diff --git a/applets/kicker/plugin/appentry.cpp b/applets/kicker/plugin/appentry.cpp
index 407ad1db0..cd186d7c3 100644
--- a/applets/kicker/plugin/appentry.cpp
+++ b/applets/kicker/plugin/appentry.cpp
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 #include <QProcess>
 #include <QQmlPropertyMap>
 #include <QStandardPaths>
+#include <QFileInfo>
 #if HAVE_X11
 #include <QX11Info>
 #endif
@@ -91,7 +92,11 @@ bool AppEntry::isValid() const
 QIcon AppEntry::icon() const
 {
     if (m_icon.isNull()) {
-        m_icon = QIcon::fromTheme(m_service->icon(), QIcon::fromTheme(QStringLiteral("unknown")));
+        if (QFileInfo::exists(m_service->icon())) {
+            m_icon = QIcon(m_service->icon());
+        } else {
+            m_icon = QIcon::fromTheme(m_service->icon(), QIcon::fromTheme(QStringLiteral("unknown")));
+        }
     }
     return m_icon;
 }
diff --git a/applets/kicker/plugin/recentusagemodel.cpp b/applets/kicker/plugin/recentusagemodel.cpp
index a082a06dd..b85f3abbd 100644
--- a/applets/kicker/plugin/recentusagemodel.cpp
+++ b/applets/kicker/plugin/recentusagemodel.cpp
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ QVariant RecentUsageModel::appData(const QString &resource, int role) const
             return AppEntry::nameFromService(service, AppEntry::NameOnly);
         }
     } else if (role == Qt::DecorationRole) {
-        return QIcon::fromTheme(service->icon(), QIcon::fromTheme(QStringLiteral("unknown")));
+        return service->icon();
     } else if (role == Kicker::DescriptionRole) {
         return service->comment();
     } else if (role == Kicker::GroupRole) {