diff --git a/src/komposedesktopwidget.cpp b/src/komposedesktopwidget.cpp
index cbf100a..1760069 100644
--- a/src/komposedesktopwidget.cpp
+++ b/src/komposedesktopwidget.cpp
@@ -61,6 +61,13 @@ KomposeDesktopWidget::KomposeDesktopWidget(int desktop, TQWidget *parent, Kompos
   TQToolTip::add( this, i18n("Desktop %1 - %2").arg(desktop).arg(deskName) );
 
   rootpix = new KRootPixmap (this);
+
+  // Background blur -- exactly as done in Kicker
+  if(KomposeSettings::instance()->getBlurBackground())
+    rootpix->setBlurEffect(0.0, 4.0);
+  else
+    rootpix->setBlurEffect(0.0, 0.0);
+
   rootpix->start();
   setAcceptDrops(TRUE);
 
diff --git a/src/komposefullscreenwidget.cpp b/src/komposefullscreenwidget.cpp
index 4e656c2..4c452b9 100644
--- a/src/komposefullscreenwidget.cpp
+++ b/src/komposefullscreenwidget.cpp
@@ -48,6 +48,13 @@ KomposeFullscreenWidget::KomposeFullscreenWidget( int displayType, KomposeLayout
   setBackgroundMode( TQt::FixedPixmap );
 //   setBackgroundPixmap(*(KomposeGlobal::instance()->getDesktopBgPixmap()));
   rootpix = new KRootPixmap (this);
+
+  // Background blur -- exactly like done in Kicker
+  if (KomposeSettings::instance()->getBlurBackground())
+    rootpix->setBlurEffect(0.0, 4.0);
+  else
+    rootpix->setBlurEffect(0.0, 0.0);
+
   rootpix->start();
   initMenu();
   initView();