diff --git a/applet.cpp b/applet.cpp
index bc1e61f03..cbd260f8e 100644
--- a/applet.cpp
+++ b/applet.cpp
@@ -1946,6 +1946,15 @@ void AppletPrivate::setupScriptSupport()
     if (!package->filePath("mainconfigui").isEmpty()) {
         q->setHasConfigurationInterface(true);
     }
+
+    //set a default size before any saved settings are read
+    QSize size = appletDescription.property("X-Plasma-DefaultSize").toSize();
+    if (size == QSize()) {
+        size = QSize(200,200);
+    }
+    //kDebug() << "size" << size;
+    q->resize(size);
+
 }
 
 QString AppletPrivate::globalName() const
diff --git a/servicetypes/plasma-applet.desktop b/servicetypes/plasma-applet.desktop
index a056e93ef..0b02b0f38 100644
--- a/servicetypes/plasma-applet.desktop
+++ b/servicetypes/plasma-applet.desktop
@@ -59,3 +59,6 @@ Type=QString
 [PropertyDef::X-Plasma-DropMimeTypes]
 Type=QStringList
 
+[PropertyDef::X-Plasma-DefaultSize]
+Type=QSize
+