diff --git a/extenders/extenderitem.cpp b/extenders/extenderitem.cpp
index d11508978..e9b8a8f18 100644
--- a/extenders/extenderitem.cpp
+++ b/extenders/extenderitem.cpp
@@ -444,6 +444,11 @@ void ExtenderItem::destroy()
     d->hostApplet()->config("ExtenderItems").deleteGroup(QString::number(d->extenderItemId));
     d->extender->d->removeExtenderItem(this);
     emit d->extender->itemDetached(this);
+
+    if (sender() == d->destroyAction) {
+        emit destroyActionTriggered();
+    }
+
     deleteLater();
 }
 
@@ -689,6 +694,7 @@ ExtenderItemPrivate::ExtenderItemPrivate(ExtenderItem *extenderItem, Extender *h
       dragger(new FrameSvg(extenderItem)),
       background(new FrameSvg(extenderItem)),
       collapseIcon(0),
+      destroyAction(0),
       title(QString()),
       mouseOver(false),
       dragStarted(false),
@@ -766,7 +772,7 @@ void ExtenderItemPrivate::updateToolBox()
 
     //add the close icon if desired.
     if (destroyActionVisibility) {
-        IconWidget *destroyAction = new IconWidget(q);
+        destroyAction = new IconWidget(q);
         destroyAction->setSvg("widgets/configuration-icons", "close");
         QSizeF size = destroyAction->sizeFromIconSize(iconSize);
         destroyAction->setMinimumSize(size);
diff --git a/extenders/extenderitem.h b/extenders/extenderitem.h
index 5cfdcdac3..1388831f4 100644
--- a/extenders/extenderitem.h
+++ b/extenders/extenderitem.h
@@ -254,6 +254,15 @@ class PLASMA_EXPORT ExtenderItem : public QGraphicsWidget
          */
         void hideCloseButton();
 
+    Q_SIGNALS:
+        /**
+         * Emitted when the user closes the extender item with the destroy icon,
+         * not when the item is destroyed programmatically.
+         *
+         * @since 4.4
+         */
+        void destroyActionTriggered();
+
     protected:
         void paint(QPainter *painter, const QStyleOptionGraphicsItem *option, QWidget *widget);