diff --git a/part.cpp b/part.cpp
index 4019680a7..ab11a2560 100644
--- a/part.cpp
+++ b/part.cpp
@@ -292,6 +292,10 @@ const QVariantList &args)
 m_tempfile( 0 ), m_fileWasRemoved( false ), m_showMenuBarAction( 0 ), m_showFullScreenAction( 0 ), m_actionsSearched( false ),
 m_cliPresentation(false), m_cliPrint(false), m_embedMode(detectEmbedMode(parentWidget, parent, args)), m_generatorGuiClient(0), m_keeper( 0 )
 {
+    // make sure that the component name is okular otherwise the XMLGUI .rc files are not found
+    // when this part is used in an application other than okular (e.g. unit tests)
+    setComponentName(QStringLiteral("okular"), QString());
+
     // first, we check if a config file name has been specified
     QString configFileName = detectConfigFileName( args );
     if ( configFileName.isEmpty() )
diff --git a/shell/shell.cpp b/shell/shell.cpp
index 339c14d69..e69ecbb5e 100644
--- a/shell/shell.cpp
+++ b/shell/shell.cpp
@@ -65,6 +65,8 @@ Shell::Shell( const QString &serializedOptions )
 {
   setObjectName( QStringLiteral( "okular::Shell#" ) );
   setContextMenuPolicy( Qt::NoContextMenu );
+  // otherwise .rc file won't be found by unit test
+  setComponentName(QStringLiteral("okular"), QString());
   // set the shell's ui resource file
   setXMLFile(QStringLiteral("shell.rc"));
   m_fileformatsscanned = false;