diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/debuggermainwindow.cpp b/src/plugins/debugger/debuggermainwindow.cpp
index 8f67819c0c2..1bbb40af7b2 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/debuggermainwindow.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/debuggermainwindow.cpp
@@ -463,7 +463,12 @@ Perspective::~Perspective()
 {
     foreach (const Operation &operation, m_operations)
         delete operation.widget;
-    delete m_centralWidget;
+}
+
+void Perspective::setCentralWidget(QWidget *centralWidget)
+{
+    QTC_ASSERT(m_centralWidget == nullptr, return);
+    m_centralWidget = centralWidget;
 }
 
 QString Perspective::name() const
@@ -523,9 +528,8 @@ Perspective::Operation::Operation(const QByteArray &dockId, QWidget *widget, con
       operationType(splitType), visibleByDefault(visibleByDefault), area(area)
 {}
 
-Perspective::Perspective(const QString &name, const QVector<Operation> &splits,
-                         QWidget *centralWidget)
-    : m_name(name), m_operations(splits), m_centralWidget(centralWidget)
+Perspective::Perspective(const QString &name, const QVector<Operation> &splits)
+    : m_name(name), m_operations(splits)
 {
     for (const Operation &split : splits)
         m_docks.append(split.dockId);
diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/debuggermainwindow.h b/src/plugins/debugger/debuggermainwindow.h
index c68cb437e54..af2610bd644 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/debuggermainwindow.h
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/debuggermainwindow.h
@@ -69,12 +69,12 @@ public:
     };
 
     Perspective() = default;
-    // Takes ownership of \a centralWidget and all dock widgets in \a operations.
+    // Takes ownership of all dock widgets in \a operations.
     Perspective(const QString &name,
-                const QVector<Operation> &operations = {},
-                QWidget *centralWidget = nullptr);
+                const QVector<Operation> &operations = {});
     ~Perspective();
 
+    void setCentralWidget(QWidget *centralWidget);
     void addOperation(const Operation &operation);
     void addWindow(QWidget *widget,
                    OperationType op,