diff --git a/tdecore/svgicons/ksvgiconengine.cpp b/tdecore/svgicons/ksvgiconengine.cpp
index 1a3004506..97e60fcb7 100644
--- a/tdecore/svgicons/ksvgiconengine.cpp
+++ b/tdecore/svgicons/ksvgiconengine.cpp
@@ -595,6 +595,10 @@ bool KSVGIconEngine::load(int width, int height, const TQString &path)
 
 	// Detect width and height
 	TQDomElement rootElement = rootNode.toElement();
+	bool recreatePainter = false;
+
+	// Create initial icon painter
+	d->painter = new KSVGIconPainter(width, height);
 
 	d->width = width; // this sets default for no width -> 100% case
 	if(rootElement.hasAttribute("width"))
@@ -604,6 +608,7 @@ bool KSVGIconEngine::load(int width, int height, const TQString &path)
 		if(!width) // no width set, use default
 		{
 			width = d->width;
+			recreatePainter = true;
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -615,13 +620,16 @@ bool KSVGIconEngine::load(int width, int height, const TQString &path)
 		if(!height) // no height set, use default
 		{
 			height = d->height;
+			recreatePainter = true;
 		}
 	}
 
-	// Create icon painter
-	d->painter = new KSVGIconPainter(width, height);
-
-	// Create icon painter
+	// Create final icon painter
+	if(recreatePainter)
+	{
+		delete d->painter;
+		d->painter = new KSVGIconPainter(width, height);
+	}
 	d->painter->setDrawWidth(static_cast<int>(d->width));
 	d->painter->setDrawHeight(static_cast<int>(d->height));