diff --git a/private/packages.cpp b/private/packages.cpp
index 08016db77..f85d5f724 100644
--- a/private/packages.cpp
+++ b/private/packages.cpp
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 #include <math.h>
 #include <float.h> // FLT_MAX
 
+#include <QCoreApplication>
 #include <QFileInfo>
 
 #include <kconfiggroup.h>
@@ -82,7 +83,10 @@ PlasmoidPackage::PlasmoidPackage(QObject *parent)
 PlasmoidPackage::~PlasmoidPackage()
 {
 #ifndef PLASMA_NO_KNEWSTUFF
-    delete m_knsDialog.data();
+    if (!QCoreApplication::closingDown()) {
+        // let it "leak" on application close as this causes crashes otherwise, BUG 288153
+        delete m_knsDialog.data();
+    }
 #endif
 }