diff --git a/private/wallpaper_p.h b/private/wallpaper_p.h
index dab3e83c3..b9639263d 100644
--- a/private/wallpaper_p.h
+++ b/private/wallpaper_p.h
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ public:
     bool initialized : 1;
     bool needsConfig : 1;
     bool scriptInitialized : 1;
+    bool previewing : 1;
 };
 
 class LoadImageThread : public QObject, public QRunnable
diff --git a/wallpaper.cpp b/wallpaper.cpp
index 17e2b5bc9..8f0bb3b5b 100644
--- a/wallpaper.cpp
+++ b/wallpaper.cpp
@@ -459,7 +459,8 @@ WallpaperPrivate::WallpaperPrivate(KService::Ptr service, Wallpaper *wallpaper)
     cacheRendering(false),
     initialized(false),
     needsConfig(false),
-    scriptInitialized(false)
+    scriptInitialized(false),
+    previewing(false)
 {
     if (wallpaperDescription.isValid()) {
         QString api = wallpaperDescription.property("X-Plasma-API").toString();
@@ -638,6 +639,16 @@ void Wallpaper::setContextualActions(const QList<QAction*> &actions)
     contextActions = actions;
 }
 
+bool Wallpaper::isPreviewing() const
+{
+    return d->previewing;
+}
+
+void Wallpaper::setPreviewing(bool previewing)
+{
+    d->previewing = previewing;
+}
+
 const Package *Wallpaper::package() const
 {
     return d->package;
diff --git a/wallpaper.h b/wallpaper.h
index 0df34ab0e..146ac6d5a 100644
--- a/wallpaper.h
+++ b/wallpaper.h
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ class PLASMA_EXPORT Wallpaper : public QObject
     Q_PROPERTY(KServiceAction renderingMode READ renderingMode)
     Q_PROPERTY(QList<KServiceAction> listRenderingModes READ listRenderingModes)
     Q_PROPERTY(bool usingRenderingCache READ isUsingRenderingCache WRITE setUsingRenderingCache)
+    Q_PROPERTY(bool previewing READ isPreviewing WRITE setPreviewing)
 
     public:
         /**
@@ -330,6 +331,17 @@ class PLASMA_EXPORT Wallpaper : public QObject
          */
         QList<QAction*> contextualActions() const;
 
+        /**
+         * @return true if in preview mode, such as in a configuation dialog
+         * @since 4.5
+         */
+        bool isPreviewing() const;
+
+        /**
+         * Puts the wallpaper into preview mode
+         */
+        void setPreviewing(bool previewing);
+
     Q_SIGNALS:
         /**
          * This signal indicates that wallpaper needs to be repainted.