diff --git a/src/runtime/main.cpp b/src/runtime/main.cpp
--- a/src/runtime/main.cpp
+++ b/src/runtime/main.cpp
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@
     // ksmserver tries to register with kglobalaccel).
     qunsetenv( "SESSION_MANAGER" );
 
+    QGuiApplication::setDesktopSettingsAware(false);
     QGuiApplication app(argc, argv);
     KAboutData aboutdata(
             QStringLiteral("kglobalaccel"),