diff --git a/effects/diminactive.cpp b/effects/diminactive.cpp
index 5ea3ec9fdb..149e6a56fc 100644
--- a/effects/diminactive.cpp
+++ b/effects/diminactive.cpp
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ DimInactiveEffect::DimInactiveEffect()
     KConfigGroup conf = EffectsHandler::effectConfig("DimInactive");
 
     dim_panels = conf.readEntry("DimPanels", false);
+    dim_desktop = conf.readEntry("DimDesktop", false);
     dim_by_group = conf.readEntry("DimByGroup", true);
     dim_strength = conf.readEntry("Strength", 25);
     active = effects->activeWindow();
@@ -56,7 +57,9 @@ bool DimInactiveEffect::dimWindow( const EffectWindow* w ) const
         return false; // don't dim in active group if configured so
     if( w->isDock() && !dim_panels )
         return false; // don't dim panels if configured so
-    if( !w->isNormalWindow() && !w->isDialog() && !w->isDock())
+    if( w->isDesktop() && !dim_desktop )
+        return false; // don't dim the desktop if configured so
+    if( !w->isNormalWindow() && !w->isDialog() && !w->isDock() && !w->isDesktop())
         return false; // don't dim more special window types
     // don't dim unmanaged windows, grouping doesn't work for them and maybe dimming
     // them doesn't make sense in general (they should be short-lived anyway)
diff --git a/effects/diminactive.h b/effects/diminactive.h
index 1069d33242..74fecc37cd 100644
--- a/effects/diminactive.h
+++ b/effects/diminactive.h
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ class DimInactiveEffect
         EffectWindow* active;
         int dim_strength; // reduce saturation and brightness by this percentage
         bool dim_panels; // do/don't dim also all panels
+        bool dim_desktop; // do/don't dim the desktop
         bool dim_by_group; // keep visible all windows from the active window's group or only the active window
     };
 
diff --git a/effects/diminactive_config.cpp b/effects/diminactive_config.cpp
index 433a1c6002..8aa5c84e3e 100644
--- a/effects/diminactive_config.cpp
+++ b/effects/diminactive_config.cpp
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ DimInactiveEffectConfig::DimInactiveEffectConfig(QWidget* parent, const QVariant
 
     connect(m_ui->spinStrength, SIGNAL(valueChanged(int)), this, SLOT(changed()));
     connect(m_ui->checkPanel, SIGNAL(toggled(bool)), this, SLOT(changed()));
+    connect(m_ui->checkDesktop, SIGNAL(toggled(bool)), this, SLOT(changed()));
     connect(m_ui->checkGroup, SIGNAL(toggled(bool)), this, SLOT(changed()));
 
     load();
@@ -68,9 +69,11 @@ void DimInactiveEffectConfig::load()
 
     int strength = conf.readEntry("Strength", 25);
     bool panel = conf.readEntry("DimPanels", false);
+    bool desktop = conf.readEntry("DimDesktop", false);
     bool group = conf.readEntry("DimByGroup", true);
     m_ui->spinStrength->setValue(strength);
     m_ui->checkPanel->setChecked(panel);
+    m_ui->checkDesktop->setChecked(desktop);
     m_ui->checkGroup->setChecked(group);
 
     emit changed(false);
@@ -84,6 +87,7 @@ void DimInactiveEffectConfig::save()
 
     conf.writeEntry("Strength", m_ui->spinStrength->value());
     conf.writeEntry("DimPanels", m_ui->checkPanel->isChecked());
+    conf.writeEntry("DimDesktop", m_ui->checkDesktop->isChecked());
     conf.writeEntry("DimByGroup", m_ui->checkGroup->isChecked());
 
     conf.sync();
@@ -98,6 +102,7 @@ void DimInactiveEffectConfig::defaults()
     kDebug() ;
     m_ui->spinStrength->setValue(25);
     m_ui->checkPanel->setChecked(false);
+    m_ui->checkDesktop->setChecked(false);
     m_ui->checkGroup->setChecked(true);
     emit changed(true);
     }
diff --git a/effects/diminactive_config.ui b/effects/diminactive_config.ui
index 98b5a56b66..7cc31a5895 100644
--- a/effects/diminactive_config.ui
+++ b/effects/diminactive_config.ui
@@ -60,6 +60,13 @@
      </property>
     </widget>
    </item>
+   <item>
+    <widget class="QCheckBox" name="checkDesktop" >
+     <property name="text" >
+      <string>Apply effect to the desk&amp;top</string>
+     </property>
+    </widget>
+   </item>
    <item>
     <widget class="QCheckBox" name="checkGroup" >
      <property name="text" >