diff --git a/workspace.cpp b/workspace.cpp
index d71b96bec6..1ce68399cc 100644
--- a/workspace.cpp
+++ b/workspace.cpp
@@ -2404,7 +2404,18 @@ void Workspace::setCurrentDesktop( int new_desktop ){
         }
     }
     current_desktop = new_desktop;
-    KIPC::sendMessageAll(KIPC::BackgroundChanged, current_desktop);
+
+    // code from bgsettings.cc to determine if notification is necessary
+    int screen_number = DefaultScreen(qt_xdisplay());
+    QCString configname;
+    if (screen_number == 0)
+      configname = "kdesktoprc";
+    else
+      configname.sprintf("kdesktop-screen-%drc", screen_number);
+    KConfig cfg(configname);
+    cfg.setGroup("Background Common");
+    if (!cfg.readBoolEntry("CommonDesktop", true))
+      KIPC::sendMessageAll(KIPC::BackgroundChanged, current_desktop);
 
     rootInfo->setCurrentDesktop( current_desktop );