diff --git a/src/libs/utils/fancylineedit.cpp b/src/libs/utils/fancylineedit.cpp
index 03e33c67b67..443845e7801 100644
--- a/src/libs/utils/fancylineedit.cpp
+++ b/src/libs/utils/fancylineedit.cpp
@@ -115,6 +115,7 @@ public:
 
     const QColor m_okTextColor;
     const QColor m_errorTextColor;
+    const QColor m_placeholderTextColor;
     QString m_errorMessage;
 };
 
@@ -123,7 +124,9 @@ FancyLineEditPrivate::FancyLineEditPrivate(FancyLineEdit *parent) :
     m_lineEdit(parent),
     m_completionShortcut(completionShortcut()->key(), parent),
     m_okTextColor(creatorTheme()->color(Theme::TextColorNormal)),
-    m_errorTextColor(creatorTheme()->color(Theme::TextColorError))
+    m_errorTextColor(creatorTheme()->color(Theme::TextColorError)),
+    m_placeholderTextColor(creatorTheme()->color(Theme::PalettePlaceholderText))
+
 {
     m_completionShortcut.setContext(Qt::WidgetShortcut);
     connect(completionShortcut(), &CompletionShortcut::keyChanged,
@@ -485,15 +488,18 @@ void FancyLineEdit::validate()
         setToolTip(d->m_errorMessage);
         d->m_toolTipSet = true;
     }
-    // Changed..figure out if valid changed. DisplayingPlaceholderText is not valid,
-    // but should not show error color. Also trigger on the first change.
+    // Changed..figure out if valid changed. Also trigger on the first change.
+    // Invalid DisplayingPlaceholderText shows also error color.
     if (newState != d->m_state || d->m_firstChange) {
         const bool validHasChanged = (d->m_state == Valid) != (newState == Valid);
         d->m_state = newState;
         d->m_firstChange = false;
 
         QPalette p = palette();
-        p.setColor(QPalette::Active, QPalette::Text, newState == Invalid ? d->m_errorTextColor : d->m_okTextColor);
+        p.setColor(QPalette::Active, QPalette::Text,
+            newState == Invalid ? d->m_errorTextColor : d->m_okTextColor);
+        p.setColor(QPalette::Active, QPalette::PlaceholderText,
+            validates ? d->m_placeholderTextColor : d->m_errorTextColor);
         setPalette(p);
 
         if (validHasChanged)