diff --git a/src/plugins/autotest/CMakeLists.txt b/src/plugins/autotest/CMakeLists.txt
index 7b1438ab01b..0571ee65147 100644
--- a/src/plugins/autotest/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/plugins/autotest/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -80,5 +80,7 @@ add_qtc_plugin(AutoTest
 
 extend_qtc_plugin(AutoTest
   CONDITION WITH_TESTS
-  SOURCES autotestunittests.cpp autotestunittests.h
+  SOURCES
+    autotestunittests.cpp autotestunittests.h
+    loadprojectscenario.cpp loadprojectscenario.h
 )
diff --git a/src/plugins/autotest/autotest.pro b/src/plugins/autotest/autotest.pro
index 6bfd57bbe1a..d7f708d63c8 100644
--- a/src/plugins/autotest/autotest.pro
+++ b/src/plugins/autotest/autotest.pro
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ FORMS += \
     testsettingspage.ui
 
 equals(TEST, 1) {
-    HEADERS += autotestunittests.h
-    SOURCES += autotestunittests.cpp
+    HEADERS += autotestunittests.h loadprojectscenario.h
+    SOURCES += autotestunittests.cpp loadprojectscenario.cpp
     RESOURCES += autotestunittests.qrc
 }
diff --git a/src/plugins/autotest/autotest.qbs b/src/plugins/autotest/autotest.qbs
index cd9d0a55080..065159142d6 100644
--- a/src/plugins/autotest/autotest.qbs
+++ b/src/plugins/autotest/autotest.qbs
@@ -133,6 +133,8 @@ QtcPlugin {
             "autotestunittests.cpp",
             "autotestunittests.h",
             "autotestunittests.qrc",
+            "loadprojectscenario.cpp",
+            "loadprojectscenario.h",
         ]
     }
 
diff --git a/src/plugins/autotest/autotestplugin.cpp b/src/plugins/autotest/autotestplugin.cpp
index 47c53628caa..43e54ec58cc 100644
--- a/src/plugins/autotest/autotestplugin.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/autotest/autotestplugin.cpp
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@
 
 #ifdef WITH_TESTS
 #include "autotestunittests.h"
+#include "loadprojectscenario.h"
 #endif
 
 using namespace Core;
@@ -111,6 +112,9 @@ public:
     TestTreeModel m_testTreeModel{&m_testCodeParser};
     TestRunner m_testRunner;
     TestFrameworkManager m_frameworkManager;
+#ifdef WITH_TESTS
+    LoadProjectScenario m_loadProjectScenario{&m_testTreeModel};
+#endif
 };
 
 static AutotestPluginPrivate *dd = nullptr;
@@ -273,6 +277,10 @@ bool AutotestPlugin::initialize(const QStringList &arguments, QString *errorStri
     Q_UNUSED(errorString)
 
     dd = new AutotestPluginPrivate;
+#ifdef WITH_TESTS
+    ExtensionSystem::PluginManager::registerScenario("TestStringTable",
+                   [this]() { return dd->m_loadProjectScenario(); });
+#endif
     return true;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/plugins/autotest/loadprojectscenario.cpp b/src/plugins/autotest/loadprojectscenario.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..40e9173493d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/plugins/autotest/loadprojectscenario.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+/****************************************************************************
+**
+** Copyright (C) 2021 The Qt Company Ltd.
+** Contact: https://www.qt.io/licensing/
+**
+** This file is part of Qt Creator.
+**
+** Commercial License Usage
+** Licensees holding valid commercial Qt licenses may use this file in
+** accordance with the commercial license agreement provided with the
+** Software or, alternatively, in accordance with the terms contained in
+** a written agreement between you and The Qt Company. For licensing terms
+** and conditions see https://www.qt.io/terms-conditions. For further
+** information use the contact form at https://www.qt.io/contact-us.
+**
+** GNU General Public License Usage
+** Alternatively, this file may be used under the terms of the GNU
+** General Public License version 3 as published by the Free Software
+** Foundation with exceptions as appearing in the file LICENSE.GPL3-EXCEPT
+** included in the packaging of this file. Please review the following
+** information to ensure the GNU General Public License requirements will
+** be met: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html.
+**
+****************************************************************************/
+
+#include "loadprojectscenario.h"
+
+#include <cpptools/cpptoolstestcase.h>
+#include <cpptools/projectinfo.h>
+
+#include <qtsupport/qtkitinformation.h>
+
+#include <utils/algorithm.h>
+
+using namespace Core;
+using namespace ProjectExplorer;
+using namespace Utils;
+
+namespace Autotest {
+namespace Internal {
+
+LoadProjectScenario::LoadProjectScenario(TestTreeModel *model, QObject *parent)
+    : QObject(parent),
+      m_model(model)
+{
+}
+
+LoadProjectScenario::~LoadProjectScenario()
+{
+    delete m_tmpDir;
+}
+
+bool LoadProjectScenario::operator()()
+{
+    return init() && loadProject();
+}
+
+bool LoadProjectScenario::init()
+{
+    const QList<Kit *> allKits = KitManager::kits();
+    if (allKits.count() == 0) {
+        qWarning() << "This scenario requires at least one kit to be present";
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    m_kit = findOr(allKits, nullptr, [](Kit *k) {
+            return k->isValid() && QtSupport::QtKitAspect::qtVersion(k) != nullptr;
+    });
+    if (!m_kit) {
+        qWarning() << "The scenario requires at least one valid kit with a valid Qt";
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    if (!QtSupport::QtKitAspect::qtVersion(m_kit)) {
+        qWarning() << "Could not figure out which Qt version is used for default kit.";
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    const ToolChain * const toolchain = ToolChainKitAspect::cxxToolChain(m_kit);
+    if (!toolchain) {
+        qWarning() << "This test requires that there is a kit with a toolchain.";
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    m_tmpDir = new CppTools::Tests::TemporaryCopiedDir(":/unit_test");
+    return true;
+}
+
+bool LoadProjectScenario::loadProject()
+{
+    const QString projectFilePath = m_tmpDir->path() + "/plain/plain.pro";
+
+    CppTools::Tests::ProjectOpenerAndCloser projectManager;
+    // This code must trigger a call to PluginManager::finishScenario() at some later point.
+    const CppTools::ProjectInfo projectInfo = projectManager.open(projectFilePath, true, m_kit);
+    return projectInfo.isValid();
+}
+
+} // namespace Internal
+} // namespace Autotest
diff --git a/src/plugins/autotest/loadprojectscenario.h b/src/plugins/autotest/loadprojectscenario.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..f96932df084
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/plugins/autotest/loadprojectscenario.h
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+/****************************************************************************
+**
+** Copyright (C) 2021 The Qt Company Ltd.
+** Contact: https://www.qt.io/licensing/
+**
+** This file is part of Qt Creator.
+**
+** Commercial License Usage
+** Licensees holding valid commercial Qt licenses may use this file in
+** accordance with the commercial license agreement provided with the
+** Software or, alternatively, in accordance with the terms contained in
+** a written agreement between you and The Qt Company. For licensing terms
+** and conditions see https://www.qt.io/terms-conditions. For further
+** information use the contact form at https://www.qt.io/contact-us.
+**
+** GNU General Public License Usage
+** Alternatively, this file may be used under the terms of the GNU
+** General Public License version 3 as published by the Free Software
+** Foundation with exceptions as appearing in the file LICENSE.GPL3-EXCEPT
+** included in the packaging of this file. Please review the following
+** information to ensure the GNU General Public License requirements will
+** be met: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html.
+**
+****************************************************************************/
+
+#pragma once
+
+#include <QObject>
+
+namespace CppTools { namespace Tests { class TemporaryCopiedDir; } }
+namespace ProjectExplorer { class Kit; }
+
+namespace Autotest {
+
+class TestTreeModel;
+
+namespace Internal {
+
+class LoadProjectScenario : public QObject
+{
+    Q_OBJECT
+public:
+    explicit LoadProjectScenario(TestTreeModel *model, QObject *parent = nullptr);
+    ~LoadProjectScenario();
+
+    bool operator()();
+
+private:
+    bool init();
+    bool loadProject();
+
+    TestTreeModel *m_model = nullptr;
+    CppTools::Tests::TemporaryCopiedDir *m_tmpDir = nullptr;
+    ProjectExplorer::Kit *m_kit = nullptr;
+};
+
+} // namespace Internal
+} // namespace Autotest
diff --git a/src/plugins/cpptools/stringtable.cpp b/src/plugins/cpptools/stringtable.cpp
index 331a56faa1a..9eac24b8811 100644
--- a/src/plugins/cpptools/stringtable.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/cpptools/stringtable.cpp
@@ -35,6 +35,10 @@
 #include <QThreadPool>
 #include <QTimer>
 
+#ifdef WITH_TESTS
+#include <extensionsystem/pluginmanager.h>
+#endif
+
 using namespace CppTools::Internal;
 
 enum {
@@ -145,6 +149,13 @@ static inline bool isQStringInUse(const QString &string)
 
 void StringTablePrivate::GC(QFutureInterface<void> &futureInterface)
 {
+#ifdef WITH_TESTS
+    if (ExtensionSystem::PluginManager::isScenarioRunning("TestStringTable")) {
+        if (ExtensionSystem::PluginManager::finishScenario())
+            QThread::currentThread()->sleep(5);
+    }
+#endif
+
     int initialSize = 0;
     QElapsedTimer timer;
     if (DebugStringTable) {