diff --git a/autotests/integration/activities_test.cpp b/autotests/integration/activities_test.cpp
index 4de8bc2a1e..12fd7237e3 100644
--- a/autotests/integration/activities_test.cpp
+++ b/autotests/integration/activities_test.cpp
@@ -128,8 +128,8 @@ void ActivitiesTest::testSetOnActivitiesValidates()
     QVERIFY(window->isDecorated());
 
     // verify the test machine doesn't have the following activities used
-    QVERIFY(!Activities::self()->all().contains(QStringLiteral("foo")));
-    QVERIFY(!Activities::self()->all().contains(QStringLiteral("bar")));
+    QVERIFY(!Workspace::self()->activities()->all().contains(QStringLiteral("foo")));
+    QVERIFY(!Workspace::self()->activities()->all().contains(QStringLiteral("bar")));
 
     window->setOnActivities(QStringList{QStringLiteral("foo"), QStringLiteral("bar")});
     QVERIFY(!window->activities().contains(QLatin1String("foo")));
diff --git a/src/activation.cpp b/src/activation.cpp
index d0a24b6e17..36256d98f9 100644
--- a/src/activation.cpp
+++ b/src/activation.cpp
@@ -297,7 +297,8 @@ void Workspace::activateWindow(Window *window, bool force)
     if (!window->isOnCurrentActivity()) {
         ++block_focus;
         // DBUS!
-        Activities::self()->setCurrent(window->activities().constFirst()); // first isn't necessarily best, but it's easiest
+        // first isn't necessarily best, but it's easiest
+        m_activities->setCurrent(window->activities().constFirst());
         --block_focus;
     }
 #endif
diff --git a/src/activities.cpp b/src/activities.cpp
index a4beac566c..5a09018cfe 100644
--- a/src/activities.cpp
+++ b/src/activities.cpp
@@ -21,11 +21,8 @@
 namespace KWin
 {
 
-KWIN_SINGLETON_FACTORY(Activities)
-
-Activities::Activities(QObject *parent)
-    : QObject(parent)
-    , m_controller(new KActivities::Controller(this))
+Activities::Activities()
+    : m_controller(new KActivities::Controller(this))
 {
     connect(m_controller, &KActivities::Controller::activityRemoved, this, &Activities::slotRemoved);
     connect(m_controller, &KActivities::Controller::activityRemoved, this, &Activities::removed);
@@ -33,11 +30,6 @@ Activities::Activities(QObject *parent)
     connect(m_controller, &KActivities::Controller::currentActivityChanged, this, &Activities::slotCurrentChanged);
 }
 
-Activities::~Activities()
-{
-    s_self = nullptr;
-}
-
 KActivities::Consumer::ServiceStatus Activities::serviceStatus() const
 {
     return m_controller->serviceStatus();
diff --git a/src/activities.h b/src/activities.h
index f1014a5557..83efd7d0ab 100644
--- a/src/activities.h
+++ b/src/activities.h
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ class KWIN_EXPORT Activities : public QObject
     Q_OBJECT
 
 public:
-    ~Activities() override;
+    explicit Activities();
 
     bool stop(const QString &id);
     bool start(const QString &id);
@@ -79,8 +79,6 @@ private:
     QString m_previous;
     QString m_current;
     KActivities::Controller *m_controller;
-
-    KWIN_SINGLETON(Activities)
 };
 
 inline QStringList Activities::all() const
diff --git a/src/dbusinterface.cpp b/src/dbusinterface.cpp
index f55c910890..391b0b0272 100644
--- a/src/dbusinterface.cpp
+++ b/src/dbusinterface.cpp
@@ -102,10 +102,10 @@ QString DBusInterface::activeOutputName()
 bool DBusInterface::startActivity(const QString &in0)
 {
 #if KWIN_BUILD_ACTIVITIES
-    if (!Activities::self()) {
+    if (!Workspace::self()->activities()) {
         return false;
     }
-    return Activities::self()->start(in0);
+    return Workspace::self()->activities()->start(in0);
 #else
     Q_UNUSED(in0)
     return false;
@@ -115,10 +115,10 @@ bool DBusInterface::startActivity(const QString &in0)
 bool DBusInterface::stopActivity(const QString &in0)
 {
 #if KWIN_BUILD_ACTIVITIES
-    if (!Activities::self()) {
+    if (!Workspace::self()->activities()) {
         return false;
     }
-    return Activities::self()->stop(in0);
+    return Workspace::self()->activities()->stop(in0);
 #else
     Q_UNUSED(in0)
     return false;
diff --git a/src/effects.cpp b/src/effects.cpp
index 1cb18c3163..1eef9d108b 100644
--- a/src/effects.cpp
+++ b/src/effects.cpp
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ EffectsHandlerImpl::EffectsHandlerImpl(Compositor *compositor, Scene *scene)
     connect(ws, &Workspace::geometryChanged, this, &EffectsHandler::virtualScreenSizeChanged);
     connect(ws, &Workspace::geometryChanged, this, &EffectsHandler::virtualScreenGeometryChanged);
 #if KWIN_BUILD_ACTIVITIES
-    if (Activities *activities = Activities::self()) {
+    if (Activities *activities = Workspace::self()->activities()) {
         connect(activities, &Activities::added, this, &EffectsHandler::activityAdded);
         connect(activities, &Activities::removed, this, &EffectsHandler::activityRemoved);
         connect(activities, &Activities::currentChanged, this, &EffectsHandler::currentActivityChanged);
@@ -979,10 +979,10 @@ void EffectsHandlerImpl::setShowingDesktop(bool showing)
 QString EffectsHandlerImpl::currentActivity() const
 {
 #if KWIN_BUILD_ACTIVITIES
-    if (!Activities::self()) {
+    if (!Workspace::self()->activities()) {
         return QString();
     }
-    return Activities::self()->current();
+    return Workspace::self()->activities()->current();
 #else
     return QString();
 #endif
diff --git a/src/scripting/desktopbackgrounditem.cpp b/src/scripting/desktopbackgrounditem.cpp
index 9e277ceab1..eb7f390575 100644
--- a/src/scripting/desktopbackgrounditem.cpp
+++ b/src/scripting/desktopbackgrounditem.cpp
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ void DesktopBackgroundItem::updateWindow()
     QString activity = m_activity;
     if (activity.isEmpty()) {
 #if KWIN_BUILD_ACTIVITIES
-        activity = Activities::self()->current();
+        activity = Workspace::self()->activities()->current();
 #endif
     }
 
diff --git a/src/scripting/v2/clientmodel.cpp b/src/scripting/v2/clientmodel.cpp
index 2a6899e5f8..69e3a0cd10 100644
--- a/src/scripting/v2/clientmodel.cpp
+++ b/src/scripting/v2/clientmodel.cpp
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ ClientLevel::ClientLevel(ClientModel *model, AbstractLevel *parent)
     : AbstractLevel(model, parent)
 {
 #if KWIN_BUILD_ACTIVITIES
-    if (Activities *activities = Activities::self()) {
+    if (Activities *activities = Workspace::self()->activities()) {
         connect(activities, &Activities::currentChanged, this, &ClientLevel::reInit);
     }
 #endif
@@ -307,8 +307,8 @@ AbstractLevel *AbstractLevel::create(const QList<ClientModel::LevelRestriction>
     switch (restriction) {
     case ClientModel::ActivityRestriction: {
 #if KWIN_BUILD_ACTIVITIES
-        if (Activities::self()) {
-            const QStringList &activities = Activities::self()->all();
+        if (Workspace::self()->activities()) {
+            const QStringList &activities = Workspace::self()->activities()->all();
             for (QStringList::const_iterator it = activities.begin(); it != activities.end(); ++it) {
                 AbstractLevel *childLevel = create(childRestrictions, childrenRestrictions, model, currentLevel);
                 if (!childLevel) {
@@ -400,7 +400,7 @@ ForkLevel::ForkLevel(const QList<ClientModel::LevelRestriction> &childRestrictio
     connect(VirtualDesktopManager::self(), &VirtualDesktopManager::countChanged, this, &ForkLevel::desktopCountChanged);
     connect(screens(), &Screens::countChanged, this, &ForkLevel::screenCountChanged);
 #if KWIN_BUILD_ACTIVITIES
-    if (Activities *activities = Activities::self()) {
+    if (Activities *activities = Workspace::self()->activities()) {
         connect(activities, &Activities::added, this, &ForkLevel::activityAdded);
         connect(activities, &Activities::removed, this, &ForkLevel::activityRemoved);
     }
diff --git a/src/scripting/workspace_wrapper.cpp b/src/scripting/workspace_wrapper.cpp
index 7973be74f3..c659d01af9 100644
--- a/src/scripting/workspace_wrapper.cpp
+++ b/src/scripting/workspace_wrapper.cpp
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ WorkspaceWrapper::WorkspaceWrapper(QObject *parent)
     connect(vds, &VirtualDesktopManager::currentChanged, this, &WorkspaceWrapper::currentVirtualDesktopChanged);
     connect(ws, &Workspace::windowDemandsAttentionChanged, this, &WorkspaceWrapper::clientDemandsAttentionChanged);
 #if KWIN_BUILD_ACTIVITIES
-    if (KWin::Activities *activities = KWin::Activities::self()) {
+    if (KWin::Activities *activities = ws->activities()) {
         connect(activities, &Activities::currentChanged, this, &WorkspaceWrapper::currentActivityChanged);
         connect(activities, &Activities::added, this, &WorkspaceWrapper::activitiesChanged);
         connect(activities, &Activities::added, this, &WorkspaceWrapper::activityAdded);
@@ -104,10 +104,10 @@ Window *WorkspaceWrapper::activeClient() const
 QString WorkspaceWrapper::currentActivity() const
 {
 #if KWIN_BUILD_ACTIVITIES
-    if (!Activities::self()) {
+    if (!Workspace::self()->activities()) {
         return QString();
     }
-    return Activities::self()->current();
+    return Workspace::self()->activities()->current();
 #else
     return QString();
 #endif
@@ -116,8 +116,8 @@ QString WorkspaceWrapper::currentActivity() const
 void WorkspaceWrapper::setCurrentActivity(QString activity)
 {
 #if KWIN_BUILD_ACTIVITIES
-    if (Activities::self()) {
-        Activities::self()->setCurrent(activity);
+    if (Workspace::self()->activities()) {
+        Workspace::self()->activities()->setCurrent(activity);
     }
 #else
     Q_UNUSED(activity)
@@ -127,10 +127,10 @@ void WorkspaceWrapper::setCurrentActivity(QString activity)
 QStringList WorkspaceWrapper::activityList() const
 {
 #if KWIN_BUILD_ACTIVITIES
-    if (!Activities::self()) {
+    if (!Workspace::self()->activities()) {
         return QStringList();
     }
-    return Activities::self()->all();
+    return Workspace::self()->activities()->all();
 #else
     return QStringList();
 #endif
diff --git a/src/tabbox/tabbox.cpp b/src/tabbox/tabbox.cpp
index 43d2af5669..efc9f041c4 100644
--- a/src/tabbox/tabbox.cpp
+++ b/src/tabbox/tabbox.cpp
@@ -70,8 +70,8 @@ TabBoxHandlerImpl::TabBoxHandlerImpl(TabBox *tabBox)
     connect(vds, &VirtualDesktopManager::countChanged, m_desktopFocusChain, &DesktopChainManager::resize);
     connect(vds, &VirtualDesktopManager::currentChanged, m_desktopFocusChain, &DesktopChainManager::addDesktop);
 #if KWIN_BUILD_ACTIVITIES
-    if (Activities::self()) {
-        connect(Activities::self(), &Activities::currentChanged, m_desktopFocusChain, &DesktopChainManager::useChain);
+    if (Workspace::self()->activities()) {
+        connect(Workspace::self()->activities(), &Activities::currentChanged, m_desktopFocusChain, &DesktopChainManager::useChain);
     }
 #endif
 }
diff --git a/src/useractions.cpp b/src/useractions.cpp
index 8cea08b98d..3fd7825e48 100644
--- a/src/useractions.cpp
+++ b/src/useractions.cpp
@@ -418,10 +418,10 @@ void UserActionsMenu::menuAboutToShow()
 void UserActionsMenu::showHideActivityMenu()
 {
 #if KWIN_BUILD_ACTIVITIES
-    if (!Activities::self()) {
+    if (!Workspace::self()->activities()) {
         return;
     }
-    const QStringList &openActivities_ = Activities::self()->running();
+    const QStringList &openActivities_ = Workspace::self()->activities()->running();
     qCDebug(KWIN_CORE) << "activities:" << openActivities_.size();
     if (openActivities_.size() < 2) {
         delete m_activityMenu;
@@ -696,7 +696,7 @@ void UserActionsMenu::activityPopupAboutToShow()
     }
 
 #if KWIN_BUILD_ACTIVITIES
-    if (!Activities::self()) {
+    if (!Workspace::self()->activities()) {
         return;
     }
     m_activityMenu->clear();
@@ -717,7 +717,7 @@ void UserActionsMenu::activityPopupAboutToShow()
     }
     m_activityMenu->addSeparator();
 
-    const auto activities = Activities::self()->running();
+    const auto activities = Workspace::self()->activities()->running();
     for (const QString &id : activities) {
         KActivities::Info activity(id);
         QString name = activity.name();
@@ -776,7 +776,7 @@ void UserActionsMenu::slotWindowOperation(QAction *action)
 void UserActionsMenu::slotToggleOnActivity(QAction *action)
 {
 #if KWIN_BUILD_ACTIVITIES
-    if (!Activities::self()) {
+    if (!Workspace::self()->activities()) {
         return;
     }
     QString activity = action->data().toString();
@@ -789,7 +789,7 @@ void UserActionsMenu::slotToggleOnActivity(QAction *action)
         return;
     }
 
-    Activities::self()->toggleWindowOnActivity(m_window, activity, false);
+    Workspace::self()->activities()->toggleWindowOnActivity(m_window, activity, false);
     if (m_activityMenu && m_activityMenu->isVisible() && m_activityMenu->actions().count()) {
         const bool isOnAll = m_window->isOnAllActivities();
         m_activityMenu->actions().at(0)->setChecked(isOnAll);
diff --git a/src/window.cpp b/src/window.cpp
index 811fa013ac..0a41dc3eef 100644
--- a/src/window.cpp
+++ b/src/window.cpp
@@ -546,10 +546,10 @@ bool Window::isDeleted() const
 bool Window::isOnCurrentActivity() const
 {
 #if KWIN_BUILD_ACTIVITIES
-    if (!Activities::self()) {
+    if (!Workspace::self()->activities()) {
         return true;
     }
-    return isOnActivity(Activities::self()->current());
+    return isOnActivity(Workspace::self()->activities()->current());
 #else
     return true;
 #endif
@@ -3464,7 +3464,7 @@ QStringList Window::activities() const
 void Window::setOnActivity(const QString &activity, bool enable)
 {
 #if KWIN_BUILD_ACTIVITIES
-    if (!Activities::self()) {
+    if (!Workspace::self()->activities()) {
         return;
     }
     QStringList newActivitiesList = activities();
@@ -3473,7 +3473,7 @@ void Window::setOnActivity(const QString &activity, bool enable)
         return;
     }
     if (enable) {
-        QStringList allActivities = Activities::self()->all();
+        QStringList allActivities = Workspace::self()->activities()->all();
         if (!allActivities.contains(activity)) {
             // bogus ID
             return;
@@ -3495,10 +3495,10 @@ void Window::setOnActivity(const QString &activity, bool enable)
 void Window::setOnActivities(const QStringList &newActivitiesList)
 {
 #if KWIN_BUILD_ACTIVITIES
-    if (!Activities::self()) {
+    if (!Workspace::self()->activities()) {
         return;
     }
-    const auto allActivities = Activities::self()->all();
+    const auto allActivities = Workspace::self()->activities()->all();
     const auto activityList = [&] {
         auto result = rules()->checkActivity(newActivitiesList);
 
@@ -3543,7 +3543,7 @@ void Window::setOnAllActivities(bool all)
     if (all) {
         setOnActivities(QStringList());
     } else {
-        setOnActivity(Activities::self()->current(), true);
+        setOnActivity(Workspace::self()->activities()->current(), true);
     }
 #else
     Q_UNUSED(all)
diff --git a/src/workspace.cpp b/src/workspace.cpp
index 31005b69ba..2cbcaf7c43 100644
--- a/src/workspace.cpp
+++ b/src/workspace.cpp
@@ -135,12 +135,11 @@ Workspace::Workspace()
     _self = this;
 
 #if KWIN_BUILD_ACTIVITIES
-    Activities *activities = nullptr;
     if (kwinApp()->usesKActivities()) {
-        activities = Activities::create(this);
+        m_activities = std::make_unique<Activities>();
     }
-    if (activities) {
-        connect(activities, &Activities::currentChanged, this, &Workspace::updateCurrentActivity);
+    if (m_activities) {
+        connect(m_activities.get(), &Activities::currentChanged, this, &Workspace::updateCurrentActivity);
     }
 #endif
 
@@ -1102,7 +1101,7 @@ Window *Workspace::findWindowToActivateOnDesktop(VirtualDesktop *desktop)
 void Workspace::updateCurrentActivity(const QString &new_activity)
 {
 #if KWIN_BUILD_ACTIVITIES
-    if (!Activities::self()) {
+    if (!m_activities) {
         return;
     }
     // closeActivePopup();
@@ -2828,4 +2827,11 @@ FocusChain *Workspace::focusChain() const
     return m_focusChain.get();
 }
 
+#if KWIN_BUILD_ACTIVITIES
+Activities *Workspace::activities() const
+{
+    return m_activities.get();
+}
+#endif
+
 } // namespace
diff --git a/src/workspace.h b/src/workspace.h
index c7ec38e117..c43a79d24b 100644
--- a/src/workspace.h
+++ b/src/workspace.h
@@ -56,6 +56,9 @@ class X11Window;
 class X11EventFilter;
 class FocusChain;
 enum class Predicate;
+#if KWIN_BUILD_ACTIVITIES
+class Activities;
+#endif
 
 class KWIN_EXPORT Workspace : public QObject
 {
@@ -425,6 +428,9 @@ public:
         return m_lastActiveWindow;
     }
     FocusChain *focusChain() const;
+#if KWIN_BUILD_ACTIVITIES
+    Activities *activities() const;
+#endif
 
 public Q_SLOTS:
     void performWindowOperation(KWin::Window *window, Options::WindowOperation op);
@@ -694,6 +700,9 @@ private:
 
     SessionManager *m_sessionManager;
     std::unique_ptr<FocusChain> m_focusChain;
+#if KWIN_BUILD_ACTIVITIES
+    std::unique_ptr<Activities> m_activities;
+#endif
 
 private:
     friend bool performTransiencyCheck();
diff --git a/src/x11window.cpp b/src/x11window.cpp
index 322bede9e1..c89c270ee5 100644
--- a/src/x11window.cpp
+++ b/src/x11window.cpp
@@ -571,7 +571,7 @@ bool X11Window::manage(xcb_window_t w, bool isMapped)
             }
         }
 #if KWIN_BUILD_ACTIVITIES
-        if (Activities::self() && !isMapped && !skipTaskbar() && isNormalWindow() && !activitiesDefined) {
+        if (Workspace::self()->activities() && !isMapped && !skipTaskbar() && isNormalWindow() && !activitiesDefined) {
             // a new, regular window, when we're not recovering from a crash,
             // and it hasn't got an activity. let's try giving it the current one.
             // TODO: decide whether to keep this before the 4.6 release
@@ -579,7 +579,7 @@ bool X11Window::manage(xcb_window_t w, bool isMapped)
             // with a public API for setting windows to be on all activities.
             // something like KWindowSystem::setOnAllActivities or
             // KActivityConsumer::setOnAllActivities
-            setOnActivity(Activities::self()->current(), true);
+            setOnActivity(Workspace::self()->activities()->current(), true);
         }
 #endif
     }
@@ -2504,8 +2504,8 @@ void X11Window::readActivities(Xcb::StringProperty &property)
     // if the activities are not synced, and there are existing clients with
     // activities specified, somebody has restarted kwin. we can not validate
     // activities in this case. we need to trust the old values.
-    if (Activities::self() && Activities::self()->serviceStatus() != KActivities::Consumer::Unknown) {
-        QStringList allActivities = Activities::self()->all();
+    if (Workspace::self()->activities() && Workspace::self()->activities()->serviceStatus() != KActivities::Consumer::Unknown) {
+        QStringList allActivities = Workspace::self()->activities()->all();
         if (allActivities.isEmpty()) {
             qCDebug(KWIN_CORE) << "no activities!?!?";
             // don't touch anything, there's probably something bad going on and we don't wanna make it worse
diff --git a/src/xdgshellwindow.cpp b/src/xdgshellwindow.cpp
index 0ef34235de..3d4a19add7 100644
--- a/src/xdgshellwindow.cpp
+++ b/src/xdgshellwindow.cpp
@@ -562,7 +562,7 @@ XdgToplevelWindow::XdgToplevelWindow(XdgToplevelInterface *shellSurface)
 {
     setDesktops({VirtualDesktopManager::self()->currentDesktop()});
 #if KWIN_BUILD_ACTIVITIES
-    if (auto a = Activities::self()) {
+    if (auto a = Workspace::self()->activities()) {
         setOnActivities({a->current()});
     }
 #endif
@@ -1771,7 +1771,7 @@ XdgPopupWindow::XdgPopupWindow(XdgPopupInterface *shellSurface)
     m_windowType = NET::Unknown;
     setDesktops({VirtualDesktopManager::self()->currentDesktop()});
 #if KWIN_BUILD_ACTIVITIES
-    if (auto a = Activities::self()) {
+    if (auto a = Workspace::self()->activities()) {
         setOnActivities({a->current()});
     }
 #endif