diff --git a/lib/packagetest.pm b/lib/packagetest.pm
index a0a3e05d..7892bdfe 100644
--- a/lib/packagetest.pm
+++ b/lib/packagetest.pm
@@ -21,6 +21,10 @@ sub prepare_test_packages {
     assert_script_run 'curl -o /etc/yum.repos.d/openqa-testrepo-1.repo https://fedorapeople.org/groups/qa/openqa-repos/openqa-testrepo-1.repo';
     # install the test packages from repo1
     assert_script_run 'dnf -y --disablerepo=* --enablerepo=openqa-testrepo-1 install python3-kickstart';
+    if (get_var("DESKTOP") eq 'kde' && get_var("TEST") eq 'desktop_update_graphical') {
+        # kick pkcon so our special update will definitely get installed
+        assert_script_run 'pkcon refresh force';
+    }
 }
 
 # check our test packages installed correctly (this is a test that dnf
diff --git a/tests/desktop_update_graphical.pm b/tests/desktop_update_graphical.pm
index e436b68a..2ddbf945 100644
--- a/tests/desktop_update_graphical.pm
+++ b/tests/desktop_update_graphical.pm
@@ -39,8 +39,12 @@ sub run {
         }
     }
     assert_and_click 'desktop_package_tool_update';
-    # refresh updates
-    assert_and_click 'desktop_package_tool_update_refresh', '', 120;
+    # if this is KDE and it had already noticed the notification, we
+    # will already have the apply button at this point
+    unless (check_screen 'desktop_package_tool_update_apply', 5) {
+        # refresh updates
+        assert_and_click 'desktop_package_tool_update_refresh', '', 120;
+    }
     # wait for refresh, then apply updates, using a C-style loop so we
     # can reset it if needed due to RHBZ #1314991
     for (my $n = 1; $n < 6; $n++) {