diff --git a/startkde.cmake b/startkde.cmake
index 12d4a612..c878d9a9 100644
--- a/startkde.cmake
+++ b/startkde.cmake
@@ -220,14 +220,9 @@ fi
 # if the KDEWM environment variable has been set, then it will be used as KDE's
 # window manager instead of kwin.
 # if KDEWM is not set, ksmserver will ensure kwin is started.
-# kwrapper4 is used to reduce startup time and memory usage
-# kwrapper4 does not return useful error codes such as the exit code of ksmserver.
-# We only check for 255 which means that the ksmserver process could not be
-# started, any problems thereafter, e.g. ksmserver failing to initialize,
-# will remain undetected.
 test -n "$KDEWM" && KDEWM="--windowmanager $KDEWM"
-kwrapper4 ksmserver $KDEWM
-if test $? -eq 255; then
+ksmserver $KDEWM
+if test $? -ne 0; then
     # Startup error
     echo 'startkde: Could not start ksmserver. Check your installation.'  1>&2
     test -n "$ksplash_pid" && kill "$ksplash_pid" 2>/dev/null