diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.py b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.py
index acc0681628..1e7977a4fa 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ from PyQt5.Qt import (
     QWidget, QSizePolicy, QBrush, QPixmap, QSize, QPushButton, QVBoxLayout)
 
 from calibre import human_readable
+from calibre.constants import islinux, isbsd
 from calibre.gui2.preferences import ConfigWidgetBase, test_widget, CommaSeparatedList
 from calibre.gui2.preferences.look_feel_ui import Ui_Form
 from calibre.gui2 import config, gprefs, qt_app, open_local_file, question_dialog
@@ -179,6 +180,9 @@ class ConfigWidget(ConfigWidgetBase, Ui_Form):
         r('show_avg_rating', config)
         r('disable_animations', config)
         r('systray_icon', config, restart_required=True)
+        if islinux or isbsd:
+            self.opt_systray_icon.setEnabled(False)
+            self.opt_systray_icon.setText(_('System tray icon is disabled because of bugs in Qt 5'))
         r('show_splash_screen', gprefs)
         r('disable_tray_notification', config)
         r('use_roman_numerals_for_series_number', config)
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/ui.py b/src/calibre/gui2/ui.py
index e159af32a2..0dd569a736 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/ui.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/ui.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ from PyQt5.Qt import (Qt, QTimer, QHelpEvent, QAction,
                      QDialog, QSystemTrayIcon, QApplication)
 
 from calibre import prints, force_unicode
-from calibre.constants import __appname__, isosx, filesystem_encoding, DEBUG
+from calibre.constants import __appname__, isosx, filesystem_encoding, DEBUG, islinux, isbsd
 from calibre.utils.config import prefs, dynamic
 from calibre.utils.ipc.server import Server
 from calibre.db.legacy import LibraryDatabase
@@ -271,7 +271,10 @@ class Main(MainWindow, MainWindowMixin, DeviceMixin, EmailMixin,  # {{{
         self.system_tray_icon.setToolTip('calibre')
         self.system_tray_icon.tooltip_requested.connect(
                 self.job_manager.show_tooltip)
-        if not config['systray_icon']:
+        systray_ok = config['systray_icon'] and not (islinux or isbsd)
+        # System tray icons are broken on linux, see
+        # https://bugreports.qt-project.org/browse/QTBUG-31762
+        if not systray_ok:
             self.system_tray_icon.hide()
         else:
             self.system_tray_icon.show()