diff --git a/panel/panelpluginsmodel.cpp b/panel/panelpluginsmodel.cpp
index 52f63665c..ac98efb98 100644
--- a/panel/panelpluginsmodel.cpp
+++ b/panel/panelpluginsmodel.cpp
@@ -284,7 +284,9 @@ QPointer<Plugin> PanelPluginsModel::loadPlugin(LXQt::PluginInfo const & desktopF
 
 QString PanelPluginsModel::findNewPluginSettingsGroup(const QString &pluginType) const
 {
-    QStringList groups = mPanel->settings()->childGroups();
+    QString userConfigDir = QStandardPaths::writableLocation(QStandardPaths::ConfigLocation);
+    QSettings userSettings(QStringLiteral("%1/lxqt/panel.conf").arg(userConfigDir), QSettings::IniFormat);
+    QStringList groups = userSettings.childGroups();
     groups.sort();
 
     // Generate new section name