diff --git a/src/cursorsource.cpp b/src/cursorsource.cpp
index c01750ca1b..74ef4626fe 100644
--- a/src/cursorsource.cpp
+++ b/src/cursorsource.cpp
@@ -16,6 +16,11 @@ CursorSource::CursorSource(QObject *parent)
 {
 }
 
+bool CursorSource::isBlank() const
+{
+    return m_size.isEmpty();
+}
+
 QSizeF CursorSource::size() const
 {
     return m_size;
diff --git a/src/cursorsource.h b/src/cursorsource.h
index 162aa0fd54..2311f8ea8f 100644
--- a/src/cursorsource.h
+++ b/src/cursorsource.h
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ class KWIN_EXPORT CursorSource : public QObject
 public:
     explicit CursorSource(QObject *parent = nullptr);
 
+    bool isBlank() const;
     QSizeF size() const;
     QPointF hotspot() const;
 
diff --git a/src/plugins/startupfeedback/startupfeedback.cpp b/src/plugins/startupfeedback/startupfeedback.cpp
index 57b33743e7..c8044e3ca5 100644
--- a/src/plugins/startupfeedback/startupfeedback.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/startupfeedback/startupfeedback.cpp
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@
 #include "core/pixelgrid.h"
 #include "core/rendertarget.h"
 #include "core/renderviewport.h"
+#include "cursor.h"
+#include "cursorsource.h"
 #include "effect/effecthandler.h"
 #include "opengl/glutils.h"
 
@@ -268,6 +270,15 @@ void StartupFeedbackEffect::slotMouseChanged(const QPointF &pos, const QPointF &
 
 void StartupFeedbackEffect::gotNewStartup(const QString &id, const QIcon &icon)
 {
+    if (Cursors::self()->isCursorHidden()) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    const Cursor *mouse = Cursors::self()->mouse();
+    if (mouse->source() && mouse->source()->isBlank()) {
+        return;
+    }
+
     Startup &startup = m_startups[id];
     startup.icon = icon;
 
@@ -285,7 +296,9 @@ void StartupFeedbackEffect::gotNewStartup(const QString &id, const QIcon &icon)
 
 void StartupFeedbackEffect::gotRemoveStartup(const QString &id)
 {
-    m_startups.remove(id);
+    if (!m_startups.remove(id)) {
+        return;
+    }
     if (m_startups.isEmpty()) {
         m_currentStartup.clear();
         stop();