diff --git a/src/plugins/qmldesigner/components/navigator/navigatorsearchwidget.cpp b/src/plugins/qmldesigner/components/navigator/navigatorsearchwidget.cpp
index 01a77b67176..24d4377ef29 100644
--- a/src/plugins/qmldesigner/components/navigator/navigatorsearchwidget.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/qmldesigner/components/navigator/navigatorsearchwidget.cpp
@@ -91,6 +91,21 @@ void LineEdit::keyPressEvent(QKeyEvent *event)
     QLineEdit::keyPressEvent(event);
 }
 
+void LineEdit::paintEvent(QPaintEvent *event)
+{
+    if (text().isEmpty()) {
+        QPalette p(palette());
+        p.setColor(QPalette::Active,
+                   QPalette::PlaceholderText,
+                   Utils::creatorTheme()->color(Utils::Theme::DSplaceholderTextColor));
+        p.setColor(QPalette::Inactive,
+                   QPalette::PlaceholderText,
+                   Utils::creatorTheme()->color(Utils::Theme::DSplaceholderTextColor));
+        setPalette(p);
+    }
+    QLineEdit::paintEvent(event);
+}
+
 void LineEdit::updateClearButton(const QString& text)
 {
     clearButton->setVisible(!text.isEmpty());
diff --git a/src/plugins/qmldesigner/components/navigator/navigatorsearchwidget.h b/src/plugins/qmldesigner/components/navigator/navigatorsearchwidget.h
index b8a470c8fc3..6cc375fd552 100644
--- a/src/plugins/qmldesigner/components/navigator/navigatorsearchwidget.h
+++ b/src/plugins/qmldesigner/components/navigator/navigatorsearchwidget.h
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ public:
 protected:
     void resizeEvent(QResizeEvent *event) override;
     void keyPressEvent(QKeyEvent *event) override;
+    void paintEvent(QPaintEvent *event) override;
 
 private slots:
     void updateClearButton(const QString &text);