp
--- a/src/kmsystemtray.cpp
+++ b/src/kmsystemtray.cpp
@@ -55,7 +55,6 @@
 
 KMSystemTray::KMSystemTray(QObject *parent)
     : KStatusNotifierItem(parent)
-    , mIcon(QIcon::fromTheme(QStringLiteral("mail-mark-unread-new")))
 {
     qCDebug(KMAIL_LOG) << "Initting systray";
     setToolTipTitle(i18n("KMail"));
@@ -140,7 +139,7 @@
 
 /**
  * Update the count of unread messages.  If there are unread messages,
- * overlay the count on top of a transparent version of the KMail icon.
+ * show the "unread new mail" KMail icon.
  * If there is no unread mail, restore the normal KMail icon.
  */
 void KMSystemTray::updateCount()
@@ -148,7 +147,7 @@
     if (mCount == 0) {
         setIconByName(QStringLiteral("kmail"));
     } else {
-        setIconByPixmap(mIcon);
+        setIconByName(QStringLiteral("mail-mark-unread-new"));
     }
 }