diff --git a/applet.cpp b/applet.cpp
index ca46ca7a6..214754e7b 100644
--- a/applet.cpp
+++ b/applet.cpp
@@ -189,7 +189,9 @@ void Applet::restore(KConfigGroup &group)
         Private::s_maxZValue = z;
     }
 
-    setZValue(z);
+    if (z > 0) {
+        setZValue(z);
+    }
 
     setImmutability((ImmutabilityType)group.readEntry("immutability", (int)Mutable));
 
@@ -201,17 +203,7 @@ void Applet::restore(KConfigGroup &group)
     KConfigGroup shortcutConfig(&group, "Shortcuts");
     QString shortcutText = shortcutConfig.readEntry("global", QString());
     if (!shortcutText.isEmpty()) {
-        if (!d->activationAction) {
-            d->activationAction = new KAction(this);
-            //TODO: add better text when we aren't in a string freeze
-            d->activationAction->setText(name());
-            d->activationAction->setObjectName(QString("Activate %1 Widget").arg(name())); // NO I18N
-            connect(d->activationAction, SIGNAL(triggered()), this, SIGNAL(activate()));
-            connect(this, SIGNAL(activate()), this, SLOT(setFocus()));
-        }
-
-        KShortcut shortcut(shortcutText);
-        d->activationAction->setGlobalShortcut(shortcut);
+        setGlobalShortcut(KShortcut(shortcutText));
     }
 
     // local shortcut, if any
@@ -936,6 +928,34 @@ Containment* Applet::containment() const
     return c;
 }
 
+void Applet::setGlobalShortcut(const KShortcut &shortcut)
+{
+    if (!d->activationAction) {
+        d->activationAction = new KAction(this);
+        //TODO: add better text when we aren't in a string freeze
+        d->activationAction->setText(name());
+        d->activationAction->setObjectName(QString("Activate %1 Widget").arg(name())); // NO I18N
+        connect(d->activationAction, SIGNAL(triggered()), this, SIGNAL(activate()));
+        connect(this, SIGNAL(activate()), this, SLOT(setFocus()));
+
+        QList<QWidget *> widgets = d->actions.associatedWidgets();
+        foreach (QWidget *w, widgets) {
+            w->addAction(d->activationAction);
+        }
+    }
+
+    d->activationAction->setGlobalShortcut(shortcut);
+}
+
+KShortcut Applet::globalShortcut() const
+{
+    if (d->activationAction) {
+        return d->activationAction->globalShortcut();
+    }
+
+    return KShortcut();
+}
+
 void Applet::addAssociatedWidget(QWidget *widget)
 {
     d->actions.addAssociatedWidget(widget);
diff --git a/applet.h b/applet.h
index 57c2d39ce..e1bc0bcc2 100644
--- a/applet.h
+++ b/applet.h
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 #include <KDE/KConfigGroup>
 #include <KDE/KGenericFactory>
 #include <KDE/KPluginInfo>
+#include <KDE/KShortcut>
 
 #include <plasma/configxml.h>
 #include <plasma/packagestructure.h>
@@ -441,6 +442,17 @@ class PLASMA_EXPORT Applet : public QGraphicsWidget
          **/
         Containment* containment() const;
 
+        /**
+         * Sets the global shorcut to associate with this widget.
+         */
+        void setGlobalShortcut(const KShortcut &shortcut);
+
+        /**
+         * @return the global shortcut associated with this wiget, or
+         * an empty shortcut if no global shortcut is associated.
+         */
+        KShortcut globalShortcut() const;
+
         /**
          * associate actions with this widget, including ones added after this call.
          * needed to make keyboard shortcuts work.