diff --git a/composite.cpp b/composite.cpp
index c7109bd433..16a0c91fe8 100644
--- a/composite.cpp
+++ b/composite.cpp
@@ -420,7 +420,7 @@ void Compositor::toggleCompositing()
     slotToggleCompositing(); // TODO only operate on script level here?
     if (m_suspended) {
         // when disabled show a shortcut how the user can get back compositing
-        const auto shortcuts = KGlobalAccel::self()->shortcut(workspace()->actionCollection()->action(QStringLiteral("Suspend Compositing")));
+        const auto shortcuts = KGlobalAccel::self()->shortcut(workspace()->findChild<QAction*>(QStringLiteral("Suspend Compositing")));
         if (!shortcuts.isEmpty()) {
             // display notification only if there is the shortcut
             const QString message = i18n("Desktop effects have been suspended by another application.<br/>"
diff --git a/kwinbindings.cpp b/kwinbindings.cpp
index dcc6aad5c6..3c9f57c471 100644
--- a/kwinbindings.cpp
+++ b/kwinbindings.cpp
@@ -37,17 +37,10 @@ along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
     initShortcut(QStringLiteral(name).arg(value), i18n(name, value), key, &Workspace::fnSlot, value);
 
 
-a = actionCollection->addAction(QStringLiteral("Program:kwin"));
-a->setText(i18n("System"));
-
-a = actionCollection->addAction(QStringLiteral("Group:Navigation"));
-a->setText(i18n("Navigation"));
 DEF(I18N_NOOP("Walk Through Window Tabs"),             0, slotActivateNextTab);
 DEF(I18N_NOOP("Walk Through Window Tabs (Reverse)"),   0, slotActivatePrevTab);
 DEF(I18N_NOOP("Remove Window From Group"),             0, slotUntab);
 
-a = actionCollection->addAction(QStringLiteral("Group:Windows"));
-a->setText(i18n("Windows"));
 DEF(I18N_NOOP("Window Operations Menu"),
     Qt::ALT + Qt::Key_F3, slotWindowOperations);
 DEF2("Window Close", I18N_NOOP("Close Window"),
@@ -125,8 +118,6 @@ DEF2("Increase Opacity", I18N_NOOP("Increase Opacity of Active Window by 5 %"),
 DEF2("Decrease Opacity", I18N_NOOP("Decrease Opacity of Active Window by 5 %"),
     0, slotLowerWindowOpacity);
 
-a = actionCollection->addAction(QStringLiteral("Group:Window Desktop"));
-a->setText(i18n("Window & Desktop"));
 DEF2("Window On All Desktops", I18N_NOOP("Keep Window on All Desktops"),
      0, slotWindowOnAllDesktops);
 
@@ -154,8 +145,6 @@ for (int i = 0; i < 8; ++i) {
 DEF(I18N_NOOP("Switch to Next Screen"),            0, slotSwitchToNextScreen);
 DEF(I18N_NOOP("Switch to Previous Screen"),        0, slotSwitchToPrevScreen);
 
-a = actionCollection->addAction(QStringLiteral("Group:Miscellaneous"));
-a->setText(i18n("Miscellaneous"));
 DEF(I18N_NOOP("Kill Window"),                      Qt::CTRL + Qt::ALT + Qt::Key_Escape, slotKillWindow);
 DEF(I18N_NOOP("Suspend Compositing"),              Qt::SHIFT + Qt::ALT + Qt::Key_F12, slotToggleCompositing);
 DEF(I18N_NOOP("Invert Screen Colors"),             0, slotInvertScreen);
diff --git a/useractions.cpp b/useractions.cpp
index 90aad330a2..a2cd020e0d 100755
--- a/useractions.cpp
+++ b/useractions.cpp
@@ -183,8 +183,7 @@ void UserActionsMenu::helperDialog(const QString& message, const QWeakPointer<Cl
     QStringList args;
     QString type;
     auto shortcut = [](const QString &name) {
-        KActionCollection *keys = Workspace::self()->actionCollection();
-        QAction* action = keys->action(name);
+        QAction* action = Workspace::self()->findChild<QAction*>(name);
         assert(action != NULL);
         const auto shortcuts = KGlobalAccel::self()->shortcut(action);
         return QStringLiteral("%1 (%2)").arg(action->text())
@@ -268,7 +267,7 @@ void UserActionsMenu::init()
     });
 
     auto setShortcut = [](QAction *action, const QString &actionName) {
-        const auto shortcuts = KGlobalAccel::self()->shortcut(Workspace::self()->actionCollection()->action(actionName));
+        const auto shortcuts = KGlobalAccel::self()->shortcut(Workspace::self()->findChild<QAction*>(actionName));
         if (!shortcuts.isEmpty()) {
             action->setShortcut(shortcuts.first());
         }
@@ -940,7 +939,8 @@ void Workspace::closeActivePopup()
 template <typename Slot>
 void Workspace::initShortcut(const QString &actionName, const QString &description, const QKeySequence &shortcut, Slot slot, const QVariant &data)
 {
-    QAction *a = keys->addAction(actionName);
+    QAction *a = new QAction(this);
+    a->setObjectName(actionName);
     a->setText(description);
     if (data.isValid()) {
         a->setData(data);
@@ -955,10 +955,6 @@ void Workspace::initShortcut(const QString &actionName, const QString &descripti
  */
 void Workspace::initShortcuts()
 {
-    keys = new KActionCollection(this);
-    KActionCollection* actionCollection = keys;
-    QAction* a = 0L;
-
 #define IN_KWIN
 #include "kwinbindings.cpp"
 #ifdef KWIN_BUILD_TABBOX
diff --git a/workspace.cpp b/workspace.cpp
index 5f68d267ce..3975b63b9d 100644
--- a/workspace.cpp
+++ b/workspace.cpp
@@ -147,7 +147,6 @@ Workspace::Workspace(bool restore)
     , session_saving(false)
     , block_focus(0)
     , m_userActionsMenu(new UserActionsMenu(this))
-    , keys(0)
     , client_keys(NULL)
     , client_keys_dialog(NULL)
     , client_keys_client(NULL)
diff --git a/workspace.h b/workspace.h
index f8fba4d9c7..3ac8279034 100644
--- a/workspace.h
+++ b/workspace.h
@@ -191,9 +191,6 @@ public:
     int oldDisplayWidth() const;
     int oldDisplayHeight() const;
 
-    KActionCollection* actionCollection() const {
-        return keys;
-    }
     KActionCollection* clientKeys() const {
         return client_keys;
     }
@@ -507,7 +504,6 @@ private:
 
     void modalActionsSwitch(bool enabled);
 
-    KActionCollection* keys;
     KActionCollection* client_keys;
     ShortcutDialog* client_keys_dialog;
     Client* client_keys_client;