diff --git a/corona.cpp b/corona.cpp
index 5f15bb278..dba23cc87 100644
--- a/corona.cpp
+++ b/corona.cpp
@@ -279,6 +279,7 @@ public:
     KShortcutsDialog shortcutsDlg;
     QMap<Containment::Type, ContainmentActionsPluginsConfig> containmentActionsDefaults;
     QWeakPointer<AbstractDialogManager>dialogManager;
+    QHash<Containment::Type, QString> toolBoxPlugins;
 };
 
 bool CoronaPrivate::s_positioningContainments = false;
@@ -796,6 +797,17 @@ void Corona::loadDefaultLayout()
 {
 }
 
+void Corona::setPreferredToolBoxPlugin(const Containment::Type type, const QString &plugin)
+{
+    d->toolBoxPlugins[type] = plugin;
+    //TODO: react to plugin changes on the fly? still don't see the use case (maybe for laptops that become tablets?)
+}
+
+QString Corona::preferredToolBoxPlugin(const Containment::Type type) const
+{
+    return d->toolBoxPlugins.value(type);
+}
+
 void Corona::dragEnterEvent(QGraphicsSceneDragDropEvent *event)
 {
     QGraphicsScene::dragEnterEvent(event);
diff --git a/corona.h b/corona.h
index e6d36b82a..4b030ad03 100644
--- a/corona.h
+++ b/corona.h
@@ -262,6 +262,15 @@ public:
      */
     QList<Plasma::Containment *> importLayout(const KConfigBase &config);
 
+    /**
+     * Returns the name of the preferred plugin to be used as containment toolboxes.
+     * CustomContainments and CustomPanelContainments can still override it as their liking. It's also not guaranteed that the plugin will actually exist.
+     *
+     * @param type the containment type of which we want to know the associated toolbox plugin
+     * @since 4.6
+     */
+    QString preferredToolBoxPlugin(const Containment::Type type) const;
+
 public Q_SLOTS:
     /**
      * Initializes the layout from a config file. This will first clear any existing
@@ -417,6 +426,14 @@ protected:
      */
     void mapAnimation(Animator::Animation from, const QString &to);
 
+    /**
+     * @return The preferred toolbox plugin name for a given containment type.
+     * @param type the containment type of which we want to know the preferred toolbox plugin.
+     * @param plugin the toolbox plugin name
+     * @since 4.6
+     */
+    void setPreferredToolBoxPlugin(const Containment::Type type, const QString &plugin);
+
     //Reimplemented from QGraphicsScene
     void dragEnterEvent(QGraphicsSceneDragDropEvent *event);
     void dragLeaveEvent(QGraphicsSceneDragDropEvent *event);