diff --git a/autotests/test_virtual_desktops.cpp b/autotests/test_virtual_desktops.cpp
index 61b2ab9c22..57b359628b 100644
--- a/autotests/test_virtual_desktops.cpp
+++ b/autotests/test_virtual_desktops.cpp
@@ -621,12 +621,9 @@ void TestVirtualDesktops::load()
     config->group("Desktops").writeEntry("Number", 4);
     vds->load();
     QCOMPARE(vds->count(), (uint)4);
-    // setting the screen number should reset to one desktop as config value is missing
-    screen_number = 2;
-    vds->load();
-    QCOMPARE(vds->count(), (uint)1);
-    // creating the respective group should properly load
-    config->group("Desktops-screen-2").writeEntry("Number", 5);
+
+    // setting the config value and reloading should update
+    config->group("Desktops").writeEntry("Number", 5);
     vds->load();
     QCOMPARE(vds->count(), (uint)5);
 }
@@ -650,23 +647,6 @@ void TestVirtualDesktops::save()
     QCOMPARE(desktops.hasKey("Name_2"), false);
     QCOMPARE(desktops.hasKey("Name_3"), false);
     QCOMPARE(desktops.hasKey("Name_4"), false);
-
-    // change screen number
-    screen_number = 3;
-    QCOMPARE(config->hasGroup("Desktops-screen-3"), false);
-    vds->setCount(3);
-    vds->save();
-    QCOMPARE(config->hasGroup("Desktops-screen-3"), true);
-    // old one should be unchanged
-    desktops = config->group("Desktops");
-    QCOMPARE(desktops.readEntry<int>("Number", 1), 4);
-    desktops = config->group("Desktops-screen-3");
-    QCOMPARE(desktops.readEntry<int>("Number", 1), 3);
-    QCOMPARE(desktops.hasKey("Name_1"), false);
-    QCOMPARE(desktops.hasKey("Name_2"), false);
-    QCOMPARE(desktops.hasKey("Name_3"), false);
-    QCOMPARE(desktops.hasKey("Name_4"), false);
-
 }
 
 QTEST_MAIN(TestVirtualDesktops)
diff --git a/virtualdesktops.cpp b/virtualdesktops.cpp
index 121c5f602d..a439460926 100644
--- a/virtualdesktops.cpp
+++ b/virtualdesktops.cpp
@@ -35,7 +35,6 @@ along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 #include <QDebug>
 namespace KWin {
 
-extern int screen_number;
 static bool s_loadingDesktopSettings = false;
 
 static QByteArray generateDesktopId()
@@ -701,13 +700,8 @@ void VirtualDesktopManager::load()
     if (!m_config) {
         return;
     }
-    QString groupname;
-    if (screen_number == 0) {
-        groupname = QStringLiteral("Desktops");
-    } else {
-        groupname = QStringLiteral("Desktops-screen-%1").arg(screen_number);
-    }
-    KConfigGroup group(m_config, groupname);
+
+    KConfigGroup group(m_config, QStringLiteral("Desktops"));
     const int n = group.readEntry("Number", 1);
     setCount(n);
 
@@ -744,13 +738,7 @@ void VirtualDesktopManager::save()
     if (!m_config) {
         return;
     }
-    QString groupname;
-    if (screen_number == 0) {
-        groupname = QStringLiteral("Desktops");
-    } else {
-        groupname = QStringLiteral("Desktops-screen-%1").arg(screen_number);
-    }
-    KConfigGroup group(m_config, groupname);
+    KConfigGroup group(m_config, QStringLiteral("Desktops"));
 
     for (int i = count() + 1;  group.hasKey(QStringLiteral("Id_%1").arg(i)); i++) {
         group.deleteEntry(QStringLiteral("Id_%1").arg(i));