diff --git a/backends/virtual/scene_qpainter_virtual_backend.cpp b/backends/virtual/scene_qpainter_virtual_backend.cpp
index c4e8754095..9027538093 100644
--- a/backends/virtual/scene_qpainter_virtual_backend.cpp
+++ b/backends/virtual/scene_qpainter_virtual_backend.cpp
@@ -21,9 +21,7 @@ along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 #include "virtual_backend.h"
 #include "cursor.h"
 
-#include <QDebug>
 #include <QPainter>
-#include <QTemporaryDir>
 
 namespace KWin
 {
@@ -32,15 +30,6 @@ VirtualQPainterBackend::VirtualQPainterBackend(VirtualBackend *backend)
     , m_backBuffer(backend->size(), QImage::Format_RGB32)
     , m_backend(backend)
 {
-    if (qEnvironmentVariableIsSet("KWIN_WAYLAND_VIRTUAL_SCREENSHOTS")) {
-        m_screenshotDir.reset(new QTemporaryDir);
-        if (!m_screenshotDir->isValid()) {
-            m_screenshotDir.reset();
-        }
-        if (!m_screenshotDir.isNull()) {
-            qDebug() << "Screenshots saved to: " << m_screenshotDir->path();
-        }
-    }
 }
 
 VirtualQPainterBackend::~VirtualQPainterBackend() = default;
@@ -71,8 +60,8 @@ void VirtualQPainterBackend::present(int mask, const QRegion &damage)
 {
     Q_UNUSED(mask)
     Q_UNUSED(damage)
-    if (!m_screenshotDir.isNull()) {
-        m_backBuffer.save(QStringLiteral("%1/%2.png").arg(m_screenshotDir->path()).arg(QString::number(m_frameCounter++)));
+    if (m_backend->saveFrames()) {
+        m_backBuffer.save(QStringLiteral("%1/%2.png").arg(m_backend->screenshotDirPath()).arg(QString::number(m_frameCounter++)));
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/backends/virtual/scene_qpainter_virtual_backend.h b/backends/virtual/scene_qpainter_virtual_backend.h
index 996dfe856f..53bf5f0294 100644
--- a/backends/virtual/scene_qpainter_virtual_backend.h
+++ b/backends/virtual/scene_qpainter_virtual_backend.h
@@ -24,8 +24,6 @@ along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 #include <QObject>
 
-class QTemporaryDir;
-
 namespace KWin
 {
 
@@ -49,7 +47,6 @@ public:
 private:
     QImage m_backBuffer;
     VirtualBackend *m_backend;
-    QScopedPointer<QTemporaryDir> m_screenshotDir;
     int m_frameCounter = 0;
 };
 
diff --git a/backends/virtual/virtual_backend.cpp b/backends/virtual/virtual_backend.cpp
index 601358f96b..3253801ea9 100644
--- a/backends/virtual/virtual_backend.cpp
+++ b/backends/virtual/virtual_backend.cpp
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 #include "scene_qpainter_virtual_backend.h"
 #include "screens_virtual.h"
 #include "wayland_server.h"
+// Qt
+#include <QTemporaryDir>
 // KWayland
 #include <KWayland/Server/seat_interface.h>
 
@@ -30,6 +32,15 @@ namespace KWin
 VirtualBackend::VirtualBackend(QObject *parent)
     : AbstractBackend(parent)
 {
+    if (qEnvironmentVariableIsSet("KWIN_WAYLAND_VIRTUAL_SCREENSHOTS")) {
+        m_screenshotDir.reset(new QTemporaryDir);
+        if (!m_screenshotDir->isValid()) {
+            m_screenshotDir.reset();
+        }
+        if (!m_screenshotDir.isNull()) {
+            qDebug() << "Screenshots saved to: " << m_screenshotDir->path();
+        }
+    }
     setSoftWareCursor(true);
     setSupportsPointerWarping(true);
     // currently only QPainter - enforce it
@@ -48,6 +59,14 @@ void VirtualBackend::init()
     emit screensQueried();
 }
 
+QString VirtualBackend::screenshotDirPath() const
+{
+    if (m_screenshotDir.isNull()) {
+        return QString();
+    }
+    return m_screenshotDir->path();
+}
+
 Screens *VirtualBackend::createScreens(QObject *parent)
 {
     return new VirtualScreens(this, parent);
diff --git a/backends/virtual/virtual_backend.h b/backends/virtual/virtual_backend.h
index e59903c4f6..acbdbb6779 100644
--- a/backends/virtual/virtual_backend.h
+++ b/backends/virtual/virtual_backend.h
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 #include <QObject>
 #include <QSize>
 
+class QTemporaryDir;
+
 namespace KWin
 {
 
@@ -44,6 +46,11 @@ public:
         return m_size;
     }
 
+    bool saveFrames() const {
+        return !m_screenshotDir.isNull();
+    }
+    QString screenshotDirPath() const;
+
     Screens *createScreens(QObject *parent = nullptr) override;
     QPainterBackend* createQPainterBackend() override;
 
@@ -52,6 +59,7 @@ Q_SIGNALS:
 
 private:
     QSize m_size;
+    QScopedPointer<QTemporaryDir> m_screenshotDir;
 };
 
 }