diff --git a/src/plugins/autotest/autotestplugin.cpp b/src/plugins/autotest/autotestplugin.cpp
index f18f30c14e5..cb318c96b6a 100644
--- a/src/plugins/autotest/autotestplugin.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/autotest/autotestplugin.cpp
@@ -94,7 +94,6 @@ public:
     void onRunFileTriggered();
     void onRunUnderCursorTriggered(TestRunMode mode);
 
-    TestSettings m_settings;
     TestSettingsPage m_testSettingPage;
 
     TestCodeParser m_testCodeParser;
@@ -149,7 +148,7 @@ AutotestPluginPrivate::AutotestPluginPrivate()
     });
     ProjectExplorer::ProjectPanelFactory::registerFactory(panelFactory);
 
-    TestFrameworkManager::activateFrameworksAndToolsFromSettings(&m_settings);
+    TestFrameworkManager::activateFrameworksAndToolsFromSettings();
     m_testTreeModel.synchronizeTestFrameworks();
     m_testTreeModel.synchronizeTestTools();
 
diff --git a/src/plugins/autotest/boost/boosttestconfiguration.cpp b/src/plugins/autotest/boost/boosttestconfiguration.cpp
index 768161a5c0c..088506199c8 100644
--- a/src/plugins/autotest/boost/boosttestconfiguration.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/autotest/boost/boosttestconfiguration.cpp
@@ -88,17 +88,17 @@ QStringList BoostTestConfiguration::argumentsForTestRunner(QStringList *omitted)
 {
     auto boostSettings = static_cast<BoostTestSettings *>(framework()->testSettings());
     QStringList arguments;
-    arguments << "-l" << BoostTestSettings::logLevelToOption(LogLevel(boostSettings->logLevel.value()));
-    arguments << "-r" << BoostTestSettings::reportLevelToOption(ReportLevel(boostSettings->reportLevel.value()));
+    arguments << "-l" << BoostTestSettings::logLevelToOption(LogLevel(boostSettings->logLevel()));
+    arguments << "-r" << BoostTestSettings::reportLevelToOption(ReportLevel(boostSettings->reportLevel()));
 
-    if (boostSettings->randomize.value())
-        arguments << QString("--random=").append(QString::number(boostSettings->seed.value()));
+    if (boostSettings->randomize())
+        arguments << QString("--random=").append(QString::number(boostSettings->seed()));
 
-    if (boostSettings->systemErrors.value())
+    if (boostSettings->systemErrors())
         arguments << "-s";
-    if (boostSettings->fpExceptions.value())
+    if (boostSettings->fpExceptions())
         arguments << "--detect_fp_exceptions";
-    if (!boostSettings->memLeaks.value())
+    if (!boostSettings->memLeaks())
         arguments << "--detect_memory_leaks=0";
 
     // TODO improve the test case gathering and arguments building to avoid too long command lines
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ QStringList BoostTestConfiguration::argumentsForTestRunner(QStringList *omitted)
             arguments << "-t" << "\"" + test + "\"";
     }
 
-    if (TestSettings::instance()->processArgs()) {
+    if (testSettings().processArgs()) {
         arguments << filterInterfering(runnable().command.arguments().split(
                                            ' ', Qt::SkipEmptyParts), omitted);
     }
diff --git a/src/plugins/autotest/catch/catchconfiguration.cpp b/src/plugins/autotest/catch/catchconfiguration.cpp
index a5036398688..0cb9aef7c5c 100644
--- a/src/plugins/autotest/catch/catchconfiguration.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/autotest/catch/catchconfiguration.cpp
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ QStringList CatchConfiguration::argumentsForTestRunner(QStringList *omitted) con
         arguments << "\"" + testCases().join("\", \"") + "\"";
     arguments << "--reporter" << "xml";
 
-    if (TestSettings::instance()->processArgs()) {
+    if (testSettings().processArgs()) {
         arguments << filterInterfering(runnable().command.arguments().split(
                                            ' ', Qt::SkipEmptyParts), omitted);
     }
diff --git a/src/plugins/autotest/ctest/ctesttreeitem.cpp b/src/plugins/autotest/ctest/ctesttreeitem.cpp
index 9ffc06b028e..d95838a5a79 100644
--- a/src/plugins/autotest/ctest/ctesttreeitem.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/autotest/ctest/ctesttreeitem.cpp
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ QList<ITestConfiguration *> CTestTreeItem::testConfigurationsFor(const QStringLi
         return {};
 
     const ProjectExplorer::BuildSystem *buildSystem = target->buildSystem();
-    QStringList options{"--timeout", QString::number(TestSettings::instance()->timeout() / 1000)};
+    QStringList options{"--timeout", QString::number(testSettings().timeout() / 1000)};
     auto ctestSettings = static_cast<CTestSettings *>(testBase()->testSettings());
     options << ctestSettings->activeSettingsAsOptions();
     CommandLine command = buildSystem->commandLineForTests(selected, options);
diff --git a/src/plugins/autotest/gtest/gtestconfiguration.cpp b/src/plugins/autotest/gtest/gtestconfiguration.cpp
index 8680da1fcaf..c2a6b4c0d08 100644
--- a/src/plugins/autotest/gtest/gtestconfiguration.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/autotest/gtest/gtestconfiguration.cpp
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ QStringList filterInterfering(const QStringList &provided, QStringList *omitted)
 QStringList GTestConfiguration::argumentsForTestRunner(QStringList *omitted) const
 {
     QStringList arguments;
-    if (TestSettings::instance()->processArgs()) {
+    if (testSettings().processArgs()) {
         arguments << filterInterfering(runnable().command.arguments().split(
                                            ' ', Qt::SkipEmptyParts), omitted);
     }
diff --git a/src/plugins/autotest/qtest/qttest_utils.cpp b/src/plugins/autotest/qtest/qttest_utils.cpp
index 9bedaa64c37..e40f50448c3 100644
--- a/src/plugins/autotest/qtest/qttest_utils.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/autotest/qtest/qttest_utils.cpp
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ Environment prepareBasicEnvironment(const Environment &env)
         result.set("QT_FORCE_STDERR_LOGGING", "1");
         result.set("QT_LOGGING_TO_CONSOLE", "1");
     }
-    const int timeout = TestSettings::instance()->timeout();
+    const int timeout = testSettings().timeout();
     if (timeout > 5 * 60 * 1000) // Qt5.5 introduced hard limit, Qt5.6.1 added env var to raise this
         result.set("QTEST_FUNCTION_TIMEOUT", QString::number(timeout));
     return result;
diff --git a/src/plugins/autotest/qtest/qttestconfiguration.cpp b/src/plugins/autotest/qtest/qttestconfiguration.cpp
index 5dcf59a48e1..9648e69d547 100644
--- a/src/plugins/autotest/qtest/qttestconfiguration.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/autotest/qtest/qttestconfiguration.cpp
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ TestOutputReader *QtTestConfiguration::createOutputReader(Process *app) const
 QStringList QtTestConfiguration::argumentsForTestRunner(QStringList *omitted) const
 {
     QStringList arguments;
-    if (TestSettings::instance()->processArgs()) {
+    if (testSettings().processArgs()) {
         arguments.append(QTestUtils::filterInterfering(
                              runnable().command.arguments().split(' ', Qt::SkipEmptyParts),
                              omitted, false));
diff --git a/src/plugins/autotest/quick/quicktestconfiguration.cpp b/src/plugins/autotest/quick/quicktestconfiguration.cpp
index e37b208ac44..f757dfb0255 100644
--- a/src/plugins/autotest/quick/quicktestconfiguration.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/autotest/quick/quicktestconfiguration.cpp
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ TestOutputReader *QuickTestConfiguration::createOutputReader(Process *app) const
 QStringList QuickTestConfiguration::argumentsForTestRunner(QStringList *omitted) const
 {
     QStringList arguments;
-    if (TestSettings::instance()->processArgs()) {
+    if (testSettings().processArgs()) {
         arguments.append(QTestUtils::filterInterfering
                          (runnable().command.arguments().split(' ', Qt::SkipEmptyParts),
                           omitted, true));
diff --git a/src/plugins/autotest/testcodeparser.cpp b/src/plugins/autotest/testcodeparser.cpp
index ec4a3080cc3..2648d63cd03 100644
--- a/src/plugins/autotest/testcodeparser.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/autotest/testcodeparser.cpp
@@ -361,7 +361,7 @@ void TestCodeParser::scanForTests(const QSet<FilePath> &filePaths,
 
     using namespace Tasking;
 
-    int limit = TestSettings::instance()->scanThreadLimit();
+    int limit = testSettings().scanThreadLimit();
     if (limit == 0)
         limit = std::max(QThread::idealThreadCount() / 4, 1);
     qCDebug(LOG) << "Using" << limit << "threads for scan.";
diff --git a/src/plugins/autotest/testframeworkmanager.cpp b/src/plugins/autotest/testframeworkmanager.cpp
index 9b426abf28e..26f455cf9b5 100644
--- a/src/plugins/autotest/testframeworkmanager.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/autotest/testframeworkmanager.cpp
@@ -45,15 +45,15 @@ bool TestFrameworkManager::registerTestTool(ITestTool *testTool)
     return true;
 }
 
-void TestFrameworkManager::activateFrameworksAndToolsFromSettings(
-        const Internal::TestSettings *settings)
+void TestFrameworkManager::activateFrameworksAndToolsFromSettings()
 {
+    const Internal::TestSettings &settings = Internal::testSettings();
     for (ITestFramework *framework : std::as_const(s_instance->m_registeredFrameworks)) {
-        framework->setActive(settings->frameworks.value(framework->id(), false));
-        framework->setGrouping(settings->frameworksGrouping.value(framework->id(), false));
+        framework->setActive(settings.frameworks.value(framework->id(), false));
+        framework->setGrouping(settings.frameworksGrouping.value(framework->id(), false));
     }
     for (ITestTool *testTool : std::as_const(s_instance->m_registeredTestTools))
-        testTool->setActive(settings->tools.value(testTool->id(), false));
+        testTool->setActive(settings.tools.value(testTool->id(), false));
 }
 
 const TestFrameworks TestFrameworkManager::registeredFrameworks()
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ ITestTool *TestFrameworkManager::testToolForBuildSystemId(Id buildSystemId)
 
 void TestFrameworkManager::synchronizeSettings()
 {
-    Internal::TestSettings::instance()->fromSettings();
+    Internal::testSettings().fromSettings();
     for (ITestFramework *framework : std::as_const(m_registeredFrameworks)) {
         if (ITestSettings *fSettings = framework->testSettings())
             fSettings->readSettings();
diff --git a/src/plugins/autotest/testframeworkmanager.h b/src/plugins/autotest/testframeworkmanager.h
index 62bb19d9474..e42001dc2d4 100644
--- a/src/plugins/autotest/testframeworkmanager.h
+++ b/src/plugins/autotest/testframeworkmanager.h
@@ -6,9 +6,6 @@
 #include "itestframework.h"
 
 namespace Autotest {
-namespace Internal {
-class TestSettings;
-}
 
 class TestFrameworkManager final
 {
@@ -24,7 +21,7 @@ public:
     static ITestFramework *frameworkForId(Utils::Id frameworkId);
     static ITestTool *testToolForId(Utils::Id testToolId);
     static ITestTool *testToolForBuildSystemId(Utils::Id buildSystemId);
-    static void activateFrameworksAndToolsFromSettings(const Internal::TestSettings *settings);
+    static void activateFrameworksAndToolsFromSettings();
     static const TestFrameworks registeredFrameworks();
     static const TestTools registeredTestTools();
 
diff --git a/src/plugins/autotest/testresultdelegate.cpp b/src/plugins/autotest/testresultdelegate.cpp
index c14b6c17032..14fe1f646f9 100644
--- a/src/plugins/autotest/testresultdelegate.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/autotest/testresultdelegate.cpp
@@ -161,10 +161,10 @@ void TestResultDelegate::clearCache()
 
 void TestResultDelegate::limitTextOutput(QString &output) const
 {
-    int maxLineCount = Internal::TestSettings::instance()->resultDescriptionMaxSize();
+    int maxLineCount = testSettings().resultDescriptionMaxSize();
     bool limited = false;
 
-    if (Internal::TestSettings::instance()->limitResultDescription() && maxLineCount > 0) {
+    if (testSettings().limitResultDescription() && maxLineCount > 0) {
         int index = -1;
         int lastChar = output.size() - 1;
 
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ void TestResultDelegate::limitTextOutput(QString &output) const
         }
     }
 
-    if (TestSettings::instance()->limitResultOutput() && output.length() > outputLimit) {
+    if (testSettings().limitResultOutput() && output.length() > outputLimit) {
         output = output.left(outputLimit);
         limited = true;
     }
diff --git a/src/plugins/autotest/testresultmodel.cpp b/src/plugins/autotest/testresultmodel.cpp
index 05e3c979234..bca407b0375 100644
--- a/src/plugins/autotest/testresultmodel.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/autotest/testresultmodel.cpp
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ void TestResultModel::addTestResult(const TestResult &testResult, bool autoExpan
 
     TestResultItem *newItem = new TestResultItem(testResult);
     TestResultItem *root = nullptr;
-    if (TestSettings::instance()->displayApplication()) {
+    if (testSettings().displayApplication()) {
         const QString application = testResult.id();
         if (!application.isEmpty()) {
             root = rootItem()->findFirstLevelChild([&application](TestResultItem *child) {
diff --git a/src/plugins/autotest/testresultspane.cpp b/src/plugins/autotest/testresultspane.cpp
index 457b273a4a1..7fdbcd6dac3 100644
--- a/src/plugins/autotest/testresultspane.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/autotest/testresultspane.cpp
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ void TestResultsPane::clearContents()
     setIconBadgeNumber(0);
     navigateStateChanged();
     m_summaryWidget->setVisible(false);
-    m_autoScroll = TestSettings::instance()->autoScroll();
+    m_autoScroll = testSettings().autoScroll();
     connect(m_treeView->verticalScrollBar(), &QScrollBar::rangeChanged,
             this, &TestResultsPane::onScrollBarRangeChanged, Qt::UniqueConnection);
     m_textOutput->clear();
@@ -437,7 +437,7 @@ void TestResultsPane::onRunSelectedTriggered()
 
 void TestResultsPane::initializeFilterMenu()
 {
-    const bool omitIntern = TestSettings::instance()->omitInternalMsg();
+    const bool omitIntern = testSettings().omitInternalMsg();
     // FilterModel has all messages enabled by default
     if (omitIntern)
         m_filterModel->toggleTestResultType(ResultType::MessageInternal);
@@ -553,8 +553,7 @@ void TestResultsPane::onTestRunFinished()
     m_model->removeCurrentTestMessage();
     disconnect(m_treeView->verticalScrollBar(), &QScrollBar::rangeChanged,
                this, &TestResultsPane::onScrollBarRangeChanged);
-    if (TestSettings::instance()->popupOnFinish()
-            && (!TestSettings::instance()->popupOnFail() || hasFailedTests(m_model))) {
+    if (testSettings().popupOnFinish() && (!testSettings().popupOnFail() || hasFailedTests(m_model))) {
         popup(IOutputPane::NoModeSwitch);
     }
     createMarks();
diff --git a/src/plugins/autotest/testrunner.cpp b/src/plugins/autotest/testrunner.cpp
index d3b62afcbfb..f1a878a23cc 100644
--- a/src/plugins/autotest/testrunner.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/autotest/testrunner.cpp
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ static RunConfiguration *getRunConfiguration(const QString &buildTargetKey)
 
 int TestRunner::precheckTestConfigurations()
 {
-    const bool omitWarnings = TestSettings::instance()->omitRunConfigWarn();
+    const bool omitWarnings = testSettings().omitRunConfigWarn();
     int testCaseCount = 0;
     for (ITestConfiguration *itc : std::as_const(m_selectedTests)) {
         if (itc->testBase()->type() == ITestBase::Tool) {
@@ -402,7 +402,7 @@ void TestRunner::runTestsHelper()
             }
             process.setEnvironment(environment);
 
-            m_cancelTimer.setInterval(TestSettings::instance()->timeout());
+            m_cancelTimer.setInterval(testSettings().timeout());
             m_cancelTimer.start();
 
             qCInfo(runnerLog) << "Command:" << process.commandLine().executable();
@@ -468,7 +468,7 @@ void TestRunner::runTestsHelper()
         cancelCurrent(UserCanceled);
     });
 
-    if (TestSettings::instance()->popupOnStart())
+    if (testSettings().popupOnStart())
         AutotestPlugin::popupResultsPane();
 
     m_taskTree->start();
@@ -590,7 +590,7 @@ void TestRunner::debugTests()
 
     connect(runControl, &RunControl::stopped, this, &TestRunner::onFinished);
     ProjectExplorerPlugin::startRunControl(runControl);
-    if (useOutputProcessor && TestSettings::instance()->popupOnStart())
+    if (useOutputProcessor && testSettings().popupOnStart())
         AutotestPlugin::popupResultsPane();
 }
 
@@ -671,10 +671,10 @@ static RunAfterBuildMode runAfterBuild()
         return RunAfterBuildMode::None;
 
     if (!project->namedSettings(Constants::SK_USE_GLOBAL).isValid())
-        return TestSettings::instance()->runAfterBuildMode();
+        return testSettings().runAfterBuildMode();
 
     TestProjectSettings *projectSettings = AutotestPlugin::projectSettings(project);
-    return projectSettings->useGlobalSettings() ? TestSettings::instance()->runAfterBuildMode()
+    return projectSettings->useGlobalSettings() ? testSettings().runAfterBuildMode()
                                                 : projectSettings->runAfterBuild();
 }
 
diff --git a/src/plugins/autotest/testsettings.cpp b/src/plugins/autotest/testsettings.cpp
index f2e63c4ea89..e6e101343d5 100644
--- a/src/plugins/autotest/testsettings.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/autotest/testsettings.cpp
@@ -15,17 +15,14 @@ static const char groupSuffix[]                 = ".group";
 
 constexpr int defaultTimeout = 60000;
 
-static TestSettings *s_instance;
-
-TestSettings *TestSettings::instance()
+TestSettings &testSettings()
 {
-    return s_instance;
+    static TestSettings theSettings;
+    return theSettings;
 }
 
 TestSettings::TestSettings()
 {
-    s_instance = this;
-
     setSettingsGroup(Constants::SETTINGSGROUP);
 
     scanThreadLimit.setSettingsKey("ScanThreadLimit");
diff --git a/src/plugins/autotest/testsettings.h b/src/plugins/autotest/testsettings.h
index c89f85d06c9..d73f3d3454b 100644
--- a/src/plugins/autotest/testsettings.h
+++ b/src/plugins/autotest/testsettings.h
@@ -27,8 +27,6 @@ class TestSettings : public Utils::AspectContainer, public NonAspectSettings
 public:
     TestSettings();
 
-    static TestSettings *instance();
-
     void toSettings() const;
     void fromSettings();
 
@@ -50,4 +48,6 @@ public:
     RunAfterBuildMode runAfterBuildMode() const;
 };
 
+TestSettings &testSettings();
+
 } // Autotest::Internal
diff --git a/src/plugins/autotest/testsettingspage.cpp b/src/plugins/autotest/testsettingspage.cpp
index 980662cdc39..985206238fd 100644
--- a/src/plugins/autotest/testsettingspage.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/autotest/testsettingspage.cpp
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ TestSettingsWidget::TestSettingsWidget()
         onClicked([] { AutotestPlugin::clearChoiceCache(); }, this)
     };
 
-    TestSettings &s = *TestSettings::instance();
+    TestSettings &s = Internal::testSettings();
     Group generalGroup {
         title(Tr::tr("General")),
         Column {
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ TestSettingsWidget::TestSettingsWidget()
     populateFrameworksListWidget(s.frameworks, s.tools);
 
     setOnApply([this] {
-        TestSettings &s = *TestSettings::instance();
+        TestSettings &s = Internal::testSettings();
 
         NonAspectSettings tmp;
         testSettings(tmp);