diff --git a/src/plugins/cmakeprojectmanager/cmakebuildstep.cpp b/src/plugins/cmakeprojectmanager/cmakebuildstep.cpp
index 581adade966..68b514d6f13 100644
--- a/src/plugins/cmakeprojectmanager/cmakebuildstep.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/cmakeprojectmanager/cmakebuildstep.cpp
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ CMakeBuildStep::CMakeBuildStep(BuildStepList *bsl) :
     if (m_buildTarget.isEmpty())
         setBuildTarget(defaultBuildTarget());
 
-    setLowPriorityIfConfigured();
+    setLowPriority();
 
     connect(target(), &Target::kitChanged, this, &CMakeBuildStep::cmakeCommandChanged);
     connect(project(), &Project::parsingFinished,
diff --git a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/abstractprocessstep.cpp b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/abstractprocessstep.cpp
index ce16dea25f7..fe3cb141189 100644
--- a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/abstractprocessstep.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/abstractprocessstep.cpp
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ void AbstractProcessStep::doRun()
     d->m_process->setWorkingDirectory(wd.absolutePath());
     d->m_process->setEnvironment(d->m_param.environment());
     d->m_process->setCommand(effectiveCommand);
-    if (d->m_lowPriority)
+    if (d->m_lowPriority && ProjectExplorerPlugin::projectExplorerSettings().lowBuildPriority)
         d->m_process->setLowPriority();
 
     connect(d->m_process.get(), &QProcess::readyReadStandardOutput,
@@ -251,10 +251,9 @@ void AbstractProcessStep::doRun()
     processStarted();
 }
 
-void AbstractProcessStep::setLowPriorityIfConfigured()
+void AbstractProcessStep::setLowPriority()
 {
-    if (ProjectExplorerPlugin::projectExplorerSettings().lowBuildPriority)
-        d->m_lowPriority = true;
+    d->m_lowPriority = true;
 }
 
 void AbstractProcessStep::doCancel()
diff --git a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/abstractprocessstep.h b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/abstractprocessstep.h
index a4a0350b20c..3cc7aa8bf50 100644
--- a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/abstractprocessstep.h
+++ b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/abstractprocessstep.h
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ protected:
     ~AbstractProcessStep() override;
     bool init() override;
     void doRun() override;
-    void setLowPriorityIfConfigured();
+    void setLowPriority();
     virtual void finish(bool success);
 
     virtual void processStarted();
diff --git a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/makestep.cpp b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/makestep.cpp
index e8220b04a7f..64834f190b1 100644
--- a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/makestep.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/makestep.cpp
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ MakeStep::MakeStep(BuildStepList *parent, Core::Id id)
       m_userJobCount(defaultJobCount())
 {
     setDefaultDisplayName(defaultDisplayName());
-    setLowPriorityIfConfigured();
+    setLowPriority();
 }
 
 void MakeStep::setBuildTarget(const QString &buildTarget)
diff --git a/src/plugins/qmakeprojectmanager/qmakestep.cpp b/src/plugins/qmakeprojectmanager/qmakestep.cpp
index d55dfa15d3e..671a7ee3751 100644
--- a/src/plugins/qmakeprojectmanager/qmakestep.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/qmakeprojectmanager/qmakestep.cpp
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ QMakeStep::QMakeStep(BuildStepList *bsl) : AbstractProcessStep(bsl, Constants::Q
 {
     //: QMakeStep default display name
     setDefaultDisplayName(tr("qmake"));
-    setLowPriorityIfConfigured();
+    setLowPriority();
 }
 
 QmakeBuildConfiguration *QMakeStep::qmakeBuildConfiguration() const