diff --git a/corona.cpp b/corona.cpp
index cc92e5a57..a7f62a6c6 100644
--- a/corona.cpp
+++ b/corona.cpp
@@ -92,6 +92,20 @@ QString Corona::appletMimeType()
     return d->mimetype;
 }
 
+void Corona::setDefaultContainmentPlugin(const QString &name)
+{
+    // we could check if it is in:
+    // Containment::listContainments().contains(name) ||
+    // Containment::listContainments(QString(), KGlobal::mainComponent().componentName()).contains(name)
+    // but that seems like overkill
+    d->defaultContainmentPlugin = name;
+}
+
+QString Corona::defaultContainmentPlugin() const
+{
+    return d->defaultContainmentPlugin;
+}
+
 void Corona::saveLayout(const QString &configName) const
 {
     KSharedConfigPtr c;
@@ -744,6 +758,7 @@ CoronaPrivate::CoronaPrivate(Corona *corona)
     : q(corona),
       immutability(Mutable),
       mimetype("text/x-plasmoidservicename"),
+      defaultContainmentPlugin("desktop"),
       config(0),
       actions(corona)
 {
@@ -874,8 +889,7 @@ void CoronaPrivate::syncConfig()
     emit q->configSynced();
 }
 
-Containment *CoronaPrivate::addContainment(const QString &name, const QVariantList &args,
-        uint id, bool delayedInit)
+Containment *CoronaPrivate::addContainment(const QString &name, const QVariantList &args, uint id, bool delayedInit)
 {
     QString pluginName = name;
     Containment *containment = 0;
@@ -885,7 +899,7 @@ Containment *CoronaPrivate::addContainment(const QString &name, const QVariantLi
 
     if (pluginName.isEmpty() || pluginName == "default") {
         // default to the desktop containment
-        pluginName = "desktop";
+        pluginName = defaultContainmentPlugin;
     }
 
     bool loadingNull = pluginName == "null";
diff --git a/corona.h b/corona.h
index 50dcfa057..4104ff618 100644
--- a/corona.h
+++ b/corona.h
@@ -66,6 +66,12 @@ public:
      */
     QString appletMimeType();
 
+    /**
+     * @return the default containment plugin type
+     * @since 4.7
+     */
+    QString defaultContainmentPlugin() const;
+
     /**
      * @return all containments on this Corona
      */
@@ -479,6 +485,12 @@ protected:
      */
     void setPreferredToolBoxPlugin(const Containment::Type type, const QString &plugin);
 
+    /**
+     * Sets the default containment plugin to try and load
+     * @since 4.7
+     */
+    void setDefaultContainmentPlugin(const QString &name);
+
     //Reimplemented from QGraphicsScene
     void dragEnterEvent(QGraphicsSceneDragDropEvent *event);
     void dragLeaveEvent(QGraphicsSceneDragDropEvent *event);
diff --git a/private/corona_p.h b/private/corona_p.h
index 5240fc2af..5749c28b8 100644
--- a/private/corona_p.h
+++ b/private/corona_p.h
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ public:
     ImmutabilityType immutability;
     QString mimetype;
     QString configName;
+    QString defaultContainmentPlugin;
     KSharedConfigPtr config;
     QTimer configSyncTimer;
     QList<Containment*> containments;