diff --git a/src/plugins/cpptools/compileroptionsbuilder.cpp b/src/plugins/cpptools/compileroptionsbuilder.cpp
index 0f0df8c86c3..b35645f9c5a 100644
--- a/src/plugins/cpptools/compileroptionsbuilder.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/cpptools/compileroptionsbuilder.cpp
@@ -579,9 +579,9 @@ QString CompilerOptionsBuilder::includeDirOptionForSystemPath(ProjectExplorer::H
         return QString("-F");
 
     if (m_useSystemHeader == UseSystemHeader::Yes)
-        return includeSystemPathOption;
+        return QString(includeSystemPathOption);
 
-    return includeUserPathOption;
+    return QString(includeUserPathOption);
 }
 
 void CompilerOptionsBuilder::addToolchainFlags()