diff --git a/src/plugins/debugger/debuggerruncontrol.cpp b/src/plugins/debugger/debuggerruncontrol.cpp
index d797586d793..a12c8cec40d 100644
--- a/src/plugins/debugger/debuggerruncontrol.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/debugger/debuggerruncontrol.cpp
@@ -481,7 +481,8 @@ void DebuggerRunTool::start()
 
     runControl()->setDisplayName(m_runParameters.displayName);
 
-    m_engine = createDapEngine(runControl()->runMode());
+    if (!m_engine)
+        m_engine = createDapEngine(runControl()->runMode());
 
     if (!m_engine) {
         if (m_runParameters.isCppDebugging()) {