Abstract. We report the first unambiguous detection of the host galaxy of a normal radio-quiet QSO at high redshift in the K band. The luminosity of the host comprises about 35 per cent of the total K-band luminosity. Assuming the average colour of QSOs at z ≈ 2, the host would be about 5 to 6 mag brighter than an unevolved L* galaxy placed at z ≈ 2, and 3 to 4 mag brighter than a passively evolved L* galaxy at the same redshift. The luminosity of the host galaxy of the QSO would thus overlap with the highest found in radio-loud QSOs and radio galaxies at the same redshift.