diff --git a/ksmserver/server.h b/ksmserver/server.h
--- a/ksmserver/server.h
+++ b/ksmserver/server.h
@@ -152,6 +152,7 @@
     void logoutWithoutConfirmation();
     void haltWithoutConfirmation();
     void rebootWithoutConfirmation();
+    void secondKDEDPhaseLoaded();
 
 private:
     void handlePendingInteractions();
diff --git a/ksmserver/startup.cpp b/ksmserver/startup.cpp
--- a/ksmserver/startup.cpp
+++ b/ksmserver/startup.cpp
@@ -409,12 +409,11 @@
     QDBusInterface kded( QStringLiteral( "org.kde.kded5" ),
                          QStringLiteral( "/kded" ),
                          QStringLiteral( "org.kde.kded5" ) );
-    kded.call( QStringLiteral( "loadSecondPhase" ) );
-
-#ifdef KSMSERVER_STARTUP_DEBUG1
-    qCDebug(KSMSERVER)<< "kded" << t.elapsed();
-#endif
+    auto pending = kded.asyncCall( QStringLiteral( "loadSecondPhase" ) );
 
+    QDBusPendingCallWatcher *watcher = new QDBusPendingCallWatcher(pending, this);
+    QObject::connect(watcher, &QDBusPendingCallWatcher::finished, this, &KSMServer::secondKDEDPhaseLoaded);
+    QObject::connect(watcher, &QDBusPendingCallWatcher::finished, watcher, &QObject::deleteLater);
     runUserAutostart();
 
     if (kcminitSignals) {
@@ -427,6 +426,15 @@
     } else {
         QTimer::singleShot(0, this, &KSMServer::kcmPhase2Done);
     }
+}
+
+void KSMServer::secondKDEDPhaseLoaded()
+{
+
+#ifdef KSMSERVER_STARTUP_DEBUG1
+    qCDebug(KSMSERVER)<< "kded" << t.elapsed();
+#endif
+
     if( !defaultSession())
         restoreLegacySession(KSharedConfig::openConfig().data());