diff --git a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/buildconfiguration.cpp b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/buildconfiguration.cpp
index fc8967aaa0b..9d36167625e 100644
--- a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/buildconfiguration.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/buildconfiguration.cpp
@@ -167,6 +167,10 @@ BuildConfiguration::BuildConfiguration(Target *target, Utils::Id id)
     expander->registerVariable("buildDir", Tr::tr("Build directory"),
             [this] { return buildDirectory().toUserOutput(); });
 
+    expander->registerFileVariables("BuildConfig:BuildDirectory",
+                                    Tr::tr("Build directory"),
+                                    [this] { return buildDirectory(); });
+
     expander->registerVariable("BuildConfig:Name", Tr::tr("Name of the build configuration"),
             [this] { return displayName(); });