diff --git a/src/kitemviews/kfileitemmodel.cpp b/src/kitemviews/kfileitemmodel.cpp
index 9ef66d6b82..c694da9f25 100644
--- a/src/kitemviews/kfileitemmodel.cpp
+++ b/src/kitemviews/kfileitemmodel.cpp
@@ -352,6 +352,17 @@ bool KFileItemModel::supportsDropping(int index) const
     return !item.isNull() && DragAndDropHelper::supportsDropping(item);
 }
 
+bool KFileItemModel::canEnterOnHover(int index) const
+{
+    KFileItem item;
+    if (index == -1) {
+        item = rootItem();
+    } else {
+        item = fileItem(index);
+    }
+    return !item.isNull() && (item.isDir() || item.isDesktopFile());
+}
+
 QString KFileItemModel::roleDescription(const QByteArray &role) const
 {
     static QHash<QByteArray, QString> description;
diff --git a/src/kitemviews/kfileitemmodel.h b/src/kitemviews/kfileitemmodel.h
index ad1b0a1384..ce58f89acc 100644
--- a/src/kitemviews/kfileitemmodel.h
+++ b/src/kitemviews/kfileitemmodel.h
@@ -109,6 +109,8 @@ public:
 
     bool supportsDropping(int index) const override;
 
+    bool canEnterOnHover(int index) const override;
+
     QString roleDescription(const QByteArray &role) const override;
 
     QList<QPair<int, QVariant>> groups() const override;
diff --git a/src/kitemviews/kitemlistcontroller.cpp b/src/kitemviews/kitemlistcontroller.cpp
index aea59c7110..2a0641aa16 100644
--- a/src/kitemviews/kitemlistcontroller.cpp
+++ b/src/kitemviews/kitemlistcontroller.cpp
@@ -827,11 +827,12 @@ bool KItemListController::dragMoveEvent(QGraphicsSceneDragDropEvent *event, cons
                 Q_EMIT itemHovered(index);
             }
 
-            if (!m_autoActivationTimer->isActive() && m_autoActivationTimer->interval() >= 0) {
+            if (!m_autoActivationTimer->isActive() && m_autoActivationTimer->interval() >= 0 && m_model->canEnterOnHover(index)) {
                 m_autoActivationTimer->setProperty("index", index);
                 m_autoActivationTimer->start();
                 newHoveredWidget->startActivateSoonAnimation(m_autoActivationTimer->remainingTime());
             }
+
         } else {
             m_autoActivationTimer->stop();
             if (newHoveredWidget && newHoveredWidget->isHovered()) {
diff --git a/src/kitemviews/kitemmodelbase.cpp b/src/kitemviews/kitemmodelbase.cpp
index b49d4ebb1d..9fdecafb86 100644
--- a/src/kitemviews/kitemmodelbase.cpp
+++ b/src/kitemviews/kitemmodelbase.cpp
@@ -128,6 +128,12 @@ bool KItemModelBase::supportsDropping(int index) const
     return false;
 }
 
+bool KItemModelBase::canEnterOnHover(int index) const
+{
+    Q_UNUSED(index)
+    return false;
+}
+
 QString KItemModelBase::blacklistItemDropEventMimeType() const
 {
     return QStringLiteral("application/x-dolphin-blacklist-drop");
diff --git a/src/kitemviews/kitemmodelbase.h b/src/kitemviews/kitemmodelbase.h
index 4e1fd8a8fe..42a9c54c94 100644
--- a/src/kitemviews/kitemmodelbase.h
+++ b/src/kitemviews/kitemmodelbase.h
@@ -159,6 +159,15 @@ public:
     // decision whether it accepts the drop?
     virtual bool supportsDropping(int index) const;
 
+    /**
+     * @return True, if the item with the index \a index can be entered in during hover actions.
+     *         Per default false is returned.
+     *
+     *         This is used to check that if the item
+     *         we're hovering on is either directory or a desktop file.
+     */
+    virtual bool canEnterOnHover(int index) const;
+
     /**
      * @return An internal mimetype to signal that an itemDropEvent() should be rejected by
      *         the receiving model.