diff --git a/qml/windowed/FreeSortListView.qml b/qml/windowed/FreeSortListView.qml
index 3bb6a2a4..78e06617 100644
--- a/qml/windowed/FreeSortListView.qml
+++ b/qml/windowed/FreeSortListView.qml
@@ -315,7 +315,10 @@ Item {
                 Drag.hotSpot.x: width / 3
                 Drag.hotSpot.y: height / 2
                 Drag.dragType: Drag.Automatic
-                Drag.active: mouseArea.drag.active
+                // Binding Drag.active to mouseArea.drag.active would make Drag.active
+                // read back the very property it drives (opacity/delayRemove/onActiveChanged),
+                // causing a QML binding loop. Set it imperatively from the MouseArea instead.
+                Drag.active: false
                 Drag.mimeData: Helper.generateDragMimeData(model.desktopId)
                 Drag.onActiveChanged: function() {
                     if (!Drag.active) {
@@ -341,6 +344,9 @@ Item {
 
                     acceptedButtons: Qt.LeftButton | Qt.RightButton
                     drag.target: dndTarget
+                    drag.onActiveChanged: function () {
+                        itemDelegate.Drag.active = drag.active
+                    }
 
                     TapHandler {
                         acceptedDevices: PointerDevice.TouchScreen
diff --git a/qml/windowed/IconItemDelegate.qml b/qml/windowed/IconItemDelegate.qml
index d5fa0ea7..9a8b403c 100644
--- a/qml/windowed/IconItemDelegate.qml
+++ b/qml/windowed/IconItemDelegate.qml
@@ -25,7 +25,11 @@ Control {
     signal menuTriggered()
 
     Drag.dragType: Drag.Automatic
-    Drag.active: mouseArea.drag.active
+    // Binding Drag.active to mouseArea.drag.active would make Drag.active read
+    // back the very property it drives (used in opacity/states below), causing a
+    // QML binding loop. Set it imperatively from the MouseArea's drag handler
+    // instead.
+    Drag.active: false
 
     states: State {
         name: "dragged";
@@ -52,6 +56,9 @@ Control {
             enabled: true
             acceptedButtons: Qt.LeftButton | Qt.RightButton
             drag.target: root.dndEnabled ? root : null
+            drag.onActiveChanged: function () {
+                root.Drag.active = drag.active
+            }
             onPressed: function (mouse) {
                 if (mouse.button === Qt.LeftButton && root.dndEnabled) {
                     appIcon.grabToImage(function(result) {