diff --git a/components/mobileshell/qml/widgets/notifications/NotificationsWidget.qml b/components/mobileshell/qml/widgets/notifications/NotificationsWidget.qml
index eea4d823..63bec1fa 100644
--- a/components/mobileshell/qml/widgets/notifications/NotificationsWidget.qml
+++ b/components/mobileshell/qml/widgets/notifications/NotificationsWidget.qml
@@ -124,9 +124,11 @@ Item {
             criteria: ViewSection.FullString
         }
 
+        // implement background clicking signal
         MouseArea {
             anchors.fill: parent
             onClicked: root.backgroundClicked()
+            z: -1 // ensure that this is below notification items so we don't steal button clicks
         }
         
         PlasmaExtras.PlaceholderMessage {