diff --git a/tdecore/tdeglobalsettings.cpp b/tdecore/tdeglobalsettings.cpp
index 241583caf..4941a9eda 100644
--- a/tdecore/tdeglobalsettings.cpp
+++ b/tdecore/tdeglobalsettings.cpp
@@ -590,6 +590,13 @@ TQFont TDEGlobalSettings::largeFont(const TQString &text)
     return *_largeFont;
 }
 
+void TDEGlobalSettings::initStatic()
+{
+    // The method is primarily to ensure backward compatibility of the API.
+    // Don't put anything else here.
+    initPaths();
+}
+
 void TDEGlobalSettings::initPaths()
 {
     if (s_desktopPath)
diff --git a/tdecore/tdeglobalsettings.h b/tdecore/tdeglobalsettings.h
index a6208d0ec..74b0d77a8 100644
--- a/tdecore/tdeglobalsettings.h
+++ b/tdecore/tdeglobalsettings.h
@@ -569,6 +569,12 @@ class TDECORE_EXPORT TDEGlobalSettings
     static int buttonLayout();
 
 private:
+    /**
+     * global initialization - should only include paths initialization
+     *
+     * The method is primarily to ensure backward compatibility of the API.
+     */
+    static void initStatic();
     /**
      * reads in all paths from kdeglobals
      */