diff --git a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/buildaspects.cpp b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/buildaspects.cpp
index 968dba7093f..912f8857558 100644
--- a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/buildaspects.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/buildaspects.cpp
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ BuildDirectoryAspect::BuildDirectoryAspect() : d(new Private)
     setSettingsKey("ProjectExplorer.BuildConfiguration.BuildDirectory");
     setLabelText(tr("Build directory:"));
     setDisplayStyle(PathChooserDisplay);
-    setExpectedKind(Utils::PathChooser::Directory);
+    setExpectedKind(Utils::PathChooser::ExistingDirectory);
 }
 
 BuildDirectoryAspect::~BuildDirectoryAspect()