diff --git a/src/plugins/coreplugin/coreconstants.h b/src/plugins/coreplugin/coreconstants.h
index af71a99cd2e..cdfc0c06b06 100644
--- a/src/plugins/coreplugin/coreconstants.h
+++ b/src/plugins/coreplugin/coreconstants.h
@@ -253,6 +253,7 @@ const char * const SETTINGS_CATEGORY_CORE = "A.Core";
 const char * const SETTINGS_CATEGORY_CORE_ICON = ":/core/images/category_core.png";
 const char * const SETTINGS_TR_CATEGORY_CORE = QT_TRANSLATE_NOOP("Core", "Environment");
 const char * const SETTINGS_ID_ENVIRONMENT = "A.General";
+const char * const SETTINGS_ID_TOOLS = "G.ExternalTools";
 
 const char * const SETTINGS_DEFAULTTEXTENCODING = "General/DefaultFileEncoding";
 
diff --git a/src/plugins/coreplugin/externaltool.cpp b/src/plugins/coreplugin/externaltool.cpp
index 463ef810c6e..9b2b2ea3491 100644
--- a/src/plugins/coreplugin/externaltool.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/coreplugin/externaltool.cpp
@@ -47,7 +47,6 @@
 #include <QtCore/QFile>
 #include <QtCore/QDateTime>
 #include <QtGui/QMenu>
-#include <QtGui/QMenuItem>
 #include <QtGui/QAction>
 
 #include <QtDebug>
@@ -677,6 +676,11 @@ ExternalToolManager::~ExternalToolManager()
 
 void ExternalToolManager::initialize()
 {
+    m_configureSeparator = new QAction(this);
+    m_configureSeparator->setSeparator(true);
+    m_configureAction = new QAction(tr("Configure..."), this);
+    connect(m_configureAction, SIGNAL(triggered()), this, SLOT(openPreferences()));
+
     // add the external tools menu
     ActionManager *am = m_core->actionManager();
     ActionContainer *mexternaltools = am->createMenu(Id(Constants::M_TOOLS_EXTERNAL));
@@ -844,6 +848,10 @@ void ExternalToolManager::setToolsByCategory(const QMap<QString, QList<Internal:
     qDeleteAll(m_containers);
     // remember the new containers
     m_containers = newContainers;
+
+    // (re)add the configure menu item
+    mexternaltools->menu()->addAction(m_configureSeparator);
+    mexternaltools->menu()->addAction(m_configureAction);
 }
 
 void ExternalToolManager::readSettings(const QMap<QString, ExternalTool *> &tools,
@@ -901,3 +909,9 @@ void ExternalToolManager::writeSettings()
 
     settings->endGroup();
 }
+
+void ExternalToolManager::openPreferences()
+{
+    ICore::instance()->showOptionsDialog(QLatin1String(Core::Constants::SETTINGS_CATEGORY_CORE),
+                                         QLatin1String(Core::Constants::SETTINGS_ID_TOOLS));
+}
diff --git a/src/plugins/coreplugin/externaltool.h b/src/plugins/coreplugin/externaltool.h
index 4c39c9628f1..92b0074e575 100644
--- a/src/plugins/coreplugin/externaltool.h
+++ b/src/plugins/coreplugin/externaltool.h
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@
 #include <QtCore/QProcess>
 #include <QtCore/QSharedPointer>
 #include <QtCore/QTextCodec>
+#include <QtGui/QMenu>
 
 namespace Core {
 namespace Internal {
@@ -176,6 +177,7 @@ signals:
 
 private slots:
     void menuActivated();
+    void openPreferences();
 
 private:
     void initialize();
@@ -193,6 +195,8 @@ private:
     QMap<QString, QList<Internal::ExternalTool *> > m_categoryMap;
     QMap<QString, QAction *> m_actions;
     QMap<QString, ActionContainer *> m_containers;
+    QAction *m_configureSeparator;
+    QAction *m_configureAction;
 
     // for sending the replaceSelectionRequested signal
     friend class Core::Internal::ExternalToolRunner;
diff --git a/src/plugins/coreplugin/toolsettings.cpp b/src/plugins/coreplugin/toolsettings.cpp
index 8aed27469fa..3ad24f04eb7 100644
--- a/src/plugins/coreplugin/toolsettings.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/coreplugin/toolsettings.cpp
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ ToolSettings::ToolSettings(QObject *parent) :
 
 QString ToolSettings::id() const
 {
-    return QLatin1String("G.ExternalTools");
+    return QLatin1String(Core::Constants::SETTINGS_ID_TOOLS);
 }