diff --git a/extenders/extender.cpp b/extenders/extender.cpp
index f2937f96f..37d60119f 100644
--- a/extenders/extender.cpp
+++ b/extenders/extender.cpp
@@ -550,7 +550,7 @@ void ExtenderPrivate::addExtenderItem(ExtenderItem *item, const QPointF &pos)
         return;
     }
 
-    QObject::connect(item, SIGNAL(destroyed(QObject *)), q, SLOT(extenderItemDestroyed(QObject *)));
+    QObject::connect(item, SIGNAL(destroyed(ExtenderItem*)), q, SLOT(extenderItemDestroyed(ExtenderItem*)));
     attachedExtenderItems.append(item);
     q->itemHoverLeaveEvent(item);
     q->itemAddedEvent(item, pos);
@@ -721,9 +721,8 @@ ExtenderGroup *ExtenderPrivate::findGroup(const QString &name) const
     return 0;
 }
 
-void ExtenderPrivate::extenderItemDestroyed(QObject *object)
+void ExtenderPrivate::extenderItemDestroyed(ExtenderItem *item)
 {
-    ExtenderItem *item = qobject_cast<ExtenderItem *>(object);
     if (item && attachedExtenderItems.contains(item)) {
         removeExtenderItem(item);
     }
diff --git a/extenders/extender.h b/extenders/extender.h
index 45026aafc..b2331176f 100644
--- a/extenders/extender.h
+++ b/extenders/extender.h
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ class PLASMA_EXPORT Extender : public QGraphicsWidget
     private:
         ExtenderPrivate *const d;
 
-        Q_PRIVATE_SLOT(d, void extenderItemDestroyed(QObject *object))
+        Q_PRIVATE_SLOT(d, void extenderItemDestroyed(ExtenderItem *item))
 
         friend class ExtenderPrivate;
         friend class ExtenderGroup;
diff --git a/extenders/extenderitem.cpp b/extenders/extenderitem.cpp
index be48cb8b5..fd072d806 100644
--- a/extenders/extenderitem.cpp
+++ b/extenders/extenderitem.cpp
@@ -141,6 +141,7 @@ ExtenderItem::ExtenderItem(Extender *hostExtender, uint extenderItemId)
 
 ExtenderItem::~ExtenderItem()
 {
+    emit destroyed(this);
     //make sure the original mousepointer always get's restored.
     if (d->mouseOver) {
         QApplication::restoreOverrideCursor();
diff --git a/extenders/extenderitem.h b/extenders/extenderitem.h
index 792efa6b1..3b70e11d3 100644
--- a/extenders/extenderitem.h
+++ b/extenders/extenderitem.h
@@ -254,6 +254,13 @@ class PLASMA_EXPORT ExtenderItem : public QGraphicsWidget
          */
         void hideCloseButton();
 
+    Q_SIGNALS:
+        /**
+         * Emitted when the extender item is destroyed
+         * @since 4.4.1
+         */
+        void destroyed(ExtenderItem *item);
+
     protected:
         void paint(QPainter *painter, const QStyleOptionGraphicsItem *option, QWidget *widget);
 
diff --git a/private/extender_p.h b/private/extender_p.h
index 0505eda97..9b961cb48 100644
--- a/private/extender_p.h
+++ b/private/extender_p.h
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ class ExtenderPrivate
         ~ExtenderPrivate();
 
         void addExtenderItem(ExtenderItem *item, const QPointF &pos = QPointF(-1, -1));
-        void extenderItemDestroyed(QObject *object);
+        void extenderItemDestroyed(ExtenderItem *item);
         void removeExtenderItem(ExtenderItem *item);
         int insertIndexFromPos(const QPointF &pos) const;
         void loadExtenderItems();