diff --git a/applet.cpp b/applet.cpp
index bcc14e4a7..33223345b 100644
--- a/applet.cpp
+++ b/applet.cpp
@@ -385,7 +385,7 @@ void Applet::setFailedToLaunch(bool failed, const QString &reason)
     setLayout(0);
 
     if (failed) {
-        setBackgroundHints(d->backgroundHints|StandardBackground);
+        setBackgroundHints(StandardBackground);
 
         QGraphicsLinearLayout *failureLayout = new QGraphicsLinearLayout(this);
         failureLayout->setContentsMargins(0, 0, 0, 0);
@@ -918,12 +918,12 @@ void Applet::setImmutability(const ImmutabilityType immutable)
     updateConstraints(ImmutableConstraint);
 }
 
-Applet::BackgroundHints Applet::backgroundHints() const
+BackgroundHints Applet::backgroundHints() const
 {
     return d->backgroundHints;
 }
 
-void Applet::setBackgroundHints(const BackgroundHints hints)
+void Applet::setBackgroundHints(const Plasma::BackgroundHints hints)
 {
     if (d->backgroundHints == hints) {
         return;
@@ -2555,8 +2555,8 @@ AppletPrivate::AppletPrivate(KService::Ptr service, const KPluginInfo *info, int
         : appletId(uniqueID),
           q(applet),
           service(0),
-          preferredBackgroundHints(Applet::StandardBackground),
-          backgroundHints(Applet::NoBackground),
+          preferredBackgroundHints(StandardBackground),
+          backgroundHints(NoBackground),
           aspectRatioMode(Plasma::KeepAspectRatio),
           immutability(Mutable),
           appletDescription(info ? *info : KPluginInfo(service)),
@@ -2623,7 +2623,7 @@ void AppletPrivate::init(const QString &packagePath)
 
     //set a default size before any saved settings are read
     QSize size(200, 200);
-    q->setBackgroundHints(Applet::DefaultBackground);
+    q->setBackgroundHints(DefaultBackground);
     q->setHasConfigurationInterface(true); //FIXME why not default it to true in the constructor?
 
     QAction *closeApplet = actions->action("remove");
@@ -2965,7 +2965,7 @@ void AppletOverlayWidget::paint(QPainter *painter,
 
 
     QPainterPath backgroundShape;
-    if (!applet || applet->backgroundHints() & Applet::StandardBackground) {
+    if (!applet || applet->backgroundHints() == StandardBackground) {
         //FIXME: a resize here is nasty, but perhaps still better than an eventfilter just for that..
         if (parentWidget()->contentsRect().size() != size()) {
             resize(parentWidget()->contentsRect().size());
diff --git a/applet.h b/applet.h
index ebcd092e0..5e313f212 100644
--- a/applet.h
+++ b/applet.h
@@ -87,28 +87,13 @@ class PLASMA_EXPORT Applet : public QGraphicsWidget
     Q_PROPERTY(QRectF geometry READ geometry WRITE setGeometry)
     Q_PROPERTY(bool shouldConserveResources READ shouldConserveResources)
     Q_PROPERTY(uint id READ id)
-    Q_PROPERTY(bool userConfiguring READ isUserConfiguring)
     Q_PROPERTY(BackgroundHints backgroundHints READ backgroundHints WRITE setBackgroundHints)
-    Q_ENUMS(BackgroundHints)
+    Q_PROPERTY(bool userConfiguring READ isUserConfiguring)
 
     public:
         typedef QList<Applet*> List;
         typedef QHash<QString, Applet*> Dict;
 
-        /**
-         * Description on how draw a background for the applet
-         */
-        enum BackgroundHint {
-            NoBackground = 0,         /**< Not drawing a background under the
-                                          applet, the applet has its own implementation */
-            StandardBackground = 1,   /**< The standard background from the theme is drawn */
-            TranslucentBackground = 2, /**< An alternate version of the background is drawn,
-                                          usually more translucent */
-            DefaultBackground = StandardBackground /**< Default settings:
-                                          both standard background */
-        };
-        Q_DECLARE_FLAGS(BackgroundHints, BackgroundHint)
-
         ~Applet();
 
         /**
@@ -507,13 +492,13 @@ class PLASMA_EXPORT Applet : public QGraphicsWidget
          *
          * @param hints the BackgroundHint combination for this applet
          */
-        void setBackgroundHints(const BackgroundHints hints);
+        void setBackgroundHints(const Plasma::BackgroundHints hint);
 
         /**
          * @return BackgroundHints flags combination telling if the standard background is shown
          *         and if it has a drop shadow
          */
-        BackgroundHints backgroundHints() const;
+        Plasma::BackgroundHints backgroundHints() const;
 
         /**
          * @return true if this Applet is currently being used as a Containment, false otherwise
@@ -1129,8 +1114,6 @@ class PLASMA_EXPORT Applet : public QGraphicsWidget
 
 } // Plasma namespace
 
-Q_DECLARE_OPERATORS_FOR_FLAGS(Plasma::Applet::BackgroundHints)
-
 /**
  * Register an applet when it is contained in a loadable module
  */
diff --git a/plasma.h b/plasma.h
index b33b7351b..700c41448 100644
--- a/plasma.h
+++ b/plasma.h
@@ -284,6 +284,16 @@ enum TrustLevel {
 };
 Q_ENUMS(TrustLevel)
 
+/**
+ * Description on how draw a background for the applet
+ */
+enum BackgroundHints {
+    NoBackground = 0,         /**< Not drawing a background under the applet, the applet has its own implementation */
+    StandardBackground = 1,   /**< The standard background from the theme is drawn */
+    TranslucentBackground = 2, /**< An alternate version of the background is drawn, usually more translucent */
+    DefaultBackground = StandardBackground /**< Default settings: both standard background */
+};
+Q_ENUMS(BackgroundHints)
 
 /**
  * @return the scaling factor (0..1) for a ZoomLevel
@@ -338,5 +348,4 @@ Q_DECLARE_OPERATORS_FOR_FLAGS(Plasma::Flip)
 Q_DECLARE_OPERATORS_FOR_FLAGS(Plasma::ComponentTypes)
 Q_DECLARE_OPERATORS_FOR_FLAGS(Plasma::MessageButtons)
 
-
 #endif // multiple inclusion guard
diff --git a/private/applet_p.h b/private/applet_p.h
index c5990128a..e44ef1578 100644
--- a/private/applet_p.h
+++ b/private/applet_p.h
@@ -156,9 +156,9 @@ public:
     // applet attributes
     QWeakPointer<Extender> extender;
     Service *service;
-    Applet::BackgroundHints preferredBackgroundHints;
-    Applet::BackgroundHints backgroundHints;
-    Plasma::AspectRatioMode aspectRatioMode;
+    BackgroundHints preferredBackgroundHints;
+    BackgroundHints backgroundHints;
+    AspectRatioMode aspectRatioMode;
     ImmutabilityType immutability;
 
     // applet info we keep around in case its needed