diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/cdb/cdbdebugengine.cpp b/src/plugins/debugger/cdb/cdbdebugengine.cpp
index ae0dbceab27..17f88931de0 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/cdb/cdbdebugengine.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/cdb/cdbdebugengine.cpp
@@ -386,9 +386,10 @@ void CdbDebugEngine::startupChecks()
     syncDebuggerPaths();
 }
 
-void CdbDebugEngine::startDebugger(const DebuggerRunControl *runControl)
+void CdbDebugEngine::startDebugger()
 {
-    const DebuggerStartParameters &sp = runControl->sp();
+    QTC_ASSERT(runControl(), return);
+    const DebuggerStartParameters &sp = runControl()->sp();
     if (debugCDBExecution)
         qDebug() << "startDebugger";
     CdbCore::BreakPoint::clearNormalizeFileNameCache();
diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/cdb/cdbdebugengine.h b/src/plugins/debugger/cdb/cdbdebugengine.h
index 990284bb9e5..455fec4f3b6 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/cdb/cdbdebugengine.h
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/cdb/cdbdebugengine.h
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ public:
 
     virtual void shutdown();
     virtual void setToolTipExpression(const QPoint &mousePos, TextEditor::ITextEditor *editor, int cursorPos);
-    virtual void startDebugger(const DebuggerRunControl *runControl);
+    virtual void startDebugger();
     virtual void exitDebugger();
     virtual void detachDebugger();
     virtual void updateWatchData(const WatchData &data);
diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/debuggermanager.cpp b/src/plugins/debugger/debuggermanager.cpp
index 1d29fbc8d6f..2e5e9939b06 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/debuggermanager.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/debuggermanager.cpp
@@ -1060,7 +1060,7 @@ static IDebuggerEngine *debuggerEngineForMode(DebuggerStartMode startMode, QStri
 #endif
 }
 
-void DebuggerManager::startNewDebugger(const DebuggerRunControl *runControl)
+void DebuggerManager::startNewDebugger(DebuggerRunControl *runControl)
 {
     if (d->m_state != DebuggerNotReady)
         return;
@@ -1113,7 +1113,8 @@ void DebuggerManager::startNewDebugger(const DebuggerRunControl *runControl)
     setBusyCursor(false);
     setState(EngineStarting);
     connect(d->m_engine, SIGNAL(startFailed()), this, SLOT(startFailed()));
-    d->m_engine->startDebugger(runControl);
+    d->m_engine->setRunControl(runControl);
+    d->m_engine->startDebugger();
 
     const unsigned engineCapabilities = d->m_engine->debuggerCapabilities();
     theDebuggerAction(OperateByInstruction)
diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/debuggermanager.h b/src/plugins/debugger/debuggermanager.h
index f4e919b1f6d..1da2ba55200 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/debuggermanager.h
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/debuggermanager.h
@@ -176,8 +176,8 @@ public:
 
     static DebuggerManager *instance();
 
+    void startNewDebugger(DebuggerRunControl *runControl);
 public slots:
-    void startNewDebugger(const DebuggerRunControl *runControl);
     void exitDebugger();
     void abortDebugger();
 
diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/gdb/gdbengine.cpp b/src/plugins/debugger/gdb/gdbengine.cpp
index eea23c123cb..81ebabb095c 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/gdb/gdbengine.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/gdb/gdbengine.cpp
@@ -1737,10 +1737,11 @@ bool GdbEngine::checkConfiguration(int toolChain, QString *errorMessage, QString
     return true;
 }
 
-AbstractGdbAdapter *GdbEngine::createAdapter(const DebuggerRunControl *runControl)
+AbstractGdbAdapter *GdbEngine::createAdapter()
 {
-    const DebuggerStartParameters *sp = &runControl->sp();
-    switch (sp->toolChainType) {
+    QTC_ASSERT(runControl(), return 0);
+    const DebuggerStartParameters &sp = runControl()->sp();
+    switch (sp.toolChainType) {
     case ProjectExplorer::ToolChain::WINSCW: // S60
     case ProjectExplorer::ToolChain::GCCE:
     case ProjectExplorer::ToolChain::RVCT_ARMV5:
@@ -1752,26 +1753,27 @@ AbstractGdbAdapter *GdbEngine::createAdapter(const DebuggerRunControl *runContro
         break;
     }
     // @todo: remove testing hack
-    if (sp->processArgs.size() == 3 && sp->processArgs.at(0) == _("@sym@"))
+    if (sp.processArgs.size() == 3 && sp.processArgs.at(0) == _("@sym@"))
         return new TrkGdbAdapter(this);
-    switch (sp->startMode) {
+    switch (sp.startMode) {
     case AttachCore:
         return new CoreGdbAdapter(this);
     case AttachToRemote:
-        return new RemoteGdbServerAdapter(this, sp->toolChainType);
+        return new RemoteGdbServerAdapter(this, sp.toolChainType);
     case StartRemoteGdb:
         return new RemotePlainGdbAdapter(this);
     case AttachExternal:
         return new AttachGdbAdapter(this);
     default:
-        if (sp->useTerminal)
+        if (sp.useTerminal)
             return new TermGdbAdapter(this);
         return new LocalPlainGdbAdapter(this);
     }
 }
 
-void GdbEngine::startDebugger(const DebuggerRunControl *runControl)
+void GdbEngine::startDebugger()
 {
+    QTC_ASSERT(runControl(), return);
     QTC_ASSERT(state() == EngineStarting, qDebug() << state());
     // This should be set by the constructor or in exitDebugger()
     // via initializeVariables()
@@ -1788,10 +1790,8 @@ void GdbEngine::startDebugger(const DebuggerRunControl *runControl)
     fp->setKeepOnFinish(false); 
     m_progress->reportStarted();
 
-    m_runControl = runControl;
-
     delete m_gdbAdapter;
-    m_gdbAdapter = createAdapter(m_runControl);
+    m_gdbAdapter = createAdapter();
     connectAdapter();
 
     if (m_gdbAdapter->dumperHandling() != AbstractGdbAdapter::DumperNotAvailable)
@@ -3036,9 +3036,10 @@ void GdbEngine::handleMakeSnapshot(const GdbResponse &response)
 
 void GdbEngine::activateSnapshot(int index)
 {
+    QTC_ASSERT(runControl(), return);
     SnapshotData snapshot = m_manager->snapshotHandler()->setCurrentIndex(index);
 
-    DebuggerStartParameters &sp = const_cast<DebuggerStartParameters &>(m_runControl->sp());
+    DebuggerStartParameters &sp = const_cast<DebuggerStartParameters &>(runControl()->sp());
     sp.startMode = AttachCore;
     sp.coreFile = snapshot.location();
 
@@ -3058,7 +3059,7 @@ void GdbEngine::activateSnapshot(int index)
             return;
         debugMessage(_("KILLING DEBUGGER AS REQUESTED BY USER"));
         delete m_gdbAdapter;
-        m_gdbAdapter = createAdapter(m_runControl);
+        m_gdbAdapter = createAdapter();
         postCommand("kill", NeedsStop, CB(handleActivateSnapshot));
     } else {
         activateSnapshot2();
diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/gdb/gdbengine.h b/src/plugins/debugger/gdb/gdbengine.h
index ed8d0b8239c..b3c77156f3e 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/gdb/gdbengine.h
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/gdb/gdbengine.h
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ private: ////////// General Interface //////////
 
     virtual bool checkConfiguration(int toolChain, QString *errorMessage,
         QString *settingsPage = 0) const;
-    virtual void startDebugger(const DebuggerRunControl *runControl);
+    virtual void startDebugger();
     virtual unsigned debuggerCapabilities() const;
     virtual void exitDebugger();
     virtual void abortDebugger();
@@ -125,16 +125,15 @@ private: ////////// General State //////////
 
     void initializeVariables();
     DebuggerStartMode startMode() const;
-    const DebuggerRunControl *runControl() const { return m_runControl; }
-    const DebuggerStartParameters &startParameters() const { return m_runControl->sp(); }
+    const DebuggerStartParameters &startParameters() const
+        { return m_runControl->sp(); }
     Q_SLOT void setAutoDerefPointers(const QVariant &on);
 
-    const DebuggerRunControl *m_runControl;
     bool m_registerNamesListed;
 
 private: ////////// Gdb Process Management //////////
 
-    AbstractGdbAdapter *createAdapter(const DebuggerRunControl *runControl);
+    AbstractGdbAdapter *createAdapter();
     void connectAdapter();
     bool startGdb(const QStringList &args = QStringList(),
                   const QString &gdb = QString(),
diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/idebuggerengine.h b/src/plugins/debugger/idebuggerengine.h
index ad2d1eeb52c..605e66253f1 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/idebuggerengine.h
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/idebuggerengine.h
@@ -67,12 +67,18 @@ class IDebuggerEngine : public QObject
 
 public:
     IDebuggerEngine(DebuggerManager *manager, QObject *parent = 0)
-        : QObject(parent), m_manager(manager)
+        : QObject(parent), m_manager(manager), m_runControl()
     {}
 
+    // FIXME: Move this to DebuggerEngineFactory::create(); ?
+    void setRunControl(DebuggerRunControl *runControl)
+        { m_runControl = runControl; }
+    DebuggerRunControl *runControl() const
+        { return m_runControl; }
+
     virtual void shutdown() = 0;
     virtual void setToolTipExpression(const QPoint &mousePos, TextEditor::ITextEditor *editor, int cursorPos) = 0;
-    virtual void startDebugger(const DebuggerRunControl *runControl) = 0;
+    virtual void startDebugger() = 0;
     virtual void exitDebugger() = 0;
     virtual void abortDebugger() { exitDebugger(); }
     virtual void detachDebugger() {}
@@ -136,6 +142,7 @@ protected:
     void setState(DebuggerState state, bool forced = false);
     DebuggerManager *manager() const { return m_manager; }
     DebuggerManager *m_manager;
+    DebuggerRunControl *m_runControl;
 
 signals:
     void startSuccessful();
diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/pdb/pdbengine.cpp b/src/plugins/debugger/pdb/pdbengine.cpp
index 7f6d305df42..1746e6d4058 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/pdb/pdbengine.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/pdb/pdbengine.cpp
@@ -136,11 +136,12 @@ void PdbEngine::exitDebugger()
     setState(DebuggerNotReady);
 }
 
-void PdbEngine::startDebugger(const DebuggerRunControl *runControl)
+void PdbEngine::startDebugger()
 {
+    QTC_ASSERT(runControl(), return);
     setState(AdapterStarting);
 
-    m_scriptFileName = QFileInfo(runControl->sp().executable).absoluteFilePath();
+    m_scriptFileName = QFileInfo(runControl()->sp().executable).absoluteFilePath();
     QFile scriptFile(m_scriptFileName);
     if (!scriptFile.open(QIODevice::ReadOnly|QIODevice::Text)) {
         //debugMessage("STARTING " +m_scriptFileName + "FAILED");
diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/pdb/pdbengine.h b/src/plugins/debugger/pdb/pdbengine.h
index 434623f064e..c3c8de919f2 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/pdb/pdbengine.h
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/pdb/pdbengine.h
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ private:
     void shutdown();
     void setToolTipExpression(const QPoint &mousePos,
         TextEditor::ITextEditor *editor, int cursorPos);
-    void startDebugger(const DebuggerRunControl *runControl);
+    void startDebugger();
 
     void exitDebugger();
 
diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/qml/qmlengine.cpp b/src/plugins/debugger/qml/qmlengine.cpp
index fa61f639453..c52151caef6 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/qml/qmlengine.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/qml/qmlengine.cpp
@@ -201,14 +201,16 @@ void QmlEngine::exitDebugger()
     manager()->notifyInferiorExited();
 }
 
-void QmlEngine::startDebugger(const DebuggerRunControl *runControl)
+void QmlEngine::startDebugger()
 {
+    QTC_ASSERT(runControl(), return);
     qDebug() << "STARTING QML ENGINE";
     setState(InferiorRunningRequested);
     showStatusMessage(tr("Running requested..."), 5000);
-    const int pos = runControl->sp().remoteChannel.indexOf(QLatin1Char(':'));
-    const QString host = runControl->sp().remoteChannel.left(pos);
-    const quint16 port = runControl->sp().remoteChannel.mid(pos + 1).toInt();
+    const DebuggerStartParameters &sp = runControl()->sp();
+    const int pos = sp.remoteChannel.indexOf(QLatin1Char(':'));
+    const QString host = sp.remoteChannel.left(pos);
+    const quint16 port = sp.remoteChannel.mid(pos + 1).toInt();
     //QTimer::singleShot(0, this, SLOT(runInferior()));
     m_socket->connectToHost(host, port);
     emit startSuccessful();
diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/qml/qmlengine.h b/src/plugins/debugger/qml/qmlengine.h
index 9c37d7bbfea..d9b76362217 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/qml/qmlengine.h
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/qml/qmlengine.h
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ private:
 
     void shutdown();
     void setToolTipExpression(const QPoint &mousePos, TextEditor::ITextEditor *editor, int cursorPos);
-    void startDebugger(const DebuggerRunControl *runControl);
+    void startDebugger();
     void exitDebugger();
 
     void continueInferior();
diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/script/scriptengine.cpp b/src/plugins/debugger/script/scriptengine.cpp
index 07285571254..6d2a06aa974 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/script/scriptengine.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/script/scriptengine.cpp
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ void ScriptEngine::exitDebugger()
     setState(DebuggerNotReady);
 }
 
-void ScriptEngine::startDebugger(const DebuggerRunControl *runControl)
+void ScriptEngine::startDebugger()
 {
     setState(AdapterStarting);
     if (m_scriptEngine.isNull())
@@ -247,7 +247,8 @@ void ScriptEngine::startDebugger(const DebuggerRunControl *runControl)
     setState(AdapterStarted);
     setState(InferiorStarting);
 
-    m_scriptFileName = QFileInfo(runControl->sp().executable).absoluteFilePath();
+    QTC_ASSERT(runControl(), return);
+    m_scriptFileName = QFileInfo(runControl()->sp().executable).absoluteFilePath();
     QFile scriptFile(m_scriptFileName);
     if (!scriptFile.open(QIODevice::ReadOnly|QIODevice::Text)) {
         manager()->showDebuggerOutput(LogError, QString::fromLatin1("Cannot open %1: %2").
diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/script/scriptengine.h b/src/plugins/debugger/script/scriptengine.h
index 34d2608cdce..ca218519922 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/script/scriptengine.h
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/script/scriptengine.h
@@ -71,8 +71,7 @@ private:
     void shutdown();
     void setToolTipExpression(const QPoint &mousePos,
         TextEditor::ITextEditor *editor, int cursorPos);
-    void startDebugger(const DebuggerRunControl *runControl);
-
+    void startDebugger();
     void exitDebugger();
 
     void continueInferior();
@@ -89,7 +88,7 @@ private:
     void attemptBreakpointSynchronization();
 
     void assignValueInDebugger(const QString &expr, const QString &value);
-    void executeDebuggerCommand(const QString & command);
+    void executeDebuggerCommand(const QString &command);
 
     void loadSymbols(const QString &moduleName);
     void loadAllSymbols();
diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/tcf/tcfengine.cpp b/src/plugins/debugger/tcf/tcfengine.cpp
index d116a9e873a..243905d7c58 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/tcf/tcfengine.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/tcf/tcfengine.cpp
@@ -203,13 +203,15 @@ void TcfEngine::exitDebugger()
     manager()->notifyInferiorExited();
 }
 
-void TcfEngine::startDebugger(const DebuggerRunControl *runControl)
+void TcfEngine::startDebugger()
 {
+    QTC_ASSERT(runControl(), return);
     setState(InferiorRunningRequested);
     showStatusMessage(tr("Running requested..."), 5000);
-    const int pos = runControl->sp().remoteChannel.indexOf(QLatin1Char(':'));
-    const QString host = runControl->sp().remoteChannel.left(pos);
-    const quint16 port = runControl->sp().remoteChannel.mid(pos + 1).toInt();
+    const DebuggerStartParameters &sp = runControl()->sp();
+    const int pos = sp.remoteChannel.indexOf(QLatin1Char(':'));
+    const QString host = sp.remoteChannel.left(pos);
+    const quint16 port = sp.remoteChannel.mid(pos + 1).toInt();
     //QTimer::singleShot(0, this, SLOT(runInferior()));
     m_socket->connectToHost(host, port);
     emit startSuccessful();
diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/tcf/tcfengine.h b/src/plugins/debugger/tcf/tcfengine.h
index 3bce2d6d11d..75dff4353c5 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/tcf/tcfengine.h
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/tcf/tcfengine.h
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ private:
 
     void shutdown();
     void setToolTipExpression(const QPoint &mousePos, TextEditor::ITextEditor *editor, int cursorPos);
-    void startDebugger(const DebuggerRunControl *runControl);
+    void startDebugger();
     void exitDebugger();
 
     void continueInferior();