diff --git a/startkde/startplasma-x11.cpp b/startkde/startplasma-x11.cpp
index f8123557e..08a4c0d1c 100644
--- a/startkde/startplasma-x11.cpp
+++ b/startkde/startplasma-x11.cpp
@@ -57,10 +57,6 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
         }
     }
 
-    setupCursor(false);
-    std::unique_ptr<QProcess, KillBeforeDeleter> ksplash(setupKSplash());
-    Q_UNUSED(ksplash)
-
     runEnvironmentScripts();
 
     out << "startkde: Starting up...\n";
@@ -80,6 +76,12 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
     // variables (e.g. LANG and LC_*)
     importSystemdEnvrionment();
 
+    // NOTE: Do not start QGuiApplications before setting up the environment. We'd be at risk of dbus invoking other
+    // processes with an incomplete environment.
+    setupCursor(false);
+    std::unique_ptr<QProcess, KillBeforeDeleter> ksplash(setupKSplash());
+    Q_UNUSED(ksplash)
+
     if (!startPlasmaSession(false))
         return 1;