diff -Nru hplip-3.22.4/ui5/ui_utils.py hplip-3.22.4.patched/ui5/ui_utils.py
--- hplip-3.22.4/ui5/ui_utils.py        2022-04-26 06:17:00.000000000 +0200
+++ hplip-3.22.4.patched/ui5/ui_utils.py        2022-06-20 10:08:24.597882779 +0200
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@
         else:
             QSettings.__init__(self, os.path.join(prop.user_dir,  'hplip.conf'),  QSettings.IniFormat)
 
-        self.systray_visible = SYSTRAY_VISIBLE_SHOW_ALWAYS
+        self.systray_visible = SYSTRAY_VISIBLE_HIDE_WHEN_INACTIVE
         self.systray_messages = SYSTRAY_MESSAGES_SHOW_ALL
         self.last_used_device_uri = ''
         self.last_used_printer = ''
@@ -214,8 +214,11 @@
         self.sync()
 
         self.beginGroup("settings")
-        self.systray_visible = value_int(self.value("systray_visible"))[0]
-        
+        if self.value("systray_visible") is not None:
+            self.systray_visible = value_int(self.value("systray_visible"))[0]
+        else:
+            self.systray_visible = SYSTRAY_VISIBLE_HIDE_WHEN_INACTIVE
+
         self.systray_messages = value_int(self.value("systray_messages"))[0]
  
         self.endGroup()