diff --git a/src/DockWidgetBase.cpp b/src/DockWidgetBase.cpp
index 9960cef6..1a74825b 100644
--- a/src/DockWidgetBase.cpp
+++ b/src/DockWidgetBase.cpp
@@ -52,7 +52,6 @@ DockWidgetBase::DockWidgetBase(const QString &name, Options options,
         qWarning() << Q_FUNC_INFO << "Name can't be null";
 
     setAttribute(Qt::WA_PendingMoveEvent, false);
-    qApp->installEventFilter(this);
 }
 
 DockWidgetBase::~DockWidgetBase()
@@ -541,16 +540,6 @@ void DockWidgetBase::updateFloatAction()
     d->updateFloatAction();
 }
 
-bool DockWidgetBase::eventFilter(QObject *watched, QEvent *event)
-{
-    const bool isWindowActivate = event->type() == QEvent::WindowActivate;
-    const bool isWindowDeactivate = event->type() == QEvent::WindowDeactivate;
-    if ((isWindowActivate || isWindowDeactivate) && watched == window())
-        Q_EMIT windowActiveAboutToChange(isWindowActivate);
-
-    return QWidgetAdapter::eventFilter(watched, event);
-}
-
 QPoint DockWidgetBase::Private::defaultCenterPosForFloating()
 {
     MainWindowBase::List mainWindows = DockRegistry::self()->mainwindows();
@@ -562,6 +551,16 @@ QPoint DockWidgetBase::Private::defaultCenterPosForFloating()
     return mw->geometry().center();
 }
 
+bool DockWidgetBase::Private::eventFilter(QObject *watched, QEvent *event)
+{
+    const bool isWindowActivate = event->type() == QEvent::WindowActivate;
+    const bool isWindowDeactivate = event->type() == QEvent::WindowDeactivate;
+    if ((isWindowActivate || isWindowDeactivate) && watched == q->window())
+        Q_EMIT q->windowActiveAboutToChange(isWindowActivate);
+
+    return QObject::eventFilter(watched, event);
+}
+
 void DockWidgetBase::Private::updateTitle()
 {
     if (q->isFloating())
diff --git a/src/DockWidgetBase.h b/src/DockWidgetBase.h
index 7218bfb9..b705fa04 100644
--- a/src/DockWidgetBase.h
+++ b/src/DockWidgetBase.h
@@ -463,9 +463,6 @@ protected:
     void onShown(bool spontaneous);
     void onHidden(bool spontaneous);
 
-    ///@reimp
-    bool eventFilter(QObject *, QEvent *) override;
-
 #ifndef PYTHON_BINDINGS //Pyside bug: https://bugreports.qt.io/projects/PYSIDE/issues/PYSIDE-1327
     void onCloseEvent(QCloseEvent *e) override;
     bool onResize(QSize newSize) override;
diff --git a/src/private/DockWidgetBase_p.h b/src/private/DockWidgetBase_p.h
index 3a2f9f23..0dab8fcf 100644
--- a/src/private/DockWidgetBase_p.h
+++ b/src/private/DockWidgetBase_p.h
@@ -18,12 +18,13 @@
 #include "Position_p.h"
 #include "FloatingWindow_p.h"
 
+#include <QCoreApplication>
 #include <QString>
 #include <QSize>
 
 namespace KDDockWidgets {
 
-class DockWidgetBase::Private
+class DockWidgetBase::Private : public QObject
 {
 public:
     Private(const QString &dockName, DockWidgetBase::Options options_,
@@ -56,6 +57,8 @@ public:
 
         toggleAction->setCheckable(true);
         floatAction->setCheckable(true);
+
+        qApp->installEventFilter(this);
     }
 
     void init()
@@ -96,6 +99,8 @@ public:
     void forceClose();
     QPoint defaultCenterPosForFloating();
 
+    bool eventFilter(QObject *watched, QEvent *event) override;
+
     void updateTitle();
     void toggle(bool enabled);
     void updateToggleAction();