diff --git a/composite.cpp b/composite.cpp
--- a/composite.cpp
+++ b/composite.cpp
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@
 #include <QTimerEvent>
 #include <QDateTime>
 #include <QOpenGLContext>
+#include <QQuickWindow>
 #include <KGlobalAccel>
 #include <KLocalizedString>
 #include <KPluginLoader>
@@ -254,6 +255,12 @@
         }
         return;
     }
+
+    if (!Workspace::self() && m_scene && m_scene->compositingType() == QPainterCompositing) {
+        // Force Software QtQuick on first startup with QPainter
+        QQuickWindow::setSceneGraphBackend(QSGRendererInterface::Software);
+    }
+
     connect(m_scene, &Scene::resetCompositing, this, &Compositor::restart);
     emit sceneCreated();