diff --git a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/devicesupport/desktopdevice.cpp b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/devicesupport/desktopdevice.cpp
index 455783855bf..44e357a298f 100644
--- a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/devicesupport/desktopdevice.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/devicesupport/desktopdevice.cpp
@@ -173,4 +173,9 @@ QUrl DesktopDevice::toolControlChannel(const ControlChannelHint &) const
     return url;
 }
 
+bool DesktopDevice::handlesFile(const FilePath &filePath) const
+{
+    return !filePath.needsDevice();
+}
+
 } // namespace ProjectExplorer
diff --git a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/devicesupport/desktopdevice.h b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/devicesupport/desktopdevice.h
index aacea5f9c7f..fd3ac7bf851 100644
--- a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/devicesupport/desktopdevice.h
+++ b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/devicesupport/desktopdevice.h
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ public:
     DeviceProcessSignalOperation::Ptr signalOperation() const override;
     DeviceEnvironmentFetcher::Ptr environmentFetcher() const override;
     QUrl toolControlChannel(const ControlChannelHint &) const override;
+    bool handlesFile(const Utils::FilePath &filePath) const override;
 
 protected:
     DesktopDevice();