Version: (using KDE KDE 3.5.6) Installed from: Ubuntu Packages OS: Linux Original report by ndwolf in Launchpad https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/kdebase/+bug/90956 Multiple problems in kicker system tray: 1) Enable 'place in system tray' option for one application. Launch the application and other application without that option at the same time. Problem: kicker displays the tray icon of application without 'place in system tray enabled'. 2) Enable 'place in system tray' option for two applications. Launch both applications at the same time. Problem: the first starting application has two icons in system tray. 3) Enable 'place in system tray' option for two applications. Launch one of that applications and wait for the tray icon. Then launch the other application and click several times on the icon of first application launched in system tray while the second application is loading. Problem: two icons of first application appear and none for the second.
I've experienced this behavior in every version of kde 3.x, I'm now using KDE 3.5.6 on Gentoo. If I place more than 1 shortcut in ~/.kde/Autostart/ and any of the shortcuts has the 'Place in system tray' option checked. When I log in the wrong icon is displayed in the system tray, and clicking the icon does nothing. If I have only 1 shortcut in ~/.kde/Autostart/, and it has the 'Place in system tray' option checked, it's icon is displayed correctly in the system tray and it responds correctly to mouse clicks.
Kicker is currently unmaintained, you can look to your distribution for help, however.