diff --git a/src/plugins/squish/squishtools.cpp b/src/plugins/squish/squishtools.cpp
index c31e9364ef6..a812392a94e 100644
--- a/src/plugins/squish/squishtools.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/squish/squishtools.cpp
@@ -294,8 +294,8 @@ void SquishTools::queryServer(RunnerQuery query)
         return;
     }
     m_perspective.setPerspectiveMode(SquishPerspective::Querying);
-    m_fullRunnerOutput.clear();
     m_query = query;
+    setupRunnerForQuery();
     startSquishServer(RunnerQueryRequested);
 }
 
@@ -699,7 +699,23 @@ void SquishTools::executeRunnerQuery()
     default:
         QTC_ASSERT(false, return);
     }
-    setupAndStartSquishRunnerProcess(cmdLine);
+
+    QTC_ASSERT(m_primaryRunner, return);
+    m_primaryRunner->setCommand(cmdLine);
+    m_primaryRunner->setEnvironment(squishEnvironment());
+    setState(RunnerStarting);
+
+    qCDebug(LOG) << "Runner starts:" << m_primaryRunner->commandLine().toUserOutput();
+    m_primaryRunner->start();
+    if (!m_primaryRunner->waitForStarted()) {
+        QMessageBox::critical(Core::ICore::dialogParent(),
+                              Tr::tr("Squish Runner Error"),
+                              Tr::tr("Squish runner failed to start within given timeframe."));
+        setState(RunnerStartFailed);
+        m_primaryRunner->close();
+        return;
+    }
+    setState(RunnerStarted);
 }
 
 Environment SquishTools::squishEnvironment()
@@ -711,21 +727,21 @@ Environment SquishTools::squishEnvironment()
     return environment;
 }
 
+void SquishTools::handleQueryDone()
+{
+    qCDebug(LOG) << "Runner finished";
+    const QString error = m_licenseIssues ? Tr::tr("Could not get Squish license from server.")
+                                          : QString();
+    if (m_queryCallback && QTC_GUARD(m_primaryRunner))
+        m_queryCallback(m_primaryRunner->stdOut(), error);
+    setState(RunnerStopped);
+    m_queryCallback = {};
+    m_queryParameter.clear();
+}
+
 void SquishTools::onRunnerFinished()
 {
     qCDebug(LOG) << "Runner finished";
-    if (m_request == RunnerQueryRequested) {
-        const QString error = m_licenseIssues ? Tr::tr("Could not get Squish license from server.")
-                                              : QString();
-        if (m_queryCallback)
-            m_queryCallback(m_fullRunnerOutput, error);
-        setState(RunnerStopped);
-        m_fullRunnerOutput.clear();
-        m_queryCallback = {};
-        m_queryParameter.clear();
-        return;
-    }
-
     if (!m_shutdownInitiated) {
         logRunnerStateChange(m_squishRunnerState, RunnerState::Finished);
         m_squishRunnerState = RunnerState::Finished;
@@ -901,11 +917,6 @@ void SquishTools::onRunnerErrorOutput()
 
 void SquishTools::onRunnerStdOutput(const QString &lineIn)
 {
-    if (m_request == RunnerQueryRequested) { // only handle test runs / record here
-        m_fullRunnerOutput.append(lineIn);   // but store output for query, see onRunnerFinished()
-        return;
-    }
-
     int fileLine = -1;
     int fileColumn = -1;
     QString fileName;
@@ -1424,5 +1435,17 @@ void SquishTools::setupAndStartSquishRunnerProcess(const Utils::CommandLine &cmd
     setState(RunnerStarted);
 }
 
+void SquishTools::setupRunnerForQuery()
+{
+    if (m_primaryRunner) {
+        m_primaryRunner->close();
+        delete m_primaryRunner;
+    }
+
+    m_primaryRunner = new QtcProcess(this);
+    connect(m_primaryRunner, &QtcProcess::done,
+            this, &SquishTools::handleQueryDone);
+}
+
 } // namespace Internal
 } // namespace Squish
diff --git a/src/plugins/squish/squishtools.h b/src/plugins/squish/squishtools.h
index 420cbd5bfeb..e58119939cd 100644
--- a/src/plugins/squish/squishtools.h
+++ b/src/plugins/squish/squishtools.h
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ private:
     void queryServer(RunnerQuery query);
     void executeRunnerQuery();
     static Utils::Environment squishEnvironment();
+    void handleQueryDone();
     void onRunnerFinished();
     void onRecorderFinished();
     void onRunnerOutput();                              // runner's results file
@@ -124,10 +125,15 @@ private:
     QStringList runnerArgumentsFromSettings();
     bool setupRunnerPath();
     void setupAndStartSquishRunnerProcess(const Utils::CommandLine &cmdLine);
+    void setupRunnerForQuery();
 
     SquishPerspective m_perspective;
     std::unique_ptr<SquishXmlOutputHandler> m_xmlOutputHandler;
     SquishServerProcess m_serverProcess;
+
+    Utils::QtcProcess *m_primaryRunner = nullptr;
+    Utils::QtcProcess *m_secondaryRunner = nullptr;
+
     Utils::QtcProcess m_runnerProcess;
     Utils::QtcProcess m_recorderProcess;
     QString m_serverHost;
@@ -139,7 +145,6 @@ private:
     SuiteConf m_suiteConf; // holds information of current test suite e.g. while recording
     Utils::FilePaths m_reportFiles;
     Utils::FilePath m_currentResultsDirectory;
-    QString m_fullRunnerOutput; // used when querying the server
     QString m_queryParameter;
     Utils::FilePath m_currentTestCasePath;
     Utils::FilePath m_currentRecorderSnippetFile;