diff --git a/containment.cpp b/containment.cpp
index 934b0496d..84352721c 100644
--- a/containment.cpp
+++ b/containment.cpp
@@ -257,6 +257,7 @@ void Containment::init()
             if (action) {
                 d->contextActions.insert(trigger, action);
                 action->setParent(this);
+                action->setContainment(this);
             }
         }
     }
@@ -1692,25 +1693,23 @@ void Containment::setContextAction(const QString &trigger, const QString &plugin
     }
     if (pluginName.isEmpty()) {
         cfg.deleteEntry(trigger);
-    } else {
-        if (!action) {
-            action = ContextAction::load(pluginName);
-            if (action) {
-                cfg.writeEntry(trigger, pluginName);
-                d->contextActions.insert(trigger, action);
-            } else {
-                //bad plugin... gets removed. is this a feature or a bug?
-                cfg.deleteEntry(trigger);
-            }
+    } else if (action) {
+        //it already existed, just reload config
+        if (action->isInitialized()) {
+            //FIXME make a truly unique config group
+            KConfigGroup actionConfig = KConfigGroup(&cfg, pluginName);
+            action->restore(actionConfig);
         }
-
+    } else {
+        action = ContextAction::load(pluginName);
         if (action) {
-            if (action->isInitialized()) {
-                //FIXME make a truly unique config group
-                KConfigGroup actionConfig = KConfigGroup(&cfg, pluginName);
-                action->restore(actionConfig);
-            }
+            cfg.writeEntry(trigger, pluginName);
+            d->contextActions.insert(trigger, action);
             action->setParent(this);
+            action->setContainment(this);
+        } else {
+            //bad plugin... gets removed. is this a feature or a bug?
+            cfg.deleteEntry(trigger);
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/contextaction.cpp b/contextaction.cpp
index fda1710b6..9cd9ca91b 100644
--- a/contextaction.cpp
+++ b/contextaction.cpp
@@ -127,9 +127,14 @@ PackageStructure::Ptr ContextAction::packageStructure()
     return ContextActionPrivate::s_packageStructure;
 }
 
+void ContextAction::setContainment(Containment *c)
+{
+    d->containment=c;
+}
+
 Containment *ContextAction::containment()
 {
-    return qobject_cast<Plasma::Containment*>(parent());
+    return d->containment;
 }
 
 QString ContextAction::name() const
@@ -213,6 +218,16 @@ void ContextAction::setConfigurationRequired(bool needsConfig)
     d->needsConfig = needsConfig;
 }
 
+bool ContextAction::hasConfigurationInterface() const
+{
+    return d->hasConfig;
+}
+
+void ContextAction::setHasConfigurationInterface(bool hasConfig)
+{
+    d->hasConfig = hasConfig;
+}
+
 QString ContextAction::eventToString(QEvent *event)
 {
     QString trigger;
diff --git a/contextaction.h b/contextaction.h
index d6575dc57..64d84534d 100644
--- a/contextaction.h
+++ b/contextaction.h
@@ -178,6 +178,18 @@ class PLASMA_EXPORT ContextAction : public QObject
          */
         bool configurationRequired() const;
 
+        /**
+         * @return true if the contextaction has a config UI
+         */
+        bool hasConfigurationInterface() const;
+
+        /**
+         * set the containment this contextaction is associated with.
+         * some plugins may need information from the containment in order to function or be
+         * configured.
+         */
+        void setContainment(Containment *c);
+
         /**
          * Turns a mouse or wheel event into a string suitable for a ContextAction
          * @return the string representation of the event
@@ -211,10 +223,15 @@ class PLASMA_EXPORT ContextAction : public QObject
          * @param needsConfiguring true if the applet needs to be configured,
          *                         or false if it doesn't
          */
-        void setConfigurationRequired(bool needsConfiguring);
+        void setConfigurationRequired(bool needsConfiguring = true);
 
         /**
-         * return the containment the plugin is associated with, if any.
+         * set whether the contextaction has a config UI
+         */
+        void setHasConfigurationInterface(bool hasConfig = true);
+
+        /**
+         * @return the containment the plugin is associated with, if any.
          */
         Containment *containment();
 
diff --git a/private/contextaction_p.h b/private/contextaction_p.h
index 07c289278..c0eb1c644 100644
--- a/private/contextaction_p.h
+++ b/private/contextaction_p.h
@@ -31,20 +31,24 @@ class ContextActionPrivate : public DataEngineConsumer
 public:
     ContextActionPrivate(KService::Ptr service, ContextAction *contextAction) :
         q(contextAction),
+        containment(0),
         contextActionDescription(service),
         initialized(false),
-        needsConfig(false)
+        needsConfig(false),
+        hasConfig(false)
     {
     };
 
     static PackageStructure::Ptr s_packageStructure;
 
     ContextAction *q;
+    Containment *containment;
     KPluginInfo contextActionDescription;
     Package *package;
     KServiceAction mode;
     bool initialized : 1;
     bool needsConfig : 1;
+    bool hasConfig : 1;
 };
 
 } // namespace Plasma