diff --git a/pkgs/kde/misc/kio-extras-kf5/default.nix b/pkgs/kde/misc/kio-extras-kf5/default.nix
index 9a08af3eb75c..9686c3fa5c44 100644
--- a/pkgs/kde/misc/kio-extras-kf5/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/kde/misc/kio-extras-kf5/default.nix
@@ -34,6 +34,12 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     libsForQt5.wrapQtAppsHook
   ];
 
+  # override ECM defaults that assume Qt6
+  # this can't be cmakeFlags because we need this to be set last so it wins
+  preConfigure = ''
+    appendToVar cmakeFlags "-DKDE_INSTALL_LOGGINGCATEGORIESDIR=${placeholder "out"}/share/qlogging-categories5"
+  '';
+
   buildInputs =
     with libsForQt5;
     with libsForQt5.__internalKF5;