diff --git a/autotests/test_gestures.cpp b/autotests/test_gestures.cpp
index dc02818fd3..422613c8c5 100644
--- a/autotests/test_gestures.cpp
+++ b/autotests/test_gestures.cpp
@@ -19,8 +19,10 @@ class GestureTest : public QObject
 {
     Q_OBJECT
 private Q_SLOTS:
-    void testDirection_data();
-    void testDirection();
+    void testSwipeDirection_data();
+    void testSwipeDirection();
+    void testPinchDirection_data();
+    void testPinchDirection();
 
     // swipe only
     void testMinimumX_data();
@@ -52,28 +54,46 @@ private Q_SLOTS:
     void testSwipeGeometryStart();
 };
 
-void GestureTest::testDirection_data()
+void GestureTest::testSwipeDirection_data()
 {
-    QTest::addColumn<GestureDirection>("direction");
+    QTest::addColumn<GestureDirection>("swipe_direction");
 
     QTest::newRow("Up") << GestureDirection::Up;
     QTest::newRow("Left") << GestureDirection::Left;
     QTest::newRow("Right") << GestureDirection::Right;
     QTest::newRow("Down") << GestureDirection::Down;
+}
+
+void GestureTest::testSwipeDirection()
+{
+    SwipeGesture gesture;
+    QCOMPARE(gesture.direction(), GestureDirection::Down);
+    QFETCH(GestureDirection, swipe_direction);
+    gesture.setDirection(swipe_direction);
+    QCOMPARE(gesture.direction(), swipe_direction);
+    // back to down
+    gesture.setDirection(GestureDirection::Down);
+    QCOMPARE(gesture.direction(), GestureDirection::Down);
+}
+
+void GestureTest::testPinchDirection_data()
+{
+    QTest::addColumn<GestureDirection>("pinch_direction");
+
     QTest::newRow("Contracting") << GestureDirection::Contracting;
     QTest::newRow("Expanding") << GestureDirection::Expanding;
 }
 
-void GestureTest::testDirection()
+void GestureTest::testPinchDirection()
 {
-    SwipeGesture gesture;
-    QCOMPARE(gesture.direction(), 0);
-    QFETCH(GestureDirection, direction);
-    gesture.setDirection(direction);
-    QCOMPARE(gesture.direction(), direction);
+    PinchGesture gesture;
+    QCOMPARE(gesture.direction(), GestureDirection::Expanding);
+    QFETCH(GestureDirection, pinch_direction);
+    gesture.setDirection(pinch_direction);
+    QCOMPARE(gesture.direction(), pinch_direction);
     // back to down
-    gesture.setDirection(GestureDirection::Down);
-    QCOMPARE(gesture.direction(), GestureDirection::Down);
+    gesture.setDirection(GestureDirection::Expanding);
+    QCOMPARE(gesture.direction(), GestureDirection::Expanding);
 }
 
 void GestureTest::testMinimumX_data()
diff --git a/src/gestures.cpp b/src/gestures.cpp
index 8af734f036..4f382ff95d 100644
--- a/src/gestures.cpp
+++ b/src/gestures.cpp
@@ -367,6 +367,16 @@ void GestureRecognizer::endPinchGesture() // because fingers up
     m_currentSwipeAxis = Axis::None;
 }
 
+GestureDirections SwipeGesture::direction() const
+{
+    return m_direction;
+}
+
+void SwipeGesture::setDirection(GestureDirections direction)
+{
+    m_direction = direction;
+}
+
 void SwipeGesture::setMinimumX(int x)
 {
     m_minimumX = x;
@@ -447,6 +457,16 @@ bool SwipeGesture::isMinimumDeltaRelevant() const
     return m_minimumDeltaRelevant;
 }
 
+GestureDirections PinchGesture::direction() const
+{
+    return m_direction;
+}
+
+void PinchGesture::setDirection(GestureDirections direction)
+{
+    m_direction = direction;
+}
+
 qreal PinchGesture::minimumScaleDelta() const
 {
     return m_minimumScaleDelta;
@@ -490,14 +510,4 @@ QSet<uint> Gesture::acceptableFingerCounts() const
 {
     return m_validFingerCounts;
 }
-
-GestureDirections Gesture::direction() const
-{
-    return m_direction;
-}
-
-void Gesture::setDirection(GestureDirections direction)
-{
-    m_direction = direction;
-}
 }
diff --git a/src/gestures.h b/src/gestures.h
index d70b42277e..3cfbc31c92 100644
--- a/src/gestures.h
+++ b/src/gestures.h
@@ -50,12 +50,8 @@ public:
     bool isFingerCountAcceptable(uint fingers) const;
     QSet<uint> acceptableFingerCounts() const;
 
-    GestureDirections direction() const;
-    void setDirection(GestureDirections direction);
-
 protected:
     explicit Gesture(QObject *parent);
-    GestureDirections m_direction;
 
 Q_SIGNALS:
     /**
@@ -84,6 +80,9 @@ public:
     explicit SwipeGesture(QObject *parent = nullptr);
     ~SwipeGesture() override;
 
+    GestureDirections direction() const;
+    void setDirection(GestureDirections direction);
+
     void setMinimumX(int x);
     int minimumX() const;
     bool minimumXIsRelevant() const;
@@ -119,6 +118,7 @@ Q_SIGNALS:
     void deltaProgress(const QSizeF &delta);
 
 private:
+    GestureDirections m_direction = GestureDirection::Down;
     bool m_minimumXRelevant = false;
     int m_minimumX = 0;
     bool m_minimumYRelevant = false;
@@ -138,6 +138,9 @@ public:
     explicit PinchGesture(QObject *parent = nullptr);
     ~PinchGesture() override;
 
+    GestureDirections direction() const;
+    void setDirection(GestureDirections direction);
+
     qreal minimumScaleDelta() const;
 
     /**
@@ -158,6 +161,7 @@ Q_SIGNALS:
     void progress(qreal);
 
 private:
+    GestureDirections m_direction = GestureDirection::Expanding;
     bool m_minimumScaleDeltaRelevant = false;
     qreal m_minimumScaleDelta = DEFAULT_UNIT_SCALE_DELTA;
 };
diff --git a/src/globalshortcuts.cpp b/src/globalshortcuts.cpp
index 19767fa683..6e67a26077 100644
--- a/src/globalshortcuts.cpp
+++ b/src/globalshortcuts.cpp
@@ -128,6 +128,7 @@ void GlobalShortcutsManager::registerGesture(GestureDeviceType device, GestureDi
     if (isSwipeDirection(direction)) {
         std::unique_ptr<SwipeGesture> gesture = std::make_unique<SwipeGesture>();
         gesture->addFingerCount(fingerCount);
+        gesture->setDirection(direction);
         gesture->setMinimumDelta(QSizeF(200, 200));
         connect(gesture.get(), &SwipeGesture::progress, progressCallback);
         connect(gesture.get(), &Gesture::triggered, onUp, &QAction::trigger, Qt::QueuedConnection);
@@ -136,12 +137,12 @@ void GlobalShortcutsManager::registerGesture(GestureDeviceType device, GestureDi
     } else if (isPinchDirection(direction)) {
         std::unique_ptr<PinchGesture> gesture = std::make_unique<PinchGesture>();
         gesture->addFingerCount(fingerCount);
+        gesture->setDirection(direction);
         connect(gesture.get(), &PinchGesture::progress, progressCallback);
         connect(gesture.get(), &Gesture::triggered, onUp, &QAction::trigger, Qt::QueuedConnection);
         connect(gesture.get(), &Gesture::cancelled, onUp, &QAction::trigger, Qt::QueuedConnection);
         shortcut.pinchGesture = std::move(gesture);
     }
-    shortcut.gesture()->setDirection(direction);
 
     addIfNotExists(GlobalShortcut(std::move(shortcut), onUp), device);
 }