diff --git a/plasmoid/lib/syncthingapplet.cpp b/plasmoid/lib/syncthingapplet.cpp
index b215d5f..ebb56ce 100644
--- a/plasmoid/lib/syncthingapplet.cpp
+++ b/plasmoid/lib/syncthingapplet.cpp
@@ -98,8 +98,6 @@ void SyncthingApplet::init()
 
     // restore settings
     Settings::restore();
-    // load primary connection config
-    setCurrentConnectionConfigIndex(config().readEntry<int>("selectedConfig", 0));
 
     // initialize systemd service support
 #ifdef LIB_SYNCTHING_CONNECTOR_SUPPORT_SYSTEMD
@@ -110,6 +108,9 @@ void SyncthingApplet::init()
     connect(&m_service, &SyncthingService::errorOccurred, this, &SyncthingApplet::handleSystemdServiceError);
 #endif
 
+    // load primary connection config
+    m_currentConnectionConfig = config().readEntry<int>("selectedConfig", 0);
+
     // apply settings and connect according to settings
     handleSettingsChanged();
 
diff --git a/tray/application/main.cpp b/tray/application/main.cpp
index 021d84d..2a359b7 100644
--- a/tray/application/main.cpp
+++ b/tray/application/main.cpp
@@ -56,9 +56,10 @@ int initSyncthingTray(bool windowed, bool waitForTray, const char *connectionCon
     // handle "windowed" case
     if (windowed) {
         settings.launcher.autostart();
-        auto *const trayWidget = new TrayWidget(connectionConfigQStr);
+        auto *const trayWidget = new TrayWidget();
         trayWidget->setAttribute(Qt::WA_DeleteOnClose);
         trayWidget->show();
+        trayWidget->applySettings(connectionConfigQStr);
         return 0;
     }
 
diff --git a/tray/gui/trayicon.cpp b/tray/gui/trayicon.cpp
index f80eb65..5a97b69 100644
--- a/tray/gui/trayicon.cpp
+++ b/tray/gui/trayicon.cpp
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ namespace QtGui {
  */
 TrayIcon::TrayIcon(const QString &connectionConfig, QObject *parent)
     : QSystemTrayIcon(parent)
-    , m_trayMenu(connectionConfig, this)
+    , m_trayMenu(this)
 #ifdef QT_UTILITIES_SUPPORT_DBUS_NOTIFICATIONS
     , m_dbusNotificationsEnabled(Settings::values().dbusNotifications)
 #endif
@@ -104,6 +104,10 @@ TrayIcon::TrayIcon(const QString &connectionConfig, QObject *parent)
     connect(&m_dbusNotifier, &DBusStatusNotifier::webUiRequested, &widget, &TrayWidget::showWebUi);
     connect(&notifier, &SyncthingNotifier::connected, &m_dbusNotifier, &DBusStatusNotifier::hideDisconnect);
 #endif
+
+    // apply settings, this also establishes the connection to Syncthing (according to settings)
+    // note: it is important to apply settings after all Signals & Slots have been connected (eg. to handle SyncthingConnection::error())
+    m_trayMenu.widget().applySettings(connectionConfig);
 }
 
 /*!
diff --git a/tray/gui/traymenu.cpp b/tray/gui/traymenu.cpp
index 179ba9a..63998df 100644
--- a/tray/gui/traymenu.cpp
+++ b/tray/gui/traymenu.cpp
@@ -11,14 +11,14 @@
 
 namespace QtGui {
 
-TrayMenu::TrayMenu(const QString &connectionConfig, TrayIcon *trayIcon, QWidget *parent)
+TrayMenu::TrayMenu(TrayIcon *trayIcon, QWidget *parent)
     : QMenu(parent)
     , m_trayIcon(trayIcon)
 {
     auto *const menuLayout = new QHBoxLayout;
     menuLayout->setMargin(0);
     menuLayout->setSpacing(0);
-    menuLayout->addWidget(m_trayWidget = new TrayWidget(connectionConfig, this));
+    menuLayout->addWidget(m_trayWidget = new TrayWidget(this));
     setLayout(menuLayout);
     setPlatformMenu(nullptr);
 }
diff --git a/tray/gui/traymenu.h b/tray/gui/traymenu.h
index c709e59..97707b7 100644
--- a/tray/gui/traymenu.h
+++ b/tray/gui/traymenu.h
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ class TrayMenu : public QMenu {
     Q_OBJECT
 
 public:
-    TrayMenu(const QString &connectionConfig = QString(), TrayIcon *trayIcon = nullptr, QWidget *parent = nullptr);
+    TrayMenu(TrayIcon *trayIcon = nullptr, QWidget *parent = nullptr);
 
     QSize sizeHint() const;
     TrayWidget &widget();
diff --git a/tray/gui/traywidget.cpp b/tray/gui/traywidget.cpp
index 9143016..b11efae 100644
--- a/tray/gui/traywidget.cpp
+++ b/tray/gui/traywidget.cpp
@@ -55,8 +55,11 @@ vector<TrayWidget *> TrayWidget::m_instances;
 
 /*!
  * \brief Instantiates a new tray widget.
+ * \remarks Doesn't apply the settings (and won't connect according to settings). This must be done manually by calling
+ *          TrayWidget::applySettings(). This allows postponing connecting until all signals of the TrayWidget::connection()
+ *          are connected as required.
  */
-TrayWidget::TrayWidget(const QString &connectionConfig, TrayMenu *parent)
+TrayWidget::TrayWidget(TrayMenu *parent)
     : QWidget(parent)
     , m_menu(parent)
     , m_ui(new Ui::TrayWidget)
@@ -122,9 +125,6 @@ TrayWidget::TrayWidget(const QString &connectionConfig, TrayMenu *parent)
     m_notificationsMenu->addAction(m_ui->actionDismissNotifications);
     m_ui->notificationsPushButton->setMenu(m_notificationsMenu);
 
-    // apply settings, this also establishes the connection to Syncthing (according to settings)
-    applySettings(connectionConfig);
-
     // setup other widgets
     m_ui->notificationsPushButton->setHidden(true);
     m_ui->trafficIconLabel->setPixmap(
diff --git a/tray/gui/traywidget.h b/tray/gui/traywidget.h
index 7ae261a..ffc769a 100644
--- a/tray/gui/traywidget.h
+++ b/tray/gui/traywidget.h
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ class TrayWidget : public QWidget {
     Q_OBJECT
 
 public:
-    TrayWidget(const QString &connectionConfig = QString(), TrayMenu *parent = nullptr);
+    TrayWidget(TrayMenu *parent = nullptr);
     ~TrayWidget();
 
     Data::SyncthingConnection &connection();
@@ -63,10 +63,10 @@ public slots:
     void dismissNotifications();
     void restartSyncthing();
     void quitTray();
+    void applySettings(const QString &connectionConfig = QString());
 
 private slots:
     void handleStatusChanged(Data::SyncthingStatus status);
-    void applySettings(const QString &connectionConfig = QString());
     static void applySettingsOnAllInstances();
     void openDir(const Data::SyncthingDir &dir);
     void openItemDir(const Data::SyncthingItemDownloadProgress &item);