diff --git a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/buildconfiguration.cpp b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/buildconfiguration.cpp
index 372b0724688..44f883f4546 100644
--- a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/buildconfiguration.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/buildconfiguration.cpp
@@ -339,10 +339,14 @@ bool BuildConfiguration::isActive() const
  * to provide hints about which compiler to use.
  */
 void BuildConfiguration::prependCompilerPathToEnvironment(Utils::Environment &env) const
+{
+    return prependCompilerPathToEnvironment(target()->kit(), env);
+}
+
+void BuildConfiguration::prependCompilerPathToEnvironment(Kit *k, Utils::Environment &env)
 {
     const ToolChain *tc
-            = ToolChainKitInformation::toolChain(target()->kit(),
-                                                 ProjectExplorer::Constants::CXX_LANGUAGE_ID);
+            = ToolChainKitInformation::toolChain(k, ProjectExplorer::Constants::CXX_LANGUAGE_ID);
 
     if (!tc)
         return;
diff --git a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/buildconfiguration.h b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/buildconfiguration.h
index 109cc4481ef..08307eae581 100644
--- a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/buildconfiguration.h
+++ b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/buildconfiguration.h
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ public:
     bool isActive() const override;
 
     void prependCompilerPathToEnvironment(Utils::Environment &env) const;
+    static void prependCompilerPathToEnvironment(Kit *k, Utils::Environment &env);
 
 signals:
     void environmentChanged();
diff --git a/src/plugins/qmakeprojectmanager/qmakebuildconfiguration.cpp b/src/plugins/qmakeprojectmanager/qmakebuildconfiguration.cpp
index fb89e541291..5d3332b9cb3 100644
--- a/src/plugins/qmakeprojectmanager/qmakebuildconfiguration.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/qmakeprojectmanager/qmakebuildconfiguration.cpp
@@ -760,9 +760,14 @@ BuildConfiguration::BuildType QmakeBuildConfiguration::buildType() const
 
 void QmakeBuildConfiguration::addToEnvironment(Environment &env) const
 {
-    prependCompilerPathToEnvironment(env);
-    const BaseQtVersion *qt = QtKitInformation::qtVersion(target()->kit());
-    if (qt)
+    setupBuildEnvironment(target()->kit(), env);
+}
+
+void QmakeBuildConfiguration::setupBuildEnvironment(Kit *k, Environment &env)
+{
+    prependCompilerPathToEnvironment(k, env);
+    const BaseQtVersion *qt = QtKitInformation::qtVersion(k);
+    if (qt && !qt->binPath().isEmpty())
         env.prependOrSetPath(qt->binPath().toString());
 }
 
diff --git a/src/plugins/qmakeprojectmanager/qmakebuildconfiguration.h b/src/plugins/qmakeprojectmanager/qmakebuildconfiguration.h
index 87afc6c9376..36ed9288845 100644
--- a/src/plugins/qmakeprojectmanager/qmakebuildconfiguration.h
+++ b/src/plugins/qmakeprojectmanager/qmakebuildconfiguration.h
@@ -100,6 +100,7 @@ public:
     BuildType buildType() const override;
 
     void addToEnvironment(Utils::Environment &env) const override;
+    static void setupBuildEnvironment(ProjectExplorer::Kit *k, Utils::Environment &env);
 
     void emitProFileEvaluateNeeded();
 
diff --git a/src/plugins/qmakeprojectmanager/qmakeproject.cpp b/src/plugins/qmakeprojectmanager/qmakeproject.cpp
index 8124b9d98cf..a2fb3f9fba6 100644
--- a/src/plugins/qmakeprojectmanager/qmakeproject.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/qmakeprojectmanager/qmakeproject.cpp
@@ -665,6 +665,10 @@ QtSupport::ProFileReader *QmakeProject::createProFileReader(const QmakeProFile *
                 else
                     qmakeArgs = bc->configCommandLineArguments();
             }
+        } else {
+            // Set up a better default environment without using a build configuration:
+            QmakeBuildConfiguration::setupBuildEnvironment(k, env);
+            k->addToEnvironment(env);
         }
 
         QtSupport::BaseQtVersion *qtVersion = QtSupport::QtKitInformation::qtVersion(k);